Things to do in Benin
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Parc National de Pendjari
This 275,000-hectare national park 45km (28mi) north of Natitingou, is the wildlife park par excellence in this part of West Africa. Visitors may spot lions, leopards, elephants, baboons and hippos. The best viewing time is near the end of the dry season when the animals start to hover around the water holes.
With waterfalls, a woody landscape and good tracks, it is a pleasure to drive around. The park adjoins the Parc National d'Arli in Burkina Faso and is bordered to the west, north and east by the Pendjari River.
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Le Costa Rica
Don't be scared off by the paintings at the entrance of those formidable Gauls, Asterix and Obelix - this French-owned joint is the coolest city-centre spot to sink a draft beer. Its pizza, steak and seafood dishes are also popular.
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Indiana
This Indian-run restaurant with garden seating, on the same street as Le Livingstone, does a delicious curry.
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Pili Pili
This slightly upmarket maquis (open-air restaurant) rates equally highly with Beninese and expats for its amazing West African food. Prices are very reasonable and the jugs of freshly squeezed pineapple juice at lunch time are a refreshing godsend.
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Grand Marché du Dantokpa
The seemingly endless Grand Marché du Dantokpa is Cotonou's exhilarating, exhausting heart, bordered by the lagoon and Blvd St Michel. Everything under the sun can be purchased in its labyrinthine lanes, particularly if 'everything' happens to be a dodgy Lucky Dube CD or a pair of plastic sandals. More traditional fare, such as batiks and Fon jewellery, can be found in the market building. There is also a fetish market, located near the pirogues arriving from the lagoon.
Look out for the so-called 'Mama Benz', the haughty matriarchs of the market who are named after their favourite make of car.
reviewed
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Dakar To Ghana
- The Gambia, Togo, Senegal, Dakar, Benin, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, World
- Tours › Overland
by Intrepid
Not LP reviewed
from USD$5,360 -
from USD$1,905
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Grand Marché du Danktokpa
This huge must-see market sells everything from food, radios, waxed cloth, pottery and baskets to bat wings and monkey testicles. Hunt down a le fetiche d'amour (a love fetish). Rub it on your hands, whisper to it seven times the name of the desired one, then touch that person and they're yours!
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Le Repaire de Bacchus
Le Repaire de Bacchus has live jazz on Thursday from 10.30pm, and music such as rumba and Ivorian sounds on Friday and Saturday.
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Maquis le Mandingue
Dishes such as fish of the season, in gombo (green vegetable), yassa (lemon, onion and mustard) and arachide sauces, are available in this popular but tranquil place with a garden and, on some nights, a harmonica player.
reviewed
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Sandwich Ladies
The stalls in front of Maquis Le Lagon Grill on Blvd Steinmetz are perennial favourites, as are the Sandwich Ladies on the same street as Paradise nightclub. They allow you to create your own rolls with sausages, hot pepper sauce and loads more.
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Centre de Promotion de l'Artisinal
There are more beckoning hands than quality work in this large centre, but it's worth a look to get your cultural bearings. The boutiques sell woodcarvings, bronzes, batiks, leather goods, jewellery and appliqué banners.
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Chez Maman Bénin
This long-standing no-frills canteen off Blvd St Michel has a large selection of West African dishes scooped from steaming pots. There's no decor but a couple of blaring TVs showing the latest football action.
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Chez Clarisse
This small French restaurant, in a pretty residential area next to the US embassy, is a perennial favourite that churns out excellent European and African specialities.
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Le Livingstone
Le Livingstone is popular with expats who come here to chill out to the tune of Western pop and sport channels.
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Hai King
Close to Haie Vive, Hai Kind is popular with expats and serves great Chinese food on an atmospheric covered roof terrace overlooking the bustling Carrefour de Cadjéhoun.
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Maquis Le Lagon
Tasty but stingy portions of grilled chicken and chips and the like. You eat on the boulevard and get a front-row view of one of Cotonou's quieter thoroughfares.
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Restaurant Romantica
A limited menu but a mellow atmosphere and a great location next to Hôtel du Lac, in view of the zemi-johns hurling themselves over Pont Ancien.
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Le Téké
Benin Marina Hotel's Le Téké is fun on holidays and special occasions, any time there's a crowd; otherwise it's usually pretty dead.
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Restaurant l'Amitié
About 100m southwest of Hôtel Babo, this Senegalese lunchtime joint is one of the best places in town for a spot of fish and rice.
reviewed
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Sonaec
A smart bookshop which stocks the latest periodicals, maps and some photography books on West Africa.
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La Verdure
Tucked away, just west of Blvd Steinmetz, is this great little French seafood restaurant, which also has a bar with a pool table.
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Restaurant Mandarine
Turkish cakes and coffee in the morning, kebabs later on. Next to the Air France office on the southwestern edge of town.
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New York, New York
A glitzy hall of mirrors, frequented by some of the friendliest young ladies you'll encounter this side of Lomé.
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Hôtel du Port Boutique
Try the Hôtel du Port boutique, which is expensive but not as bad as the boutiques at the two top-end hotels.
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