Africa

Benin

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo.

Rise in recent attacks and armed robberies. Be vigilant at all times. Local militia groups, weapons (various), ballistics danger areas, mines, booby traps, vehicle security, vehicle convoys, personal security, ambushes, kidnappings, bandits/corruption, gunfire/snipers, legal/illegal checkpoints, armed robberies, general travel, navigation, off road driving, building/office security, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation/sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, helicopter safety, terrorism, cultures/customs, communications, emergency shelters.

Unsafe. Use bottled water only - found in major cities.

Mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains.

Tropical; hot, humid in south; semi-arid in north.

Hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March.

Bacterial and protozoal diarrhoea, bilharzia, cholera, hepatitis A, HIV/AIDS, malaria, meningococcal meningitis, polio, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, trypanosomiasis, yellow fever.
Hospital: Centre Hospitalier Departemental de lâ Oueme, Porto Novo. Tel: 213229

Inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification.

Cotonou has no public transport. Avoid driving out of the main towns at night. When leaving main roads, conditions become difficult, particularly in the rainy seasons, March to July and September to November.

Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) (5 days)
Centurion's flagship Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) course is for people who operate world wide, particularly in areas where there may be personal health or safety concerns. It is extremely effective for "frontline" organisations.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.