Safety · Official sources · Checked on September 26, 2026
Yes, the south of Benin can be visited, with the increased caution that the United States, Canada and France ask for across the whole country. That is where Ouidah, Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Abomey and Grand-Popo are, and where our whole programme takes place. The far north is another story: every government advises against all travel to the Pendjari and W parks and the border areas with Burkina Faso and Niger. On December 7, 2025, a coup attempt in Cotonou was put down the same day. A month later, 740,668 people attended Vodun Days in Ouidah.
Every advisory re-read at the source on September 26, 2026
We quote your own government, not ourselves. Advisories change: check your country's official page in the days before you leave, not only this one.
By Bertian Hounon, founder of the NGO Wa Afriki
Four official advisories, their overall level, and what they say about the south and the north.
| Government | Overall level | The south (Ouidah, Cotonou) | The north |
|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesSource : State DepartmentReissued January 7, 2026 | Level 2 of 4: exercise increased caution (unrest, crime, terrorism, kidnapping) | No area-specific restriction | Do not travel to areas bordering Burkina Faso, Niger and the Nigerian states of Kebbi, Niger and Kwara |
| United KingdomSource : FCDOUpdated December 15, 2025 | No country-wide restriction | No restriction | Against all travel: W and Pendjari parks and adjacent hunting zones. Against all but essential travel: rest of Alibori and Atacora, and the east between the RNIE 2 and Nigeria |
| FranceSource : France DiplomatieUpdated September 16, 2026 | Increased vigilance across the country | Increased vigilance | Strongly advised against: border areas of Burkina Faso, most of Niger and part of Nigeria, including the Pendjari and W parks |
| CanadaSource : Travel.gc.caUpdated September 24, 2026 | Exercise a high degree of caution, with regional advisories | High degree of caution | Avoid all travel: the parks and a 50 km strip along the borders. Avoid non-essential travel: Atacora and Alibori |
Cotonou, Ouidah, Porto-Novo, Abomey, Grand-Popo, Ganvie
Increased caution, as in the rest of the country. No government advises against travel here. All of After Vodundays, Vodun Days season and 365 days, happens in this zone and only here.
Atacora and Alibori outside the parks, including Natitingou and Boukoumbe; the east along the Nigerian border
Canada and the United Kingdom ask travellers to avoid these areas unless they have a compelling reason. Rising crime and the threat of armed groups.
Pendjari and W national parks, the Mekrou and Djona hunting zones, the border strips with Burkina Faso and Niger
Risk of terrorist attack and kidnapping, cited by all four governments. This level is incompatible with any organised tourism.
On the morning of December 7, 2025, a group of soldiers announced on national television that they had overthrown President Patrice Talon, after attacking his residence in Cotonou. The attempt was put down the same day, with Nigerian support, and the ECOWAS standby force was deployed. The African Union condemned it that day.
What changed for travellers: the United States reissued its advisory on January 7, 2026 and kept Benin at level 2, adding unrest to the reasons. No government placed the south under a travel restriction. Vodun Days went ahead from January 8 to 10, 2026: 740,668 participants in Ouidah, according to Benin's national statistics institute.
We will not tell you that political tension cannot return. We will tell you what the official sources say on the day you read this, and we update this page when they move.
Benin City is the capital of Edo State, in Nigeria. It shares a name with our country, not a border crossing. Its safety is covered by advisories for Nigeria, not for the Republic of Benin.
Benin or Benin City: the difference →Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required at entry. Malaria is a real risk: take a preventive treatment. France reported a rise in measles cases in March 2026, so check your vaccinations.
Road travel at night outside the cities is the main everyday risk. On the programme, every transfer is organised by ONG Wa Afriki.
France advises avoiding the port districts and the areas along the downtown railway at night, and considers the city's beaches unsafe day and night. Pickpockets are common at Dantokpa market.
Keep valuables discreet, carry copies of your documents separately, avoid walking alone at night. The same rules as in any busy tourist area.
ONG Wa Afriki works only in the south of Benin. We do not take travellers into the zones that governments advise against.
If you are thinking of extending your trip north, we guide you with the same official sources as this page, and we tell you plainly when the answer is no.
After Vodundays, the programme of the NGO Wa Afriki, takes place entirely in the south of Benin: Ouidah, Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Abomey, Grand-Popo. Every transfer is organised, guides trained with FRABO accompany each group, and a WhatsApp line answers every day from 7 am to 11 pm, on +229 01 61 70 36 66.
The south of Benin, including Ouidah, Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Abomey and Grand-Popo, can be visited with increased caution, the level set by the United States, Canada and France for the whole country. All governments advise against any travel to the Pendjari and W parks and to the border areas with Burkina Faso and Niger.
The US State Department keeps Benin at level 2 of 4, exercise increased caution, reissued on January 7, 2026. It asks US citizens not to travel to areas bordering Burkina Faso, Niger and the Nigerian states of Kebbi, Niger and Kwara. It sets no specific restriction on the south.
On December 7, 2025, soldiers attempted a coup in Cotonou. It was put down the same day. No government then placed the south under a travel restriction, and Vodun Days gathered 740,668 participants in Ouidah a month later. Check your government's advisory before leaving, since the situation can change quickly.
Cotonou is under the same increased caution as the rest of the south. France advises avoiding the port districts and the downtown railway areas at night, considers the city's beaches unsafe, and warns about pickpockets at Dantokpa market.
Not safely. On the date of this check, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Canada all advise against any travel to Pendjari and W national parks and their surroundings, because of the risk of terrorist attack and kidnapping.
Benin City is in Nigeria, not in the Republic of Benin. Its safety is covered by travel advisories for Nigeria.
Yes. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers from all countries. A malaria prevention treatment is also recommended.
Write to us with your dates and your plans. We answer with the official sources, including when the honest answer is to change your plans.