There are beaches in Cotonou but there are not 'beach resort' facilities.
Generally a tropical climate.
Average daily temperature 28.5 Celcius/78 Fahrenheit.
Humidity is high for most of the year.
Rainy season in the south May to July and September to December; in the north July to December.
Dry season in the south January to April and August; January to June in the north.
Agriculture: An important part of the economy producing palm oil, maize, cassave, cashew nuts, cotton, rice, fishing.
Mining: Small amount of offshore oil.
Manufacturing: Food processing, textiles, beverages, cement.
Other: No other major contributors.
Official name: People's Republic of Benin.
Population: 5.13 million (1994).
Situation: West Africa.
Timezone: GMT+1.
Area: 112,620 sq km/291,760 sq miles.
Borders with: Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria.
Coasts: Atlantic Ocean.
Capital: Porto Novo.
Major Towns: Cotonou, Abomey.
Chief Port: Cotonou.
Religion: 70% tribal including voodoo; remainder Christian and Muslim.
Rest Day: Sunday.
Electricity: 220V AC, 50Hz.
Physical: Sandy coast leading to lagoons, sea level plains, savannah plateau. The Akabora mountains in the north west reach 500 meters/1600 feet.
Benin achieved her borders due to the legacy of 19th century colonialism.
These borders could not have been more inappropriate, because of the number of kingdoms which had to coexist along the coast, these were all powerful kingdoms.
The wealthiest kingdoms owed their wealth to the slave trade.
The slave trade began in the sixteenth century with the Portuguese.
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries Britain and France progressively monopolised the trade.
1727 the three European nations forts, on the coast at Ouidah were recaptured.
European interests moved from the slave trade to the palm oil plantations.
The French were the most successful in this and they gradually declared protectorates over certain areas of the coast.
In 1863 the British bombed Porto Novo this helped the French.
The French defeated the King and declared a protectorate over the whole region pacification of the rest of the nation was not completed until 1914 and still failed to succeed to put a stop to opposition to French rule.
Educated French Dahomians and former slaves constructed and circulated an anti colonialist newspaper.
Between World War 2 and independence education and trade unionism were used successfully in the making of the nation.
Dahomians were employed by the French in the inner administration of other West African colonies.
Independence occurred in most French colonies in 1960, workers were forced to return to Benin and became a distinct group of unemployed.
For twelve years after its independence Benin was known as Dahomey, this country went from one coup to another until a group of young army officers led by Major Kerekou seized power, they took the country politically to the left.
And for many years it was known as the Cuba of West Africa, its policies were based on Marxism and Leninism.
It tried to break its ties with the colonial era and so distance itself from the more moderate states of West Africa.
This led to tense relations with neighbouring states, border closures and the disruption of trade.
In 1977 another coup was attempted led by the French mercenary Bob Denard along with fifty other European mercenaries and thirty Africans, they were forced to withdraw.
They left behind documents which showed that Morocco and Gabon had financed the operation and that France was also involved. Relations with Gabon were broken off, leading to the expulsion of some 9000 Benenese from Libreville and French aid was drastically cut.
Kerekou's regime survived and many large reforms took place, especially in education and agriculture.
Benin is now considered one of the most stable places in Africa, many icy relations with neighbouring states have thawed
Official: French.
Other: Important local languages include Yoruba, Fon, Bariba and Dendi.
Currency:
CFA Franc.
Credit Cards:
Accepted in places, particularly larger hotels, travel agencies etc.
Banking hours: 08:00 to 11:00 & 15:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday.
Currency Restrictions:
Unlimited importation of local and foreign currency. Exportation of foreign currency limited to 500 French Francs or equivalent.
Tribes: The major tribes in this polyglot nation are Fon, Yoruba, Bariba and Dendi.
Countries whose nationals do not require a visa include:
+ Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rumania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.
Countries whose nationals do require a visa include:
+ Anyone not listed above.
+ Anyone transitting trough the airport and leaving the country within 24 hours.
* Visas are obtainable at
Benin embasies in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, UK, USA; or in French embassies where there is no local Benin embassy.