Africa Rice Center in Benin

The temporary headquarters of Africa Rice Center (WARDA) is in Cotonou, Benin. It shares premises with IITA (International Institute for Tropical Agriculture) at its Togoudo site, 13 km north of Cotonou on the road to Abomey-Calavi. By taxi or other vehicle, you first take the Lomé road north from the center of Cotonou, branching off to the right on the Abomey-Calavi road at the first roundabout after the national stadium, the Stade de l’Amitié. After approximately four km turn left on to a dirt road at the IITA junction, which is easily spotted thanks to the large IITA directional board on the right hand side of the road. Togoudo is on the right a further 2km along the dirt road.

Benin by air

There are direct flights from France, Belgium and many African countries. It is also possible to fly to Lagos in Nigeria where pickup can be arranged with either WARDA or IITA, and overnight accommodation may be available at the IITA guesthouse. Visa requirements for Nigeria should be confirmed. Transfer from Lagos airport to Cotonou is about two hours, and from Lomé, Togo, about three hours by taxi.

Visas for Benin

Citizens of many African countries (i.e. Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, ECOWAS members, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo) do not need visas for stays of less than 90 days. Visas are not required by citizens of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden. Benin has embassies or consulates in a number of countries, including Belgium, Cuba, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and USA, and in several African countries, including Algeria, Ghana, Niger and Nigeria. Two-day entry visas are available to travelers arriving by road from Togo or Burkina Faso.

Entry and exit cards have to be completed at the airport in Cotonou and at other frontiers.

Vaccinations

Yellow fever

An international certificate of vaccination for yellow fever is compulsory for entry to Benin and is strictly checked for air travelers.

Other recommended vaccinations

Tetanus, polio, diptheria, meningococcal, meningitis A, C, W135 and Y, hepatitis A and B and typhoid.


Health

Malaria

The risk of malaria is high in Benin, particularly during or shortly after the wet seasons. Resistance to older prophylactic medicines is known. Travelers should check for details of appropriate products with their doctor or a travel clinic before leaving.

Cotonou

Cotonou, with more than 800 000 inhabitants, is the de facto capital (officially Porto Novo). In terms of personal, safety it is probably better than other African capitals.

Time shift
The Benin is at GMT+1hour.

Electricity
220 V and catches with two round cards.

Telephone
Benin area code: 229

Banks

The unit of currency is the Central African Franc or CFA. A number of banks and currency exchange shops will change money for broadly similar rates. Hotels are likely to offer poorer rates. There are one or two machines where it may be possible to obtain CFA using a Visa card but this is not guaranteed and may depend on the country of issue. Currencies other than US dollars, euros or £ sterling may not be acceptable to some exchange points.

Hôtels

Budget hotels will cost from 5000 CFA per night, with mid-quality hotels around 15,000 to 30,000 CFA and luxury hotels at double this or more. Many medium-price hotels are in the central area of town with the more expensive hotels near the beaches.

Restaurants

Cotonou has countless small maquis and restaurants offering local or West African cuisine based on stews, chicken, meat or fish, together with rice, yam, manioc, couscous or pasta. European dishes are found generally in the hotels. There are a number of Lebanese, Chinese, Indian and other ethnic restaurants.

Transport in Cotonou

Taxis-motos or zems

These are the classic form of transport in Cotonou and also potentially dangerous for those unused to riding on the rear of a moped or motorcycle. They are cheap and fast when roads are otherwise clogged but leave the passenger exposed to rain, dust and Cotonou’s ample traffic pollution. Prices are negotiated before starting a journey and will start from 150 CFA. For journeys costing above 800 CFA (i.e. to WARDA at Tougoudo, it probably makes more sense to search for a taxi).

Taxis

Green and yellow taxis are seen everywhere in Cotonou but many are plying fixed routes and should be hailed by shouting your destination at the driver as he slows to pass. Taxis with all seats empty are rare so be prepared to share and be taken out of your way as your companions are dropped off. Rates in town for a shared taxi are only a few hundred CFA but an empty taxi for one hour should cost around 1500 CFA although you will certainly be asked for more. Some rates are written on the dash inside the taxi. Hotels can arrange taxis or cars with a driver from 25 000 to 30 000 a day.

Language

French is the official language and spoken everywhere. English will be understood in hotels and a few shops. Fon or fongbe is spoken in the south, Bariba and Dendi in the north, and Yoruba near the Nigerian frontier, with several hundred local dialects in between.

Dictionnaire fongbe – English – French