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Meridiela.

Natitingou

The main town of the Atacora, the base for Pendjari and the Batammariba country.

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Typetown
WhereAtacora
Nearest cityNatitingou
Best seasonNovember to February
Time to allowA day
Getting thereIn northwestern Benin on the road from Parakou; the main northern route
EntryFree; museum charged

Natitingou sits in a valley in the Atacora and is the base for everything in Benin's northwest: Pendjari National Park to the north, the Batammariba country of Koutammakou to the west, and the hills around. A regional museum in the town covers the peoples of the Atacora, their architecture and their practices. The town itself is a market and administrative centre with the hills rising on both sides.

What you actually see

  • The regional museum - the collection on the peoples of the Atacora.
  • The valley setting - the town between the ridges of the range.
  • The market - the trading centre for the surrounding hill country.
  • The base position - the departure point for Pendjari and Koutammakou.

When to go

November to February is the cool dry season and the park season. The rains from May close the park. March and April are extremely hot.

Honest expectations

The museum keeps irregular hours and has been closed for periods. The town is workaday with limited facilities. Roads out to the villages are rough.

Nearby

Tanougou Falls are north, and the Taneka villages are east.

What to pack for Natitingou

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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