This place just doesn’t fit in this part of West Africa – Why?
Because It’s not it’s beaches, it’s not it’s beats and it’s not the weather that makes it. It might be little more than a blip on a map but there’s something different that makes Benin a real beauty.

You’ll be blown away by the colours of Benin and you’ll be blown away by the people. Not to mention there’s such an amazing variety of food lining the streets you’ll never need to step foot into a restaurant and that’s only the beginning of what you’ll find with Benin.

Ever heard of Voodoo? Benin is the birthplace of this largely mystical culture and if that doesn’t get you excited about this place then something’s not right. We went in search of Voodoo and as you’ll see it’s still as mysterious as ever.

Ok, so our mission to find out what Voodoo is all about was a failure but we’re not totally unhappy about it – it’s a traditional culture in which the legend lives on and who are we to mess with it anyway.

Voodoo aside – Benin is home to some of the best and the healthiest street food you’ll find in West Africa. Fresh fruit, vegetables and bread are on every main corner along with a selection of smoked meats. If you want to fit in with the locals, you’ll need to pull up a plastic chair at any of the outdoor beer yards and wash down a few Beninoise beers.

What else can it offer?
Away from the strangely calm and chaotic scenes of Cotonou – venture north and you’ll find some of West Africa’s best wildlife parks. What’s best is compared with the safari parks of southern Africa – the prices here are a bargain.

Shift gears and get on board the Beer Beninoise. The local stuff is pretty tasty, and for 400CFA (75 Euro Cents) it’s hard to say no to a third and fouth. Across Benin you’ll find street side bars, where plastic chairs are rolled out as the sun sets to make way for beers and beats. The locals love to people watch and we challenge you find anyone walking past who doesn’t stop for a little bit of a boogy to the African beats.

We can’t say enough about this place, it’s not only shaped like a chicken drumstick but it’s a chicken drumstick complete with the 11 herbs and spices and yes – many of them are still a secret. If we’ve convinced you to go – here’s what you’ll pay and the places to stay.