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

Travelling to Benin Republic From Nigeria – All You Must Know
If you’re planning to go to the Republic of Benin from Nigeria, this publish is for you. It’ll cowl all the pieces you want to 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 many others. 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.

In regards to 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 referred to as Dahomey. It was, nevertheless, 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 sights.

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 must 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 obtained a dose of the yellow fever vaccine. The cardboard can also be for preserving data of vaccines required to go to different international locations. You may 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. Whenever you go for the yellow fever vaccine, make sure you ask them for Meningitis too. They’ll in all probability repair one other date for that. These are the 2 fundamental vaccines you want to take earlier than visiting Benin Republic.

1. Yellow fever vaccine: This vaccine is to guard you towards 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-about nationwide languages.

Forex

The official foreign money of the Republic of Benin is Cefa, it is usually referred to as 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

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

If you’re in search of stress-free entry. You will get a direct bus to the Republic of Benin from Lagos. These are some main transport firms that go to Benin Republic Efex, ABC transport, Chisco Group Transport and many others. They’ll deal with the border protocols, the stamping and many others. They provide air-conditioned buses.

Nevertheless, in case you are on a low price range or an adventurer like me, you’ll be able to resolve 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 automobile to Badagry – 500 to 700 Naira

When you get to Badagry, get a bus going to Seme. Inform the driving force you’ll cease on the border. Please word they might 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 to your yellow fever card.
Then one other routine examine by the NDLEA and customs.

Relying on the place you’re coming from, in case you are coming from the mainland round Ikeja and environs, you’ll be able to undergo Egbada, Iyana Iba axis. If you’re coming from Oshodi, you could have to undergo Mile

Crossing to the Seme Border

On the park, the driving force might 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 generally it’s possible you’ll get questioned by the Immigration officers on obligation. You may transfer to the purpose the place you’ll be able to stamp your passport.
To stamp your passport, you can be requested pay some cash. Properly 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 to your yellow fever card, then the customs who may even attempt to examine your baggage, then the NDLEA who may even examine for medicine and different forbidden substances,
As soon as you’re clear, you’ll transfer to the Benin aspect the place you’ll undergo one other examine.

Suggestions Whenever you get to Benin

1. Perceive the Nation: The very first thing you must do is to grasp the nation, their foreign money, trade charges and many others. You must also know some fundamental 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 could not work there as a consequence of CBN restrictions.
3. Hold Your Transport Fare: As a rule, guarantee you will have the transport that may take you from the border to your own home saved individually. That is to keep away from spending your transport fare if you journey.
   Please maintain 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 if you make and obtain calls. Subsequently it’s possible you’ll have to get a Benin SIM card. I’ll recommend both MTN or Airtel. When you get that, you may load it up and activate web connections, it will prevent a number of stress.
5. Get a Common Adapter: they use a special sort of socket totally different from those now we have right here. You’ll want to get a common adapter that may mean you can 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. This can show you how to with the language barrier. If you will take one other bus after attending to your vacation spot, you might also inform the driving force that will help you out.
7. Be taught fundamental Vocabulary: You need to be taught fundamental vocabulary like bonjour(good morning), Bonsoir (good night), Anglais (English). And many others

Issues to Do at Benin Republic

1. Benefit from the Avenue Meals: The very first thing you’ll discover if you go to Benin is the presence of road meals distributors in all places. Avenue meals is fashionable 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 sights 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 among its cultural festivals.
6. Go to the Seaside: Benin Republic is a coastal nation with totally different seashores. Benefit from the blue skies, the pristine seashore sand and the beauties of its stunning seashores.

The Value of Visiting Benin Republic

Transport to Badagry Between 1,000 to 2,000 (will depend on the place you keep in Lagos)
From Badagry to Seme 500 to 1,500 (Depends upon whether or not you employ a bus, automobile or bike)
Crossing on the Border (between 1,000 and a pair of,500) will depend on your negotiation energy and in case you are utilizing a virgin passport or an already stamped one
From Seme to Cotonou (1500 to 2,500)

Whole – Between 4,500 and seven,000

Lodges In Benin Republic

Lodges are reasonably priced in Benin Republic, the price of a regular resort in Benin varies from 6,000 Naira per evening to fifteen,000. Although there are costlier ones between 20,000 to 150,000 per evening.

Lodges in Benin Republic

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

Vacationer Points of interest in Benin Republic

• There are such a lot of vacationer sights in Benin Republic
• Zinsou Basis Museum
• Pythons Temple
• Slave Street
• Bab’s Dock
• Ganvie
• Grand Popo
• Fidjirosse Seaside
• 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 fundamental facilities like good roads, road mild, water and many others.

Growth: When it comes to growth, Nigeria is much 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 road, each freeway.

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

Automobiles: There are extra unique vehicles in Nigeria than within the Republic of Benin. I hardly see the most recent vehicles round.

Transportation: Many of the residents personal bikes, bikes are one of many fashionable technique of transportation on this nation. It’s also quite common to see ladies driving bikes.