BENIN

Location - West Africa; Capital - Porto Novo; Population - 10 million; Currency - CFA Franc MORE BENIN

I spent 3 weeks in the small West African state of Benin, flying into Cotonou in February 2005.

All Francophone countries in West Africa, along with Guinea Bissau, use the CFA Franc

The Gulf of Guinea as seen from Hotel de la Plage, Cotonou. Many oil tankers can be seen going to/from Nigeria

Moped taxis, called zemidjans, are the speediest way of getting around Cotonou

Taking our Charlie Brown pirogue across Lake Nokoue to Ganvie

Fishing nets on Lake Nokoue

A glimpse of Ganvie village on Lake Nokoue, a fascinating place worth staying the night to soak up the atmosphere

Most buildings in Ganvie are made of bamboo and built on stilts - this is the main 'street'

The dining area of Chez M Hotel in Ganvie, where I stayed with my friend Christina

The market area of Ganvie, where people bring their produce by boat

Opposite the hotel, locals queue up in their pirogues to replenish their freshwater supply from a pump - Ganvie

A voodoo (or vodou) shrine in Lake Nokoue

Christina at a cafe in Porto Novo, Benin's capital

Porto Novo's Hotel Beaurivage has lovely views of fishing pirogues in the lagoon below

There are many colonial buildings in Porto Novo, this one now housing the Ethnographic Museum

A map of Benin and a vodou feticheur on the walls of Musee da Silva, Porto Novo

The grounds of the Hotel Tata Somba in Natitingou, northern Benin

Drinking at the shores of Lake Bali, Pendjari National Park. Baobab trees are common in the Sahel regions of West Africa

An elephant at Pendjari National Park

Warthogs in Pendjari National Park

Impala, Pendjari National Park

Hippos laze in the Sacred Lake, Pendjari National Park

I think these are waterbuck, Pendjari National Park (I must write the names down..)

Link to Pendjari National Park website here

Taking shelter from the fierce heat at Pendjari Hotel - Pendjari National Park

Walking to Tanougou Falls, close to the national park entrance

Tanougou Falls - the perfect place to refresh yourself after working up a sweat in the park

Making our way down from the top of Tanougou Falls

Tanguieta is the main town between Pendjari and Natitingou

Driving past a pen of harvested cotton near Tanguieta

The Betamaribe people of northern Benin live in tata somba houses, made from clay.
This tata somba house is between Natitingou and Boukoumbe

Tata somba houses, between Natitingou and Boukoumbe

The gardens of Chez Monique in Abomey

Some of Chez Monique's residents greet us in Abomey

Traditional song and dance was laid on for a Belgian delegation who were eating at the guesthouse (little did they know there had been no running water all day, but the food was good anyway) Abomey

The dancers are blurred but I like the effect - Chez Monique, Abomey

Vodou symbols on the walls, Abomey

Hwemu Temple is a vodou temple in Abomey

Houndossou, a vodou god, painted on Hwemu Temple in Abomey

Abomey was the capital of the Dahomey kingdom, which existed from the 17th century until 1894.
Ganyehessou was the first Dahomey king, his symbol here painted on Hwemu Temple, Abomey

Dahomey kings were represented by different images - Abomey.
I want to acknowledge the copyright owner of this postcard but don't have the details (HPS?)

Agonglo Palace in Abomey

Agonglo's image is on the left, Guezo on the right (see postcard above) - Agonglo Palace, Abomey

On the walls of Agonglo Palace is the voodoo symbol of Segbolissa - Abomey

Tegbessou is one of the Dahomey kings, as depicted at Agonglo Palace, Abomey

Semassou Temple is another vodou temple in Abomey

The vodou god Legba is the gatekeeper and, with his erect penis, an obvious symbol of fertility - Semassou Temple, Abomey

The painting gives a warning to those doing wrong. To its right is Legba - Semassou Temple, Abomey

Voodoo explained

Statue of Behanzin in Abomey, the Dahomey king from 1889-1894 who was defeated by the French

The Royal Palace of Abomey is now a museum

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LINKS

www.benintourisme.com - Benin tourist board

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