We are often asked what sights we think are worth seeing, which places we found interesting and what would we recommend doing.  These are our thoughts. There is much more detail in our Journal for Benin.

The details may change so we suggest you check with a good guide book. We prefer the “Rough Guide” series because they are well written and kept up to date.  You can get more information on www.roughguides.com

Ganvié

Ganvié is a fascinating village of 20,000 people constructed on stilts in the middle of a huge shallow lake. There are schools, clinics, shops, restaurants and hotels. The locals have organised a co-operative which takes tourists in boats to visit the village and show people the sights. It is a magical place and well worth a visit. You can get there easily by taxi from Cotonou or Porto Novo.  

Ouidah 

The old slave trading town of Ouidah (pronounced Wee Dah) is fascinating and well worth a visit.  At various times there were British, French, Portuguese, and Danish forts operating in Ouidah as the collection and embarkation points for large numbers of slaves being shipped to the Americas and other colonies.  These slaves were usually prisoners of war taken by the Kings of the local Dan-Homey Empire in their wars with neighbouring African kingdoms.  The Europeans bought these prisoners in exchange for iron, and guns.  Apparently one muzzle loading cannon cost 15 able bodied men or 25 healthy women.  The old Portuguese fort has been restored and is now a good museum showing the development of Benin and Ouidah and the slave trade. 

This coast of Africa used to be called the Slave Coast and there are various modern and touching monuments to the wholesale trade in human beings from Africa, which is called the Diaspora.  The Slave Road is a four kilometre long sandy road lined by palm trees and bushes from the forts to the beach, lined with emblems of the former African kings and commemorative plaques to the slaves.  There is also the “tree of forgetfulness” which men had to walk around three times in shackles to emphasise that they had to forget about their former lives, their country and their family which they would never see again.  For some reason women were made to walk around the tree five times. 

On the beach there is a large evocative modern arch where the slaves were embarked on the slave ships. 

Voodoo is still widely practiced in Benin.  So there is a famous snake temple in Ouidah.  One building houses many pythons which the faithful have draped around their necks to focus the spirits and cure ills or bring good fortune.

Abomey

Abomey is the home of the restored Royal Palaces of the ancient Kings of Benin.  The site is now a World Heritage site and houses several large mud brick buildings holding artefacts from the time.  There are spears and swords and old muskets and some of the old European cannons which the kings bought over the years.  One striking exhibit is the throne mounted on human skulls to emphasise the power of the king over potential enemies. 

Porto Novo

Porto Novo is the Capital of Benin.  Despite being the seat of government it is quite a small town.  The old buildings of the former French administration are arranged around a nice grass square and these now house the Benin government offices.  The country used to be called Dahomey in the French colonial days.  The French invested heavily in the countries they colonised and most people now speak French fluently as well as several local languages.  Even before colonisation the French missionaries set up schools so the people of Dahomey were in demand throughout West Africa as administrators.  Consequently Benin is now a predominantly Christian country. 

Porto Novo has a large stone build Christian cathedral.
 
Cotonou

Cotonou is a large city with almost one million inhabitants.  It is not a spectacular city with few monuments or historical buildings and few big buildings over seven or eight stories.  However the roads were paved, there were pavements and street lighting.  The locals we met were universally friendly and helpful.