Latest revision as of 21:26, 1 November 2018

West Africa > Benin Currency to display:

1 Visiting Benin
2 Entering Benin with a Car or Motorbike
3 Driving in Benin
4 Gas price in Benin and Diesel price in Benin
5 Safety and Security Considerations
6 Camping in Benin
7 Navigation
8 Special Overland Travel interests
9 Vehicle Maintenance
10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Benin
11 References
12 Helpful External links

Visiting Benin[edit]

Benin, famous for it's Voodoo culture is a fantastic country to visit. Pendjari National Park in the North is one of the last places to view Elephants and lions in West Africa.

Entering Benin with a Car or Motorbike[edit]

Correct as of: March 2017

Travel Visa for Benin[edit]

The visa for Benin is easy to obtain at virtually any bordering country.
In Lomé Togo you can get a one week transit visa if you already have a Nigeria visa for CFA10,000.00 XOF.
In Accra, Ghana you can get a one month visa for about $20.00 USD in the local Ghanian Cedi.

Coming from the South, get the visa in Brazzaville, Congo for $95.00 USD

We came from Togo and bought a transit visa for 48h at the border for 33.000CFA, only pasport was asked for. Many others bouhht their visas there as well.

Required Paperwork[edit]

Passport of registered owner.
Drivers license of registered owner.
Original vehicle registration.
Proof of vehicle insurance - they might not ask for it, but it’s better to have it.
(OPTIONAL) Carnet de Passage

(no copies are required)

Process at border[edit]

Get yourself stamped in at immigration.
Go to Duane to get a temporary import for the vehicle. Using the vehicle registration the officer will write out a Passavant, valid for one month.
If you have a Carnet de Passage, you don't need the Passavant.

Cost of entry[edit]

The Passavant officially costs CFA5,700.00 XOF, and the officers are happy to round it up. Entry will be free with a Carnet de Passage

Permitted length of stay[edit]

One month

Extension of stay[edit]

Unknown

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country[edit]

Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.

Exiting with a vehicle[edit]

Hand in your Passavant to Duane.
Get yourself stamped out at immigration.

All should be free, do not pay for this.

Driving in Benin[edit]

Recommended books for Overlanding in Benin[edit]

Overland Travel Essentials: West Africa: Myths, Miscon...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon

Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary (lonely P...
by Lonely Planet
From $3.74 on Amazon

Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon

Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $22.49 on Amazon

Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $click on Amazon

The Footprints Of God: Divine Accommodation In Jewish ...
by Stephen D. Benin
From $27.95 on Amazon

Travel insurance for Benin[edit]

World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.

Vehicle insurance requirements[edit]

Liability insurance is required, police might ask to see it.
If you travel through more west African countries get a 'Carte Brun' which is valid in most west African countries at no extra cost.

Cost of vehicle insurance[edit]

Expect to pay CFA10,000.00 XOF to CFA20,000.00 XOF per vehicle per month, depending on engine size and vehicle age (newer costs more)

Where to purchase vehicle insurance[edit]

Unknown within Benin

Driving license[edit]

Anything from your home country will be accepted.

Driving side of road[edit]

Right.
RHD vehicles are allowed but ensure you have correct paperwork, because it’s a good chance for bribery.

Mandatory items in vehicle[edit]

You need two safety triangles, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher.

Roads[edit]

General Road quality[edit]

Main highways are good pavement, without potholes, especially those recently built. The main North-South route is good pavement, the route closer to Togo has many nasty potholes.
Minor dirt roads are frequently horrible with lots of corrugations. Many are impassable in the rainy season.
Always watch out for potholes on sealed roads - they can be HUGE, and hitting them fast will be very, very bad.

Road signs[edit]

Distances to the next major town are usually shown on the side of highways, and big intersections sometimes have signs.

Toll roads[edit]

Tolls are sporadically on the bigger roads, and sometimes small ones. The cost is usually CFA500.00 XOF.

Bribery in Benin[edit]

Bribery can happen, so keep your wits about you. Be polite, and don’t pay. See the bribery tips page for general advice.

Checkpoints[edit]

There are many checkpoints and random stops where Police will check all your paperwork. Don't pay.

Traveling with pets[edit]

List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.

Gas price in Benin and Diesel price in Benin[edit]

Last updated: March 2017

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade	Price
Unleaded (called Essense) (Pump says 91 octane)	CFA603.00 XOF per Liter
Diesel (called Gasoil)	CFA527.00 XOF per Liter

Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency[edit]

Gas and diesel are available all over Benin on the side of the road, coming from Nigeria. It's much cheaper than at the stations in Benin, though the quality is probably not so great. Because of that, stations with unleaded and diesel are actually rare. If you want to use a station, fill up every time you see a station.

Gas and Diesel Quality[edit]

Seemed to be no problem with quality.

Safety and Security Considerations[edit]

Driving at night[edit]

Driving at night is not recommended due to hazards on the road, vehicles without lights and extremely bad roads.

Vehicle parking[edit]

Vehicles seem safe enough on the street during the day, secure overnight parking is recommended in the cities.

Special driving considerations[edit]

As in all of West Africa, expect hazards on the road around every turn - animals, children, pot holes and speed bumps!

Security advisories and information[edit]

Camping in Benin[edit]

There are a few campsites in Benin, and a few hotels allow camping. Expect to pay between CFA2,000.00 XOF and CFA5,000.00 XOF per person per night.
Wildcamping is very possible in Benin, especially in rural areas. Try to camp away from villages unless you don't mind lot of attention and lot of demand for ‘Cadeaux’ which means gift. If you do camp in a town, ask the Chief of the village for permission first (he will always say yes).

Camping guide books[edit]

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water[edit]

Drinking water is generally not considered safe to drink for visitors who are not used to it.

Navigation[edit]

Paper maps[edit]

Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Benin

[world-kontinentalkarte 1:4 Mio: Algerien, Benin, Burk...
by Reise- und Verkehrsverlag
From $click on Amazon

Nonfiction Reading And Writing Workshop Springboard: A...
by National Geographic Learning
From $14.95 on Amazon

Togo & Benin 1:580,000 Travel Map (international Trave...
by ITM Canada
From $10.36 on Amazon

Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary
by Lonely Planet, Michael Janes, Jean-Bernard Carille...
From $3.96 on Amazon

GPS Maps of Benin[edit]

Garmin Open Street Maps has excellent coverage of all roads - highways and cities.
Tracks4Africa is an SD Card for Garmin GPS, and contain Routable turn-by-turn maps with 809,000 kms of roads and over 129,000 points of interest.

Gps Map Of Africa
From $click on Amazon

GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Benin[edit]

iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.

Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.

Special Overland Travel interests[edit]

List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders

Vehicle Maintenance[edit]

Dealers[edit]

4x4s / Trucks

Toyota Global Dealer Locator
Land Rover International Dealer Locator
Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
Jeep International site locator

Motorbikes

Local Garages[edit]

Add known good mechanics here.

Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Benin[edit]

Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle. List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.

Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

References[edit]

Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.

Helpful External links[edit]

Add any helpful external links here.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Limited_country}}
 <!-- Do not alter the following line. Include it as is. -->
 {{onRoute|West Africa}} {{metadata_country}} [[Category:Country]] {{pricecontrol_country}}
 =Visiting {{PAGENAME}}=
-''Give a brief overview of what it's like to visit. How easy is the border, how safe is the country, are there great things to see and do, etc.''
+Benin, famous for it's Voodoo culture is a fantastic country to visit. Pendjari National Park in the North is one of the last places to view Elephants and lions in West Africa.
 =Entering {{PAGENAME}} with a Car or Motorbike=
-'''Correct as of: <span style="color:red">(date last confirmed correct)</span>'''
+'''Correct as of: <span style="color:red">March 2017</span>'''
+==Travel Visa for {{PAGENAME}}==
+The visa for Benin is easy to obtain at virtually any bordering country.<br/>
+In Lomé [[Togo]] you can get a one week transit visa if you already have a [[Nigeria]] visa for <price cost="10000" currency="XOF" />. <br/>
+In Accra, [[Ghana]] you can get a one month visa for about <price cost="20" currency="USD" /> in the local Ghanian Cedi.
+Coming from the South, get the visa in Brazzaville, [[Congo]] for <price cost="95" currency="USD" />
+We came from Togo and bought a transit visa for 48h at the border for 33.000CFA, only pasport was asked for. Many others bouhht their visas there as well.
 ==Required Paperwork==
-{{visa_country}}
+* Passport of registered owner.
-''List the paperwork required to enter with a vehicle, including number of copies''
+* [[Drivers license]] of registered owner.
+* Original [[vehicle registration]].
+* Proof of [[vehicle insurance]] - they might not ask for it, but it’s better to have it.
+* (OPTIONAL) [[Carnet de Passage]]
+(no copies are required)
 ==Process at border==
-''Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle''
+* Get yourself stamped in at immigration.
+* Go to Duane to get a temporary import for the vehicle. Using the [[vehicle registration]] the officer will write out a Passavant, valid for one month.
+* If you have a [[Carnet de Passage]], you don't need the Passavant.
 ==Cost of entry==
-''State the cost for a vehicle to enter''
+The Passavant officially costs <price cost="5700" currency="XOF" />, and the officers are happy to round it up. Entry will be free with a [[Carnet de Passage]]
 ==Permitted length of stay==
-''State the permitted length of entry for the vehicle''
+One month
 ==Extension of stay==
-''Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.''
+Unknown
 ==Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country==
@@ Line 31: / Line 44: @@
 ==Exiting with a vehicle==
-''Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.''
+* Hand in your Passavant to Duane.
+* Get yourself stamped out at immigration.
+All should be free, do not pay for this.
 =Driving in {{PAGENAME}}=
@@ Line 41: / Line 57: @@
 ==Vehicle insurance requirements==
-''Yes or No if insurance is mandatory, and what kind is acceptable.''
+Liability insurance is required, police might ask to see it. <br/>
+If you travel through more west African countries get a 'Carte Brun' which is valid in most west African countries at no extra cost.
 ==Cost of vehicle insurance==
-''State the price of insurance and a time period.''
+Expect to pay <price cost="10000" currency="XOF" /> to <price cost="20000" currency="XOF" /> per vehicle per month, depending on engine size and vehicle age (newer costs more)
 ==Where to purchase vehicle insurance==
-''Describe where insurance can be purchased.''
+Unknown within Benin
 ==Driving license==
-''State the kind of driving licenses required. i.e. International Driving Permit.''
+Anything from your home country will be accepted.
 ==Driving side of road==
 Right. <br/>
-Unknown if RHD vehicles can be driven in {{PAGENAME}}.
+RHD vehicles are allowed but ensure you have correct paperwork, because it’s a good chance for bribery.
 ==Mandatory items in vehicle==
-''State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle.
+You need two safety triangles, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher.
-(i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)''
 ==Roads==
 ===General Road quality===
-''Give a brief description of the general road quality. Mention if one way streets are common.''
+Main highways are good pavement, without potholes, especially those recently built. The main North-South route is good pavement, the route closer to Togo has many nasty potholes. <br/>
+Minor dirt roads are frequently horrible with lots of corrugations. Many are impassable in the rainy season. <br/>
+Always watch out for potholes on sealed roads - they can be HUGE, and hitting them fast will be very, very bad.
 ===Road signs===
-''Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.''
+Distances to the next major town are usually shown on the side of highways, and big intersections sometimes have signs.
 ===Toll roads===
-''List the frequency and approximate price of toll roads.''
+Tolls are sporadically on the bigger roads, and sometimes small ones. The cost is usually <price cost="500" currency="XOF" />.
 ==Bribery in {{PAGENAME}}==
-''Briefly describe how common bribery is and whether it should be expected, and the best way to deal with it.''
+Bribery can happen, so keep your wits about you. Be polite, and don’t pay. See the [[bribery tips]] page for general advice.
 ==Checkpoints==
-''describe the frequency of checkpoints (police or military and what to expect.''
+There are many checkpoints and random stops where Police will check all your paperwork. Don't pay.
 ==Traveling with pets==
@@ Line 79: / Line 99: @@
 =Gas price in {{PAGENAME}} and Diesel price in {{PAGENAME}}=
-'''Last updated: <span style="color:red">October 2012</span>'''<br />
+'''Last updated: <span style="color:red">March 2017</span>'''<br />
 <!-- Do not alter the following line. Include it as is. -->
@@ Line 89: / Line 109: @@
 ! Price
 |-
-| Unleaded
+| Unleaded (called Essense) (Pump says 91 octane)
-| <price cost="1.02" currency="EUR" unit="liter" /><ref name="Travelcost">[http://www.mytravelcost.com/petrol-prices/ World petrol prices, gas prices, diesel prices|MyTravelCost.com]</ref>
+| <price cost="603" currency="XOF" unit="liter" />
 |-
-| Diesel
+| Diesel (called Gasoil)
-| <price cost="1.19" currency="EUR" unit="liter" /><ref name="Travelcost" />
+| <price cost="527" currency="XOF" unit="liter" />
 |-
 |}
 ==Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency==
-''Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.'' <br/>
+Gas and diesel are available all over Benin on the side of the road, coming from [[Nigeria]]. It's much cheaper than at the stations in Benin, though the quality is probably not so great. Because of that, stations with unleaded and diesel are actually rare. If you want to use a station, fill up every time you see a station.
-''Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.''
 ==Gas and Diesel Quality==
-''Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.''<br />
+Seemed to be no problem with quality.
-''State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.''
 =Safety and Security Considerations=
 ==Driving at night==
-''Discuss driving at night and if it should it be avoided. Mention why.''
+Driving at night is not recommended due to hazards on the road, vehicles without lights and extremely bad roads.
 ==Vehicle parking==
-''Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night.''
+Vehicles seem safe enough on the street during the day, secure overnight parking is recommended in the cities.
-''If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.''
 ==Special driving considerations==
-''A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).'' <br/>
+As in all of West Africa, expect hazards on the road around every turn - animals, children, pot holes and speed bumps!
-''List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.''
 ==Security advisories and information==
@@ Line 122: / Line 139: @@
 =Camping in {{PAGENAME}}=
-''Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.''<br />
+There are a few campsites in Benin, and a few hotels allow camping.
-''List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.'' <br />
+Expect to pay between <price cost="2000" currency="XOF" /> and <price cost="5000" currency="XOF" /> per person per night. <br />
-''Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.''
+Wildcamping is very possible in Benin, especially in rural areas. Try to camp away from villages unless you don't mind lot of attention and lot of demand for ‘Cadeaux’ which means gift. If you do camp in a town, ask the Chief of the village for permission first (he will always say yes).
 ==Camping guide books==
@@ Line 130: / Line 147: @@
 ==Drinking water==
-''Describe if the regular tap water is safe to drink.''
+Drinking water is generally not considered safe to drink for visitors who are not used to it.
-''If not, describe where safe water can be purchased and the approximate average price range.''
 =Navigation=
@@ Line 137: / Line 153: @@
 Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in {{PAGENAME}}
 {{paper_maps_country}}
 ==GPS Maps of {{PAGENAME}}==
-Tracks4Africa are the undisputed best GPS maps for Africa.<br/>
+* [http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/ Garmin Open Street Maps] has excellent coverage of all roads - highways and cities.
-Tracks4Africa is an SD Card for Garmin GPS, and contain Routable turn-by-turn maps with 809,000 kms of roads and over 129,000 points of interest.
+* Tracks4Africa is an SD Card for Garmin GPS, and contain Routable turn-by-turn maps with 809,000 kms of roads and over 129,000 points of interest.
 <al imageurl=http://www.tracks4africa.ch/images/stories/virtuemart/product/resized/t4a_1405_sd_200x200.jpg nolocalize=true>0986987662</al>
@@ Line 148: / Line 165: @@
 =Special Overland Travel interests=
 ''List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders''
 =Vehicle Maintenance=
 <!-- Do not alter the following line. Include it as is. -->
 {{vehicle_dealerships_country}}
 ==Local Garages==
 ''Add known good mechanics here.''

Difference between revisions of "Benin"