West Africa can not compete with East and Southern Africa when it comes to National Geographic level fauna. Expansive human settlement and overhunting are the main reasons for that. But that doesn't mean you have to settle for pied plovers and green monkeys (no disrespect to them). Increased conservation efforts and a growing spotlight on [...]
Benin
Stories, recommendations and more concerning the country of Benin. See the country guide here for more trip planning information.
I just recently watched The Endless Summer for the first time. Any images from that immediate postcolonial period in West Africa are to be treasured, and this film offers a unique angle with a sport that many West Africans on the coast were likely seeing for the first time. Enterprising surfers have long been combing [...]
For overland travelers planning on visiting multiple countries in West Africa, organizing visas is often the biggest logistical headache. Visa policies are asymmetric and often vary from embassy to embassy. In one country, the Ghanaian embassy may not grant you a visa unless you are a permanent resident of the country where you are applying. [...]
UPDATE: Sadly two tourists and their guide were kidnapped in May 2019. At this time, we cannot recommend visiting Pendjari due to the various security concerns and the park's proximity to the Burkina Faso border. Hopefully the situation will change in the near future. Tucked away in the far northwest corner of Benin is West [...]
