Mission to Cotonou and Parakou

This is my third trip to Benin. I went there the first time on a mission for the corporation Accueillons un enfant ( Mission in Parakou) and then on vacation ( 16 days in Benin ).

During these two previous trips, I had the opportunity to visit the country as a whole. This time, I stayed mainly in Cotonou where the majority of my meetings were organized. I only went to Parakou for a few days in order to meet the steward of the NGO Caleb and especially to see the children of the NGO again.

Itinerary

Day 1 Flight Montreal Paris

Day 2 Paris

Day 3 Flight Paris Cotonou

Day 4 Cotonou

Day 5 Cotonou

Day 6 Cotonou

Day 7 Cotonou Parakou

Day 8 Parakou

Day 9 Parakou

Day 10 Parakou

Day 11 Parakou

Day 12 Parakou Cotonou

Day 13 Cotonou

Day 14 Cotonou

Day 15 Flight Cotonou Paris

Day 16 Flight Paris Montreal

Accommodation

During this stay I did not go to the hotel.

In Cotonou, I was hosted by a French woman who has lived in Cotonou for several years and who knows the city like the back of her hand.

Then in Parakou, I returned to the family who had welcomed me during my first mission.

Travel

Plane

From Montreal, there is no direct flight. So I had a stopover in Paris before arriving in Cotonou.

Bus

As in my 2 previous trips, I traveled by bus between Cotonou and Parakou. The road has improved considerably. Unsurprisingly, the bus broke down on the outward journey. However, the return trip went smoothly.

Zem

In Parakou, I did most of my traveling in Zem. These small motorcycle taxis are affordable and there are some everywhere in town.

Cotonou

The city hasn't changed much since my last visit. Travel is still done a lot with the "zem", small motorcycle taxis. The only difference is that wearing a helmet has become legally mandatory for drivers of 2 wheels. For passengers it is still not necessary.

During my stay in Cotonou, I was lucky enough to be driven by a colleague who knows the city very well.

In order to improve orientation in the city, civic numbering has been in place for 2 years. All streets and houses are now numbered. I was able to consult the city map at the French Institute. But in reality it is still very little known by the Cotonou residents.

Parakou

The road between Cotonou and Parakou has improved considerably. But it still takes between 8 and 9 hours by bus. The city hasn't changed much. I can find my way around quite well now. Unlike Cotonou, the mandatory wearing of helmets for 2-wheel drivers has clearly not reached Parakou! But the traffic is really incomparable between the two cities.

The new Parakou International Airport is almost finished. New 4-lane roads have been built to connect the city of Parakou to the airport. Everyone hopes that this will bring real economic development to the city and the region.

During my stay in Parakou, I visited a cooperative of women who collect and transform shea into butter. A great local initiative that provides work and generates income for women in the region.

See you soon.