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

Travelling to Benin Republic From Nigeria – All You Have to Know
If you’re planning to go to the Republic of Benin from Nigeria, this publish is for you. It should cowl the whole lot it’s essential find out about crossing one of many busiest borders in West Africa. It should additionally cowl the associated fee, the place to remain, locations to go to and so on. The Benin republic/Nigeria border is in a city known as Seme. The Nigeria Benin border is popularly known as the Seme Border.

In regards to the Republic of Benin

The Republic of Benin is among the many nations that share a border with Nigeria. Different nations that share a border with Nigeria embody 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 generally known as Dahomey. It was, nevertheless, renamed Benin in 1975.

The Capital of Benin Republic is in Port Novo. Nonetheless, the preferred metropolis in Benin Republic is Cotonou. It is usually 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 house to pristine seashores, strong tradition, wildlife, and delightful 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 maintaining information of vaccines required to go to different nations. You possibly can 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’ll have points with the Port well being on the border. If you go for the yellow fever vaccine, make sure you ask them for Meningitis too. They may most likely repair one other date for that. These are the 2 primary vaccines it’s essential 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 embody 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 generally known 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

Methods to Get To the Republic of Benin By means of Seme Border

If you’re on the lookout 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 may deal with the border protocols, the stamping and so on. They provide air-conditioned buses.

Nonetheless, if you’re on a low finances or an adventurer like me, you’ll be able to 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 observe 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 in your yellow fever card.
Then one other routine test by the NDLEA and customs.

Relying on the place you might be coming from, if you’re 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’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 might be approaching the border’s small gate, flash your Passport, this can grant you entry into the premises and generally you could get questioned by the Immigration officers on obligation. You possibly can transfer to the purpose the place you’ll be able to stamp your passport.
To stamp your passport, you’ll 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 in your yellow fever card, then the customs who will even attempt to test your baggage, then the NDLEA who will even test for medication and different forbidden substances,
As soon as you might be clear, you’ll transfer to the Benin aspect the place you’ll undergo one other test.

Ideas If you get to Benin

1. Perceive the Nation: The very first thing it is best to do is to grasp the nation, their forex, trade charges and so on. You must also know some primary legal guidelines of the nation. Additionally, it is best to familiarise your self with among the beliefs and tradition.
2. Change your cash from naira to Cefa: The very first thing it is best to do is to alter from Naira to Cefa. Please don’t depend on your ATM card. It could not work there as a result of CBN restrictions.
3. Preserve Your Transport Fare: As a rule, guarantee you’ve got the transport that can take you from the border to your home saved individually. That is to keep away from spending your transport fare if 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 until you roam them. Nonetheless, the community firm will excessively if you make and obtain calls. Subsequently you could must get a Benin SIM card. I’ll recommend both MTN or Airtel. When you get that, you can load it up and activate web connections, this can prevent loads of stress.
5. Get a Common Adapter: they use a unique form of socket totally different from those we’ve got right here. You’ll want to get a common adapter that can mean you can plug in your gadget. This is essential, it might be tough 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 enable you to with the language barrier. If you’re going to take one other bus after attending to your vacation spot, you may additionally inform the motive force that can assist you out.
7. Be taught primary Vocabulary: It’s best to be taught primary vocabulary like bonjour(good morning), Bonsoir (good night), Anglais (English). And many others

Issues to Do at Benin Republic

1. Benefit from the Road Meals: The very first thing you’ll discover if you go to Benin is the presence of avenue meals distributors in every single place. Road 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 into 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 Pageant: The nation has a wealthy cultural heritage, it is best to attend one in all 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 seashore sand and the beauties of its stunning seashores.

The Price of Visiting Benin Republic

Transport to Badagry Between 1,000 to 2,000 (is dependent upon the place you keep in Lagos)
From Badagry to Seme 500 to 1,500 (Depends upon whether or not you utilize a bus, automotive or bike)
Crossing on the Border (between 1,000 and a pair of,500) is dependent upon 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

Lodges In Benin Republic

Lodges are reasonably priced in Benin Republic, the price of a typical 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 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 foremost 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 foremost highways are tarred.

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

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 development across the metropolis.

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

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

Driving: Driving right here is just too sane that I used to be nearly 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: A lot of the residents personal bikes, bikes are one of many fashionable technique of transportation on this nation. It is usually quite common to see girls driving bikes.