Travel to Benin Republic From Nigeria – All You Need to Know

Travelling to Benin Republic From Nigeria – All You Have to Know
In case you are planning to go to the Republic of Benin from Nigeria, this publish is for you. It’ll cowl every thing you must learn about crossing one of many busiest borders in West Africa. It’ll additionally cowl the price, the place to remain, locations to go to and so on. The Benin republic/Nigeria border is in a city referred to as Seme. The Nigeria Benin border is popularly referred to as the Seme Border.

Concerning the Republic of Benin

The Republic of Benin is without doubt one of the many international locations that share a border with Nigeria. Different international locations that share a border with Nigeria embrace Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic. Benin Republic shares a border with Nigeria at Seme in Lagos State and round Idi Iroko in Ogun. Seme is a couple of minutes drive from Badagry. The nation was previously often called Dahomey. It was, nonetheless, renamed Benin in 1975.

The Capital of Benin Republic is in Port Novo. Nevertheless, the most well-liked metropolis in Benin Republic is Cotonou. It’s also the financial capital of Benin Republic. The nation was colonized by France. It bought its independence on August 1, 1960. The official language of the Republic of Benin is French.

The Republic of Benin is dwelling to pristine seashores, sturdy tradition, wildlife, and exquisite vacationer points of interest.

Necessities For visiting Benin Republic from Nigeria

For Nigerians planning on visiting Benin Republic, the next are the necessities:

1. Nigerian Passport: Nigerians visiting Benin Republic should current their Worldwide Passport on the border. The Nigerian Worldwide Passports is a doc issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
2. The Yellow Fever Card: The second requirement is the yellow Fever card. This yellow card is proof that you’ve acquired a dose of the yellow fever vaccine. The cardboard can be for retaining data of vaccines required to go to different international locations. You’ll be able to solely journey after ten days of getting the dose.

Additionally Learn: How to Get A Yellow Fever Card

Vaccines To Take Earlier than Visiting Benin Republic

Make sure you take these two vaccines earlier than you go to Benin republic. If you don’t, you should have points with the Port well being on the border. Once you go for the yellow fever vaccine, make sure you ask them for Meningitis too. They’ll most likely repair one other date for that. These are the 2 primary vaccines you must take earlier than visiting Benin Republic.

1. Yellow fever vaccine: This vaccine is to guard you in opposition to yellow fever
2. Meningitis Vaccines:

The Languages

French is the official language. The opposite languages embrace Yoruba, Fon and a Gbe languages. These are the indigenous languages of the Republic of Benin. They’re all thought of nationwide languages.

Foreign money

The official forex of the Republic of Benin is Cefa, it’s also often called the West African CFA Franc. It comes within the following denomination.
Cash 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200
Notes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20000

Learn how to Get To the Republic of Benin By way of Seme Border

In case you are searching for stress-free entry. You may get a direct bus to the Republic of Benin from Lagos. These are some main transport corporations that go to Benin Republic Efex, ABC transport, Chisco Group Transport and so on. They’ll deal with the border protocols, the stamping and so on. They provide air-conditioned buses.

Nevertheless, if you’re on a low funds or an adventurer like me, you possibly can determine to do the stamping by yourself.
From Ikeja board a bus to Egbeda – 200 to 300 Naira
At Egbeda board one other bus to Iyana Iba – 300 Naira
From Iyana Iba board a bus or automotive to Badagry – 500 to 700 Naira

When you get to Badagry, get a bus going to Seme. Inform the motive force you’ll cease on the border. Please notice they could scare you that stamping is difficult, don’t thoughts them. Simply ignore and inform them to cease you on the border.
On the border, simply stroll straight into the complicated. Ask for the place to stamp, and do it your self.
When you stamp your passport, you’ll undergo one other set of routine checks by Port Well being who will ask in your yellow fever card.
Then one other routine verify by the NDLEA and customs.

Relying on the place you’re coming from, if you’re coming from the mainland round Ikeja and environs, you possibly can undergo Egbada, Iyana Iba axis. In case you are coming from Oshodi, you’ll have to undergo Mile

Crossing to the Seme Border

On the park, the motive force could attempt to cost you to cross the border, simply inform them to cease you on the border you’ll deal with the border protocols your self.

As soon as you’re approaching the border’s small gate, flash your Passport, it will grant you entry into the premises and typically chances are you’ll get questioned by the Immigration officers on obligation. You’ll be able to transfer to the purpose the place you possibly can stamp your passport.
To stamp your passport, you can be requested pay some cash. Effectively this shouldn’t be the case however it’s what it’s.
For virgin passports, you’ll pay 1,000 or extra relying in your negotiation energy and for already stamped passports, you’ll pay 500 Naira.

As soon as your passports have been stamped,
You’ll undergo the Port well being who will ask in your yellow fever card, then the customs who may also attempt to verify your baggage, then the NDLEA who may also verify for medication and different forbidden substances,
As soon as you’re clear, you’ll transfer to the Benin aspect the place you’ll undergo one other verify.

Suggestions Once you get to Benin

1. Perceive the Nation: The very first thing you must do is to know the nation, their forex, trade charges and so on. You must also know some primary legal guidelines of the nation. Additionally, you must familiarise your self with a number of the beliefs and tradition.
2. Change your cash from naira to Cefa: The very first thing you must do is to vary from Naira to Cefa. Please don’t depend on your ATM card. It might not work there as a consequence of CBN restrictions.
3. Hold Your Transport Fare: As a rule, guarantee you will have the transport that can take you from the border to your home saved individually. That is to keep away from spending your transport fare whenever you journey.
   Please preserve your transport fare separate out of your different cash.
4. Get a SIM card: Nigerian networks don’t work over there except you roam them. Nevertheless, the community firm will excessively whenever you make and obtain calls. Subsequently chances are you’ll must get a Benin SIM card. I’ll recommend both MTN or Airtel. When you get that, you possibly can load it up and activate web connections, it will prevent loads of stress.
5. Get a Common Adapter: they use a distinct form of socket totally different from those we have now right here. It is advisable get a common adapter that can can help you plug in your machine. This is essential, it might be troublesome getting one when you step out of the border.
6. Get an English talking driver: Search for an English talking driver to take you to your vacation spot. It will aid you with the language barrier. If you’re going to take one other bus after attending to your vacation spot, you might also inform the motive force that can assist you out.
7. Be taught primary Vocabulary: It’s best to study primary vocabulary like bonjour(good morning), Bonsoir (good night), Anglais (English). And so on

Issues to Do at Benin Republic

1. Benefit from the Avenue Meals: The very first thing you’ll discover whenever you go to Benin is the presence of avenue meals distributors all over the place. Avenue meals is well-liked right here. Get adventurous and have a style of the road meals.
2. Go to the Python Temple: The temple of the pythons has turn out to be one of many main vacationer points of interest in Benin Republic.
3. The Slave Route: That is the journey to the unique slave route in Benin. You additionally get to see the door of no return. It’s the place the place slaves are shipped to Europe and different unknown locations, by no means to return once more.
4. Go to the Nationwide Park: Benin Republic has a wealthy nature and wildlife expertise. A go to to the Nationwide parks will blow your thoughts.
5. Attend a Competition: The nation has a wealthy cultural heritage, you must attend one in every of its cultural festivals.
6. Go to the Seashore: Benin Republic is a coastal nation with totally different seashores. Benefit from the blue skies, the pristine seaside sand and the beauties of its lovely seashores.

The Price of Visiting Benin Republic

Transport to Badagry Between 1,000 to 2,000 (relies on the place you keep in Lagos)
From Badagry to Seme 500 to 1,500 (Will depend on whether or not you utilize a bus, automotive or bike)
Crossing on the Border (between 1,000 and a pair of,500) relies on your negotiation energy and if you’re utilizing a virgin passport or an already stamped one
From Seme to Cotonou (1500 to 2,500)

Whole – Between 4,500 and seven,000

Accommodations In Benin Republic

Accommodations are reasonably priced in Benin Republic, the price of a typical lodge in Benin varies from 6,000 Naira per night time to fifteen,000. Although there are costlier ones between 20,000 to 150,000 per night time.

Accommodations in Benin Republic

• Le Jardin Secret
• Diaspora Auberge
• Lodge Dk
• Auberge de Grand Popo
• Lodge La Casa Cielo
• Lodge de la Diaspora

Vacationer Sights in Benin Republic

• There are such a lot of vacationer points of interest in Benin Republic
• Zinsou Basis Museum
• Pythons Temple
• Slave Street
• Bab’s Dock
• Ganvie
• Grand Popo
• Fidjirosse Seashore
• The Cotonou Littoral Monument

Variations Between Nigeria and Benin republic

Roads: Benin republic has much better roads than Nigeria can ever think about. All the main freeway are tarred. All through my keep, I didn’t encounter a single pothole within the locations I visited. This isn’t an exaggeration, all the main highways are tarred.

Facilities: They’ve primary facilities like good roads, avenue gentle, water and so on.

Improvement: By way of growth, Nigeria is way extra developed than the Republic of Benin. It’s uncommon to see a brand new main building across the metropolis.

Information: Web Information is fairly costly right here within the Republic of Benin in comparison with Nigeria.

Street indicators: There are highway indicators on each avenue, each freeway.

Driving: Driving right here is simply too sane that I used to be nearly freaking out. LOL.

Vehicles: There are extra unique automobiles in Nigeria than within the Republic of Benin. I hardly see the newest automobiles round.

Transportation: A lot of the residents personal bikes, bikes are one of many well-liked technique of transportation on this nation. It’s also quite common to see ladies using bikes.