Benin | Togo Border Crossing – Grand Popo | Aneho
Benin, a French-speaking West African nation, is a birthplace of the vodun (or “voodoo”) religion and home to the former Dahomey Kingdom from circa 1600–1900. In Abomey, Dahomey’s former capital, the Historical Museum occupies two royal palaces with bas-reliefs recounting the kingdom’s past and a throne mounted on human skulls.
To the north, Pendjari National Park offers safaris with elephants, hippos and lions.
Other natural attractions include W National Park, a reserve for wildlife like aardvarks and cheetahs, plus Atlantic Coast beaches.
The city of Ouidah’s beach features the Door of No Return, a memorial arch dedicated to victims of the slave trade. It’s part of the Route des Esclaves, the path slaves took from Ouidah’s Portuguese Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá to waiting ships. Benin’s capital, Porto-Novo, is known for its French colonial architecture. Cotonou, the country’s center of industry, has a red-and-white striped cathedral and sprawling Dantokpa Market with vendors selling vodun-related objects.
Epic Benin Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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