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Introduction
Abomey, situated about 100km (60 miles) northeast of the capital, was once the capital of a Fon kingdom and contains an excellent museum covering the history of the Abomey kingdoms (with a throne made of human skulls) and the Fetish Temple. Nearby is the Centre Artisanal where local craft products are sold at reasonable prices.
Cotonou has a market, the Dan Tokpa, which is normally open every four days. The museum here is well worth a visit. The lake village of Ganvie, 18km (11 miles) northwest of Cotonou, has houses built on stilts and a water-market. About 32km (20 miles) to the west is the town of Ouidah, notable for its old Portuguese fort and the Temple of the Sacred Python.
Porto Novo, the capital, is the administrative centre of the country, containing many examples of colonial and pre-colonial art and architecture. The Ethnological Museum is probably the most notable place of interest for a visitor.
The northwest of the country is the home of the Somba people, whose goods can be bought at the weekly market at Boukombe.
Benin has two national parks. Pendjari is normally only open between December and June and has a wide range of wildlife including cheetahs, hippos and crocodiles. Accommodation is available. The ‘W’ National Park straddles the frontier region between Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso and is less well developed.
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