The country of Benin was named after the Bight of Benin. The country is also known for its slave trade which was vibrant until the European nations began to abolish the trade with the last ship filled with slaves departing in 1885 for Brazil. Benin was the first African country in the 90s to peacefully transition from a dictatorship to a multiparty democracy.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Benin are required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements vary depending on visitors nationality. Whilst all African nations can enter the country without the requirement of a visa, citizens of all non-African countries must obtain a visa which can be acquired online, on arrival or in a consulate, embassy or a mission. Visitors who wish to drive in Benin are required to have their national driving permit and an international driving permit. IDP holders must know that an IDP is only a translation of the original document and cannot be used alone. Both documents must be with the driver at all times.

Traveling hazards

With the exception of the road linking Cotonou in the south to Malanville on the border with Niger in the north, roads in Benin are generally in poor condition and are often impassable during the rainy season. Benin’s unpaved roads vary widely in quality, deep sand and potholes are common. During the rainy season from mid-June to mid-September, dirt roads often become impassable. Four-wheel drive vehicles with full spare tires and emergency equipment are recommended. Most of the main streets in Cotonou are paved, but side streets are often made of dirt and have deep potholes. Cotonou has a very limited public transportation system; many Beninese people rely on bicycles, mopeds, motorbikes, and Zemidjans. Travelers using Zemidjans, particularly at night, are much more vulnerable to being mugged, assaulted, or robbed. Buses and bush taxis offer service in the interior. Gasoline smuggled from Nigeria is widely available in glass bottles and jugs at an informal roadside stand throughout Cotonou and much of the country. This gasoline is of unreliable quality, often containing water or other contaminants that can damage or disable your vehicle. Drivers should purchase fuel only from official service stations. There are periodic gas shortages, which can be particularly acute in the north of the country where there are few service stations.

Environmental hazards

Despite the rather small size of Benin, there are many different animals which can pose a threat to people. Among these are the largest land mammals on earth, the African bush elephants. These giants are generally not aggressive however when startled or angered their sheer size is a danger as the can easily trample people, flip over cars or even break trees. Hippopotamuses are also present in Benin. These are second in size only to the elephants. Although they look docile, hippopotamuses are among the most fierce animals in Africa. They’re territorial and will attack even crocodiles that approach the herd. They are responsible for many deaths across Africa. There are numerous venomous snake species in Benin. Among the most dangerous are the gaboon viper, the boomslang and the puff adder which alone is responsible for over 30 thousand death in Africa yearly. Among the small insects that pose danger except for the obvious mosquitoes which often carry the Zika virus and malaria, there are the tsetse flies which are also carriers of numerous diseases including the sleeping disease which untreated may kill the bite victim. There are no official reports of shark attacks in Benin however not all attacks are reported. There is a possibility of such attacks as neighboring countries have official reports of shark attacks.
There are many natural hazards occurring in Benin. Most common include wildfires, storms, and floods. Although storms are most frequent they cause the least damage whilst floods cause the majority of damage and carry the biggest death toll.

Health hazards

Due to the outbreak of yellow fever in Benin, all visitors are required to be vaccinated against yellow fever and to have proof of such vaccination. There are other vaccines, however, these are only recommended and not required. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningitis and rabies vaccines. Unfortunately, there are no approved vaccines against malaria and the Zika virus. Both of these are carried by mosquitoes, therefore, the use of mosquito repellents and mosquito nets are recommended. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria which should be available after consulting your local general practitioner. While Benin is a relatively large country, covering a total land area of 110,000 square kilometers, there are only four hospitals within the national borders. According to a 1999 Benin health care survey, there were only 0.1 doctors for every 1000 people and the availability of beds was 0.2 per 1000 people. The use of mobile treatment units and other facilities has curbed the outbreak of serious epidemics in Benin. Worldwide medical insurance is strongly recommended as doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for service administered.
In case of an emergency dial +229 21 30 06 56 or +229 21 30 17 69.

Crime

A broad spectrum of criminal activity occurs in Cotonou. The majority of crimes affecting visitors are crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing, purse snatching, theft of valuables from vehicles, assaults, residential burglaries. In particular, low-level criminal activity occurs in areas of the congregation, particularly in the Dantokpa Market. Criminals may take advantage of foreigners attempting to navigate the crowded markets. Travelers should avoid the Dantokpa market between dusk and dawn. Pistols, knives, and machetes have been used during the commission of armed robberies. Most attacks end violently and occur late at night or in the early morning hours. Locals report that the mornings are not safe until around 0630 hrs. Robberies are generally crimes of opportunity, with the perpetrators targeting vulnerable victims and seeking cash or valuables. Because westerners are generally perceived as wealthy, there is an increased chance of such attacks at vulnerable western visitors. There is no risk of terrorist activity in Benin.

Summary

Benin, despite being small can deliver a variety of attractions. Visitors, however, should remain cautious as crime is widespread. Dangerous wildlife and environment and poor healthcare conditions contribute to the dangerous situation. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.vsi-visa.com/en/benin/visa/visa-benin
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/benin