• Women of Ganvié village, where 27,000 people live in 3,000 fragile stilt houses

    Women of Ganvié village, where 27,000 people live in 3,000 fragile stilt houses

    © David Wall

  • <i>Tata Somba</i> house, built by Betamarib&#233; tribespeople, Kuaba

    <i>Tata Somba</i> house, built by Betamarib&#233; tribespeople, Kuaba

    © Craig Pershouse

  • Sunset over Grand Popo Beach, one of Benin's best beaches

    Sunset over Grand Popo Beach, one of Benin's best beaches

    © Kim Wildman

Benin: Overview

This tiny country has the highest concentration of attractions in this part of West Africa - fetish markets and voodoo culture, the remnants of the mighty culture that fed on the slave trade, and architectural anomalies such as stilt villages and mud fortresses.

FAST FACTS

Full name

Republic of Benin

Currency

CFA Franc BCEAO, XOF (CFA)

Population

7400000

Languages

  • Yoruba (other)
  • Fon (other)
  • French (official)

Time zone(s)

  • GMT/UTC: +1

Voltage

220V

Hertz

50Hz

Plugs

  • European plug with two circular metal pins

    European plug with two circular metal pins

MORE FEATURES

Beach at Sani Resort, Halkidiki

Teenage kicks and tots treats

If there were a prize for a ‘one-size-fits-all’ resort, Sani ...

Greg Norman

Best golfers to play in Dubai

The biggest golf tournament in the world this year will ...

Fjords of South Island, New Zealand

Luxury - New Zealand style

Space. Great, glorious, soul-rinsing miles of empty, open space, with ...