WARNING : this site is made for laptops and not for tablets
BENIN - Cotonou and around
Cotonou was settled as a fishing village during the time of the Dahomey Kingdom. The French were given permission to build a trading post, until they were given the region altogether in 1868. The city was used to defend against the British in their conquests. Cotonou grew to become the largest city in the country, right up to independence. Although the capital is located at Porto-Novo, Cotonou is still the nation's economic and population centre. It also attracts many government institutions and embassies, regardless of Porto-Novo's status, leading to the city being referred as Benin's de-facto capital.
BEST TIME to TRAVEL to COTONOU
BEST TIME to TRAVEL to BENIN
From November to January
church
red church
woman carrying a big load
Mosque
there is a lot of motorbikes in Cotonou
modern house
local market
local market
market
Atlantic beach
woman crossing the street
Atlantic Ocean
fish shop
How to carry a large piece of metal on a motorcycle
a couple on a motorbike
house with vaudou bas-relief
A river is crossing Cotonou and ends in the Atlantic Ocean
colorful shops
Lake Noukoué - the african Venise
shop
Lake Noukoué - fisherman lauching the net
Lake Noukoué - houses and water channels
Family journey on a motorbike
Lake Noukoué - Mother paddling with children
Lake Noukoué - windsailing on the lake
overwater village - a boat is mandatory to move in the village
Lake Noukoué - two ladies going to the market in town
Traffic is intense with a lot of motorbikes
No motorbike for the ladies in the countryside : they have to carry the food, the water and the charcoal.
Fishing in the Cotonou river
Motorcycles in Cotonou
Lake Noukoué - pirogue
Lake Nouaké - going to city market
Voodoo bas-relief carved on a house
women
beach on Atlantic Ocean
Sandy beach on Atlantic Ocean
house with a Voodoo painting : goddess riding a pig
local market
woman
Lake Noukoué - Lady paddling