Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Benin is the birthplace of vodun—the traditional religion that travelled to Haiti and Brazil as voodoo. The coastal town of Ouidah was the final departure point for over one million enslaved Africans; today the Route of the Slaves ends at the Door of No Return on the beach. Cotonou, the economic capital, is Africa's most dynamic city you've never heard of—a center for secondhand car trade from Europe and a music scene that's gaining global attention. The beaches are rustic rather than resort-quality, but the cultural depth and genuine encounters make Benin one of West Africa's most rewarding destinations.
