Cotonou, Place to Go Allada

Destination: Allada

Translated from the fon, Allada means "the king is dead." As evidenced by the name, Allada was once known for its royal families and there is, in fact, still a king living nearby today. This is a good stopping point for travelers heading from south to north, with a variety of restaurants and a bustling commercial trip selling cloth, wood carvings, etc. The area is also known for its pineapples and for agouti, a type of meat made from the local rodent.

Attractions

There are not a lot of organized, formal attractions in Allada. One can arrange a visit to see the King in Togoudo (ask at the sous-prefecture), or view the monument honoring Toussaint Louverture, liberator of Haiti.

General Information

Cost of travel from Cotonou:

700-800 FCFA for one place in an auto-taxi; the trip runs about an hour minutes by taxi from Cotonou, but can take longer depending upon traffic.

Best time to visit

From December to the end of April is the dry season, so this is generally a good time for traveling. November 1 is the annual festival honoring Toussaint Louverture.

Lodging

Le Royaume Hotel d'Allada

This is the only main hotel in the town, and is located off-the-beaten-path, ensuring guests a good night's rest. Rooms range from 10.000 - 15.000 FCFA and there is a restaurant serving African and European cuisine.

Restaurants

Festival Bar & Restaurant

Many people stop here because its at the center of town, convenient to taxis and zemidjans. Open all day, it serves local fare as well as pork, spaghetti, fish and beverages.

Le Terrace

On the main road when heading into Allada from Cotonou, across from the health center. This bar and restaurant has comfortable seating, slot machines, a TV and music. They make good omelette sandwiches, spaghetti, cous-cous, local foods and serve drinks. Open all day.

Ali the Meat Sandwich Man

This is not a restaurant, but a local man who makes tasty sandwiches and who can be found at the main carrefour (across from Festival) each evening after 5 p.m. Both the quality and the quantity of food are good.

Local Markets:

The marché is held every four days and is located near the train station. It is a good-sized market, with more than 50 vendors selling a variety of things, including the staple fruits and vegetables, smoked fish, rice and beans, etc. There are also a handful of men and women who sell the colorful African tissu or cloth; this market is a good bet if you're looking for cloth and will not be returning to either Cotonou or Porto Novo before leaving Benin.

The south: Abomey | Allada | Cotonou | Dassa zoumé | Ganvié | Grand Popo | Ouidah | Porto Novo| Possotomé | Savalou |
The North: Kandi | Kota falls |Koussoukouangou | Natitingou | Tanéka-Koko | Parakou | Nikki | Pendjari park | Tanougou waterfalls |

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