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Geography & Climate

Benin is bordered by Nigeria to the east, Togo to the west, Burkina Faso to the north-west, Niger to the north-east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The total area measures 114,763 square kilometers; Benin is about 700km long and 120km wide in the South, increasing to 300km wide in the North. It is roughly two-thirds the size of Portugal, or about the same size as the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

The terrain of Benin varies greatly between the North and South. The South is a coastal plain with dense vegetation and several lagoons near the coast. The lagoons are created by the flow of the country's three major rivers (the Ouémè, the Couffo, and the Mono) into the coastal plain's sand bar. The largest lagoon, Lac Nokoué, divides Cotonou and Porto Novo. This lake is also home to Ganvié, the famous fishing village built on stilts. In the North, the terrain becomes more barren and mountainous. In the far North, the Atakora mountains reach a height of 658 meters.

Climate

Like the terrain, Benin's climate varies greatly from North to South. The South has a sub-equatorial climate, with 2 dry seasons and 2 rainy seasons (rainy seasons are April-July and October-November). The temperature in the South ranges from about 18-35°C (65-95°F). In the North, the climate is tropical, consisting of one dry season and one rainy season (rainy season from June-October). The temperature varies more in the North, reaching 46°C (115°F) during the hottest part of the year, which is from March to June.

Practical Tip:

Based on the climate, the best time to visit Benin is from November to May. This minimizes the chances of encountering torrential rain or extreme heat, and because it is the dry season in the North, it is the best time for wildlife viewing, as animals come south, into the national parks, in search of water.