Benin is one of a handful of slivers squeezed in along the West Africa coast to satisfy the jostling for territory that occurred between the major European powers during the 19th century. Like many of the great dynasties and local regions of power at that time, Benin’s fortunes were not advanced much by European intrusion, and of course the tremendous sophistication of its history and culture was virtually destroyed by the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
Prior to independence from France in 1958 the territory was known as Dahomey, which was probably more reflective of its ancient history than its current name taken from the adjacent Bight of Benin. Once known as the Black Sparta by early European explorers, the region was identified as a highly sophisticated political and social center. The remnants of this are evident in a diversity of art, music, masks and sculpture that betray evidence of past greatness and accomplishment not commonly attributed to Africa.
Culturally Benin remains extraordinarily diverse, with the population divided unevenly between a Christian majority and a Muslim minority, overlaid by an intermingling of traditional worship and custom. The latter is defined mainly by the organized animist/monotheistic religion of Vodun, a precursor to Voodoo, thought to have been exported to the Caribbean by the slave trade from this particular region of West Africa.

Benin is actually a small country but promising to gain its famous through foreign travel and holidays in Benin as well as adventure enthusiasts. Culture is very vital in this country with different languages along with ethnic groups as it is in West Africa. The difference in these cultures has made the country a beautiful place to stay with a diversity of music, dance and art. Besides the traditional, they have hip hop, reggae as well as local folks that remind people of the ancient times.

In the northern part of Benin, there are two national major nature conservancies that form the backborne of Benin tours and travel. Benin is surrounded in the northeast by the Niger River and still collaborates with the bigger Airli-W-Singou complex to have conservancies that enclose the national of the Niger River that conforms to a W shaped series of bends. The area is taken to be the most vital conservation region in West Africa along with the two crucial parks of Benin such as Pendjari National park in addition to W national park, these parks settle so many wildlife species although the birdlife specie is the most common because of the coast of Benin along with the sandy beaches that easily attract the species.

When to Visit Benin: Benin Holidays and Vacations

The Benin climate is quite not easy to predict because it varies from the north to south. The southern part of the country usually enjoys the tropical climate of the West African coast where as the northern part receives nothing because the area is a Sahel, dry and an arid area. Benin has two seasons thus wet and dry and the worst months are April, July, September to October. The hottest months are between February and April of which the temperatures tend to rise to 40 C.The Harmattan winds are between December and March and this is the best time to visit Benin

Travel Warning

The terrorism act is at a low rate in Benin although the crime rate is so high, there are places in Benin that are worth avoiding more in particular highways, other crimes include mugging,robbery,muder and other violent crimes. It’s always better to take caution each time you think of moving at night. People who love swimming must be careful because the rate of people who drown in the ocean is high. Besides all that, Benin is such a great destination that is trying to boost its tourism industry so as to be recognized by other Countries.

Cadjehoun International Airport is suited in Cotonou the largest city in Benin in West Africa, in 2007 it carried about 300,000 passengers and since then its only international airport in the country.Cadjehoun offers favorable services and it’s the only inter-continental flight from Air France to Paris. It has a complete network of national as well as Pan-African flights that link Benin with the rest of the continent. Besides that, there are other vital links such as Kenya Airways from Nairobi, Virgin Nigeria from Lagos, Air Senegal international from Dakar, Air Lviore from Abidjan along with Inter air South Africa from Johannesburg. With enough consultation, you can get cheap flights.

Benin as a destination is a great country with beautiful hotels and resorts that will make your holiday or vacation the most memorable. Depending on what you want, Benin has inns, lodges and guest houses for all people of different classes. Benin is located in the Western Africa on the north coast of the Gulf of Guinea, and for those who may want to have a vacation around the coast, the accommodation is in plenty and at times the choice may be yours to choose where to sleep in hotel, lodge or camp. Besides the coast, there is several accommodations in the western region and all the vital cities have luxurious hotels that will make your stay wonderful.