Benin

Beninhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/beninBeninhttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/benin/health-in-beninFind out the recommended vaccinations and stay healthy with these hygiene tips for your trip to Benin.2015-07-07T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/benin/health-in-beninhttps://www.worldnomads.comThis article is currently out of date, and we are working to update the information. For now, share your recent experiences in the comments section below. While in many ways Benin is more advanced than many of its neighbours, it is still a developing country and as such medical facilities are limited and not all common medicines are available. Travelers should carry any needed supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines. Water-borne diseases (including cholera), tuberculosis, meningitis and malaria are common in Benin. You should boil water for at least three minutes or use bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Like many West African countries, proof of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter the country. You should consider getting the following vaccinations prior to arriving: <ul> <li>Hepatitis A & B</li> <li>Typhoid</li> <li>Meningococcus</li> <li>Rabies</li> <li>Revaccination / booster shots for Measles, Mumps and Rubella and Tetanus-Diptheria</li> </ul> Pollution in Contonou is notoriously high, if you suffer from asthma or respiratory problems you should seek medical advice before traveling to this area. Finally, the ocean currents along the coast are extremely strong and treacherous. Several people drown each year because of the rough surf and strong undertow. These beaches are not patrolled so you should exercise extreme caution if swimming.Getty Images/Anthony Pappone 1158525566 Getty Images Traditional village of Taneka beri in Atakora region in in the north of Benin

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/benin/local-laws-and-getting-around-in-beninOur tips for travelers to Benin, what you need to know about local laws, transport, gas shortages and road hazards.2015-07-04T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/benin/local-laws-and-getting-around-in-beninhttps://www.worldnomads.comOur content is currently out of date. If you have traveled to Benin recently, share your experiences and tips in the comments section below. <h2>Local laws and customs in Benin</h2> Benin is again fairly benign in terms of local laws. However, like most countries, the possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs is a serious offense and can result in lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines. It is also prohibited to take pictures of military zones, airports or government offices without the formal consent of the government. Homosexuality is also illegal. You should respect religious and social traditions, particularly Voodoo as nearly 20% of the population practice Voodoo or Vudon. Also, you should always ask permission before taking pictures of people. Beninese citizens may react angrily if photographed without their prior approval. It is best to keep a notarized photocopy of the photo page of your passport with you at all times when traveling in Benin. <h2>Getting around</h2> Many of the main streets in Contonou are paved, but side streets in the city are mostly dirt and full of potholes. Generally, roads throughout Benin are in poor condition and are often impassable during the rainy season, which is from mid-June to Mid-September. Four-wheel drive vehicles with full spare tires and emergency equipment are recommended. Notable exceptions include the road linking Cotonou in the south to Malanville on the border with Niger in the north, and from Parakou in central Benin to Natitingou in the north-western part of the country, which are in fairly good condition. In the past few years, major work has been done on the roads in Benin. Plans exist for a new international airport with associated roads, and other projects are underway in the North of Benin to improve conditions in the more rural areas. Contonou has no public transportation system; many Beninese people rely on bicycles, mopeds, motorbikes, and zemidjans (moped taxis). Buses and bush taxis offer service in the interior. These are not always safe or well-maintained. Poorly maintained and overloaded transport and cargo vehicles frequently break down and cause accidents. Drivers often place branches or leaves in the road to indicate a broken-down vehicle is in the roadway. Gasoline smuggled from Nigeria is widely available in glass bottles and jugs at informal roadside stands throughout Cotonou and much of the country. This gasoline is of unreliable quality, often containing water or other contaminants that can damage or disable your vehicle. You should only ever purchase fuel from official service stations. There are periodic gas shortages, which can be particularly acute in the north of the country where there are few service stations. A few other things to be aware of on the roads throughout Benin: <ul> <li>Undisciplined & unpredictable driving practices</li> <li>Poorly indicated construction work</li> <li>Unmarked speed bumps</li> <li>Livestock on the road</li> <li>Vehicles without headlights, tail lights and/ or brake lights</li> <li>Night driving: with few exceptions, Cotonou and other cities lack street lighting</li> </ul> The National Police periodically conduct vehicle checks at provisional roadblocks in an effort to improve road safety and reduce the increasing number of carjacking. When stopped at such a roadblock, you must have all of the vehicle's documentation available to present to the authorities.Getty Images/peeterv 1172287440 Getty Images People on the streets of Benin

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/benin/crime-in-beninFind out about criminal activity in Benin, how to stay safe on the roads, and common forms of fraud in the country.2015-06-07T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/benin/crime-in-beninhttps://www.worldnomads.comThe capital city of Benin is Porto Novo, but the largest city and administrative capital is Cotonou. While traveling to these cities, there are a few crime issues travelers need to be aware of. Street crime, robberies, car-jackings, and muggings do occur in the country, particularly along Boulevard de France (the beach road by the Marina and Novotel Hotels) and on the beaches near hotels visited frequently by travelers. <h2>Criminal activity in Benin</h2> There have been recent reports on the use of force in robberies, including armed hold-ups. Don't carry valuables while traveling around Benin, and only carry a photocopy of your passport, not the real thing. Use your common sense and don't flash your cash, which would definitely make you a target for robbery. Similar to the situation in other countries throughout West Africa, travelers should avoid isolated and poorly lit areas, and should not walk around the city or the beaches between dusk and dawn. The Dantokpa market is particularly dangerous at night. It's common sense really, stay in well lit and populated areas, and in Benin, don't wander off the beaten track. <h2>Safety on the roads</h2> Some of the border areas, notably the Nigeria border are very dangerous, where armed robberies and banditry have been reported. Car jackings have been reported on highways and rural roads. Exercise caution while in a car or taxi: keep the windows rolled up, the doors locked, and stay alert for any suspicious behavior or attempts by people on the streets to stop a moving car. <h2>Fraud in Benin</h2> It can surely come as no surprise that fraud is rife throughout West Africa, so you should exercise extreme caution when using credit cards and ATM machines. Business and internet fraud is also common so if you are presented with a proposal for a quick and simple transaction, be alert and wary, don't become a victim. Also, corruption is endemic in Benin - if you are requested to provide a "gift" to facilitate official matters, just politely decline.Getty Images/peeterv 1172372825 Getty Images Streets of Ouidah, Benin