Can a woman travel alone in Benin?
Yes, in the south of the country: Ouidah, Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Abomey, Grand-Popo. France, the United States and Canada place the whole of Benin under increased caution and formally advise against the north, the Pendjari and W parks and the border areas with Burkina Faso and Niger. ONG Wa Afriki works only in the south.
What precautions should you take?
Those of any busy tourist area: valuables out of sight, copies of documents kept apart, no walking alone at night. Night driving outside towns is the main everyday risk: have your journeys organised. In Cotonou, avoid the port districts and those along the central railway lines at night, and beware of pickpockets at Dantokpa market.
How should you dress?
Decently and covered, shoulders and legs. It is required at the Kpassè Sacred Forest and appreciated everywhere else, especially in sacred places and during ceremonies. Near the shrines of Mami Wata or by the sea during a ritual, immaculate white is the customary colour.
Travelling alone does not mean being alone
With After Vodundays, you join a team of 10 in Standard or 5 in VIP, with three people assigned to the group for the whole stay and nights at the Agondji Palace. You keep your freedom without ever being isolated. A WhatsApp line answers every day from 7 am to 11 pm, on +229 01 61 70 36 66.
What to do before leaving?
Register with your embassy or your country's traveller registration service, take out insurance with medical repatriation, and leave your itinerary with someone close. Keep the number of your accommodation and of the team on your phone.
Official sources
- diplomatie.gouv.fr · Conseils aux voyageurs
- travel.state.gov · U.S. Department of State
- travel.gc.ca · Canada
Further reading
Your trip, built with you
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