Travel Information From Ecuador to Benin

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Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (Influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Shingles

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Cholera

Vaccination may be considered for adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission. Active cholera transmission is widespread in Benin. Cholera is rare in travelers but can be severe. Certain factors may increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease. Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Benin.
Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.
Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.
Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages to Benin.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to Benin take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

Meningitis (Meningococcal disease)

Recommended for travelers 2 months old or older traveling to Benin during the dry season (December to June).

Polio

A single lifetime booster dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is recommended for adults who received the routine polio vaccination series as children; the routine series is recommended for unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children and adults and those with unknown vaccination status.

Rabies

Rabid dogs are commonly found in Benin. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Benin, there may be limited or no rabies treatment available.
Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.
Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include
• Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
• Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
• Visitors to rural areas
Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Benin.

Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Yellow Fever

Required for arriving travelers from all countries if traveler is ≥9 months of age.
Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months of age.

Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

Local Phrases Language : French

Local Phrases :

Greetings

Hello = Bonjour
Good morning = Bonjour
Good afternoon = Bon après-midi
Goodbye = Au revoir
Nice to meet you = Ravi de vous rencontrer

Conversational

How are you? = Comment vas-tu?
I am good thank you = Je vais bien, merci
What’s your name? = Quel est ton nom?
My name is … = Mon nom est …
Do you speak English? = Parlez vous anglais?
I don’t speak … = je ne parle pas…
How do you say… in … = Comment dit-on… en…
I don’t understand = je ne comprends pas

Basics

Yes = Oui
No = Non
Please = S'il vous plaît
Thank you = Merci
You’re welcome = Je vous en prie
Excuse me please (as a question) = Excusez moi s'il vous plait
Excuse me (as sorry) = Pardon
Wait = Attendre
Hurry up = Dépêche-toi
Go away = S'en aller
Let’s go to = Allons à
I want to go to … = Je veux aller à …
A little bit = Un peu
A lot = Beaucoup

Shopping & Eating Out

Restaurant = Restaurant
Do you have? … = As-tu? …
Not too spicy = Pas trop épicé
It was delicious = C'était délicieux
The bill, please = The bill, please
How much? = Combien?
Very expensive = Très cher
Can you reduce the price? = Pouvez-vous réduire le prix?
Please can I have a beer? = S'il vous plaît, puis-je avoir une bière ?

Transportation & Directions

Taxi = Taxi
Car = Auto
Bus = Bus
Go Right = aller à droite
Go Left = va à gauche
Go Straight = Allez tout droit
Stop here = Arrêtez ici

Places

Downtown = Centre ville
Street = Rue
Hotel = Hôtel
Museum = Musée
Mall = Centre commercial
Market = Marché
Hospital = Hôpital
Doctor = Docteur
Police = Police
Post office = Bureau de poste
Bank = Banque

Time & Dates

What time is it? = Quelle heure est-il?
Today = Aujourd'hui
Tomorrow = Demain
The day after tomorrow = Le surlendemain
Yesterday = Hier
When? = Lorsque?

Emergencies

Where is the toilet? = Où sont les toilettes?
Help me, please = Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît
Call an ambulance = Appelle une ambulance
I don’t feel goo = je ne me sens pas bien

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Benin is one of the main centres of voodoo practices and that culture remains prevalent. You should research and respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities. Possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs is a serious offence and can result in lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines. Photography near sensitive or government sites, like military installations or the airport, is strictly prohibited. Homosexuality is legal in Benin, but homosexual relationships are not universally accepted. You should be discreet. You should politely and firmly decline requests for ‘gifts’ from officials to facilitate administrative matters.

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Porto Novo

Porto-Novo is a port city and the capital of Benin, in West Africa. It’s known for colonial buildings like the Brazilian-style Great Mosque, formerly a church. The Ethnographic Museum displays ceremonial masks, musical instruments and costumes. The Musée da Silva recounts Benin’s history and celebrates Afro-Brazilian culture. Just east, the Honmé Museum was King Toffa’s 19th-century royal palace.

Customs Allowances : Click Here

Robbery

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 yourself a target for robbery.

Fraud

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.

International Driving Permit 1949 is required

• The most common religion in Benin is Christianity
• Don't forget to shake hands on arrival and departure.
• Don't worry about direct communication style - it's common and there are not many taboos when speaking your mind.
• Don't refuse food and drink when offered - it's a key element of hospitality and refusing may be considered rude.
• Don't photograph government buildings and official sites without special permission.
• Don't use left hand when eating or offering something to another person. Many people eat in traditional style - using fingers of the right hand.
• Don't look away when meeting or discussing with people - direct eye contact is essential in communication.
• Don't let strangers navigate you through the crowded markets - it might be their plan for a crime. There‘s higher criminal activity in Cotonou like pick‘pocketing, purse-snatching, theft of valuables from vehicles, assaults, and residential burglaries.
• Don't drink any water available - boil all drinkable water or drink bottled one.
• Don't expect classy public transport in Cotonou (capital). Many people rely on bicycles, mopeds and motorbikes for hire ("zemidjans"). Take care when driving those at night for being mugged or robbed.

Do I need travel insurance to travel to Benin?

Travel insurance is very important when traveling overseas. We strongly recommend that you take out cover to travel to Benin. You can usually take out single trip or annual multi-trip cover to give you peace of mind should anything happen.

It can be a better and cheaper option to take annual multi-trip cover as it usually covers any number of trips taken in one year with a maximum of up to around 60 days away per trip.

We work with the top names in the industry and have already pre-selected the easiest, cheapest and best quality travel insurance on the market to save you time and money trying to find the best cover.

Travel insurance typically covers the following; however, you can tailor a policy to suit your needs depending on where you are traveling to, your activities and how long you are away.

• Medical Expenses
  Medical treatment can be extremely costly and add up very quickly, and include Overnight stays in hospital, minor or major surgery, accident and emergency treatment, drugs, COVID-19 treatment, journey home if you cannot use the original ticket, dental treatment, and many more unexpected expenses.
• Baggage and personal belongings
  If your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed it is extremely frustrating. If you must buy new clothes, toiletry products or personal belongings it can be very expensive and time consuming.
• Cancellation
  Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances you may need to cancel your trip. This could be due to several reasons such as illness, injury, a bereavement or many other scenarios. Usually airlines, tour operators and hotels have large cancellation fees, so buying travel insurance that covers this is recommended.

Health Care

Healthcare System in Benin

Healthcare of Benin is ranked 126th in the world. Benin's health system still faces challenges to provide quality services at all levels, including maternal and child health services.

Health Risk

Leptospirosis

Caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

Schistosomiasis

Caused by wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated water body.

African Tick-Bite Fever

Caused by Tick bite.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever

Caused by touching the body fluids of a person or animal infected with CCHF.

Dengue

Occurs from insect bites, including mosquitoes.

Hantavirus

Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus.

Lassa Fever

Caused through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Caused from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.