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Cotonou,

Place to Go Borgou

Destination: Parakou

Parakou, derived from a Dendi word meaning "La Ville de Tout le Monde" (the city of everyone) is easily the most diverse city in Bénin with an outstanding mixture of Benin's many ethnicities: Bariba, Dendi, Somba, Fon, Gun, Mina, Dita Mari, Berba, Zarma, Ibo, Yoruba, Nagot, Hausa, Kabrais, Warma, Peulh, and Tuareg. The diverse array of people contributes to the many varieties of excellent cuisine prepared here, too.

Attractions:

- Musée de Plein Air

This is an interesting, although very small museum of Bariba and Peulh history. The guided tour is interesting and recommended.

- Le Palais KOBURU du Roi Akpaki Dagbara de Parakou

The home of the friendly local Bariba king, it is located down the hill from the museum and within sight of Grand Marché (look for two very large Baobab trees out front).

- Centre Culturel Français

The French Cultural Center is a good source for tourist information and often offers lectures, movies or presentations. There are also outdoor tennis and basketball courts.

- Centre Songhai

This experimental organic farm is an interesting place for those interested in ecology or agriculture. Located a few kilometers from Parakou, it offers a variety of vegetarian products for sale (such as soy milk) and also boasts a telecenter for those looking to send or receive e-mails.

General Information

Cost of travel from Cotonou:

By bush taxi, it will cost around 7.000 to get to Parakou, or you can take the reliable Africa Lines bus for just 6.500 FCFA. There is also a train that leaves from Cotonou with second-class seating for 4.500 FCFA.

By taxi, the trip will take around 5 hours; the bus will take around 7 hours, if it makes stops along the way. The train journey is best if you're not in a hurry, as it can take up to 11 hours to make the trip between Cotonou and Parakou. However, although long and somewhat uncomfortable (there's no air-conditioning), the train offers tourists a memorable experience. You will see outstanding views of the countryside and at each station stop there are vendors who come aboard to sell things, who can be very entertaining. First class is more comfortable, and there are sleeper cars available at night. If you've got time to spare and interesting traveling companions, the train is a unique experience and highly recommended

Best time to visit

Harmattan, from December to February, is the most comfortable for avoiding the peak high temperatures. For taking part in local festivities, Tabaski is a Muslim holiday celebrated with the ritual sacrifice and roasting of goats, and usually takes place March. There is also a voodoo festival in the spring, but the date is not at all regular.

Lodging

There are many, many hotels to choose from in Parakou.

Hôtel Les Routiers is a beautiful hotel located right in the center of town near the SBEE on the Route de Malanville. The rooms are air-conditioned and have hot water, but the hotel is betterknown for its other amenities: It has a zoo with alligators, turtles, warthogs, a small gazelle, and an array of birds; plus it often offers excellent artisanal products for sale, such as carved wooden masks, wall-hangings and jewelry. The restaurant serves French food and is expensive and good.

La Residence (vers COTEB) is very often referred to simply as COTEB (the name of the cotton factory next door) and has large, air-conditioned rooms, many with hot water. This is a popular choice for groups and it features a very nice, clean swimming pool.

Another nice, high-priced option is Hôtel Centrale, located in Quartier Kpebié near the restaurant La Douane.

Also notable, and lower-priced are Hotel Terminus, Hotel OCBN, Hotel Mon Pet't Pere, Auberge de Parakou, Hotel Papini and La Cigale (which run from 3.500 - 5.000 FCFA/per night).

Restaurants

La Cigale

Situated near the airport, this restaurant serves excellent French and American food in a tranquil setting, with a friendly (albeit slow) staff. Prices range from 1000-3000 FCFA per entrée.

Le Mono

Located near Cine Borgou, this a good lunch place for African food. It is crowded, cheap, clean, and quick and serves wagasi in the local sauce, fish, potato salad, french fries, cous-cous, beans, and pâte. Prices range from 400 to 800 FCFA; drinks are also availaable.

Le Miel, renamed La Borgoise, is a great bakery, serving pastries, bread, ice cream and yoghurt at prices ranging from 1000-2000 FCFA.

Maquis Amar, Chez Mamou, is situated across the street from Le Miel and serves good salads, wagasi, and rice. You can eat well for as little as 400 - 600 FCFA.

Musik Cafe Eisele, known as "Pression" has good beer on tap, chicken and brochettes (meat on skewers), served by a friendly staff in a nice environment. Beer is priced at 500 FCFA; a meal will cost you between 1500 - 2000 FCFA.

Maquis Hakuna Matata (Sans Souci) serves nothing but great roast pork, skin and all, with piron (a mixture of pâte and gari) for just 500 FCFA. A good place to try the local meat.

La Douane, Le Gargoterie Aledjo P, is a bustling, loud place with excellent African food, the best in Parakou. Among the recommended dishes here are couscous, ignâme pilé (a yam dish popular with both locals and taourists), rice, fish, chicken, wagasi, boules de sesame (little balls of sesame in a red sauce), sauce gombo (made with okra), sauce legume (made with a local spinach-like leaf) and mutton. You can eat very well here for as little as 500 FCFA, with the added bonus of great people-watching.

La Secret de la Vielle Marmite

Located next to La Cigale, this is another great spot for Beninese food, serving ignâme pilé, pâte, wagasi, rice, beans, chicken, fish, all priced at around 500 FCFA per meal.

Hôtel Papini caters to tourists and ex-pats, and serves pizza and pasta in a quiet setting. Prices range from 3000 to 5000 FCFA per person.

Hôtel La Colombe: Near Papini's and in a similar vein is the restaurant at Hôtel La Colombe, which serves excellent European cuisine at slightly higher prices.

Local Markets:

There are three large markets in Parakou. First and foremost is the Grand Marché ARZEKE, located right in the center of town near the autogare, the ECOBANK, and the Hôtel de Ville. It has between 500 and 1000 vendors, selling everything imaginable: cloth and cotton goods, cassettes and CD's showcasing local and imported music, kitchenware, local spices, fruits and wagasi (the cow's milk cheese, considered a speciality of northern Benin). The Marché DEPOT, near the train station, features mostly food products, including almost any fruit or vegetable and excellent wagasi, although you can buy calabashes and baskets here too.

Marché GUEMA, smaller than the two mentioned above, is located next to Eglise Guema on the road to Malanville. The locals shop here for the beef selection; there are also many Peulh products, such as hats, available. If you're in the mood to sample the local brew and see some local color, head to Marché Kilombo, known for its "chouk." This small market, founded by the Somba tribe of the Atacora , takes place every Sunday at ten and is situated in an idyllic location in Quartier Albarika. The market, a collection of grass huts, has two products: various types of the local millet beer, called choukachou (visitors refer to it as chouk) and pork. Most local people that shop here consume copious quantities of both. You may find yourself in a hut where seven languages are spoken, making for interesting conversation and much merriment.


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