Natitingou - Natitingou

Natitingou (sometimes Born) is a city of Northern Benin.

To know

Natitingou is about 50 km from the Pendjari National Park, where tourists can see the wildlife of theWest Africa during the months from December to June.

Tanougou Falls and the large Betammaribe (or Tammari) mud castles known as Tata Somba (traditional 2-story mud fortress) are an hour or two drive from the city.

Geographical notes

It borders to the north with the municipality of Toucountouna, south and east with Kouandé and to the west with Boukoumbé.

When to go

The climate in Natitingou is drier than in the south, particularly during the Harmattan season in December / January, when humidity can be as high as 10% and night temperatures can be as high as 17 ° C.

Background

The city was founded by the Waama ethnic groups but is populated by Ditammari, Dendi, Nateni, Fulani, Fon and many other ethnic groups. The region takes its name from the word Nantibatingou, the Waama root "Nanto" refers to "crushing" as the local population was renowned grower and processor of sorghum, native to the area, and later millet.

Natitingou is equally divided between Christians and Muslims and, like the rest of Benin, is known for its ethnic and religious tolerance.

The mountains surrounding the region to the east and west are important in local animist beliefs and are believed to be inhabited by spirits. Some people subscribe to the idea that during the evening these spirits make sounds similar to those produced by the stones that women use to crush cereals. The adherents do not crush the cereals in the evening, so as not to confuse the two sounds.

White missionaries visited Natitingou in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

How to orient yourself

The city is organized around a long paved avenue. The arteries are often paved. With the exception of the buildings that line the main road, the buildings and homes are quite spaced. It is not uncommon to see a field or a meadow between two houses.

How to get

By plane

An airport was built there a few years ago but only served some official travel. The nearest airport is at Cotonou. You can also get there from Burkina Faso through the airport of Ouagadougou.

By car

Natitingou is only accessible by road. Regardless of the means of transport, you should never travel at night! Gangs of road cutters exist in the region and are more or less active depending on the political context (since early 2013, there has been a surge in attacks). The road between Cotonou is Bohicon (close to Abomey) is in really bad shape. Past Bohicon, even if the holes remain, it is already more tolerable.

By bus

There are buses from Djougou which is 78 km along the RNIE 3. Daily there are crowded from Cotonou.

How to get around

The zémidjan here they wear bottle green shirts with a large yellow sash in the back between the shoulders. It is not useful to run out to negotiate the ride before departure, here there is a single rate for the whole city: 150 CFA, or 250 CFA if the journey exceeds 2 km.

What see

• Natitingou Museum (Musée de Nati). 1,500 CFA. A detour to the museum is a must, even if part of the collection now seems out of the reach of tourists. 
• Tata Somba. Guided tour 10,000 CFA. They are one-story houses typical of the region. During each visit it will be necessary to buy some trinkets. 

Events and parties

What to do

• Bathing in the waterfalls. There are several waterfalls around the city. Tourists are often taxed to enter it. 

Shopping

• Wine gourd (Calebasse). There wine gourd it is a seasonal specialty of the region that can be purchased at the market. 

How to have fun

Night clubs

• Select. Admission 1,500 CFA. This club is absolutely not lacking in terms of aesthetics, but on most days it has no customers. However during some local holidays, this place will probably be full. Weekends seem to occasionally attract moderate crowds. Luxurious sofas, mirrored walls, disco lights, and a real dance floor give this club a look European. The cost of drinks is typically double the price of an average bar. 

Where to eat

• Chez Nana, ☎ 229 2301 2511. Specialty French is Algerian. 
• La Breche (Located on top of one of the hills overlooking the entire valley where Natitingou is located). Grilled steak with couscous or spaghetti 4,000 CFA, rabbit and side dish 1,300 CFA, brochettes (skewer) 500 CFA, side dishes 1,000 CFA. They have a historic Tata Somba where you can eat and drink. Service is usually unreliable, but the food is excellent and the view is amazing. They serve beers, soft drinks, and sodabi, the local liquor of southern Benin and the local beer by the mile, called tchouk. 
• Headquarters (From Goudrone (main road) heading north, after passing the large roundabout and the post office, there is a sign for the museum (musee) on the right. On the left, is the beer sign on the fence opposite). Sandwich with omelette 500 CFA, chicken and side dish 1,500 CFA, guinea fowl and side dish 1,500 CFA, side dish 1,000 CFA. This bar may not have an inviting aesthetic, but the service is exceptional and it is located in the city center, just down the road from the Hotel Tata Somba. This is also a good place to stop to watch Beninese television. Food preparation may take some time, but the family who run this bar are always more than willing to make the wait as pleasant as possible. A full line of beers and soft drinks is available. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• Campement Relais de Tanongou. Bungalow 9,000 CFA, additional bed 2,000 CFA. Lunch / dinner 6,000 CFA. Reservations can be made at the Tata Somba Hotel. 

Average prices

• Bourgogne hotels, B.P. 130, ☎ 229 23 82 22 40. Single non air-conditioned 10,500 CFA, double 13,500 CFA, single air-conditioned 15,500 CFA, double 18,500 CFA, single air-conditioned with hot water 25,500 CFA, double 22,500 CFA. Continental breakfast 2,500 CFA. Lunch / dinner 5,500 CFA. African and European specialties are available. 
• Bellevue Hotel, B.P. 85 (Single air-conditioned with hot water 14,000 CFA, double 15,000 CFA. single air-conditioned 12,000 CFA, double 14,000 CFA. single non air-conditioned 8,000 CFA, double 9,000 CFA. Additional beds 2,500 CFA. Continental breakfast 1,500 CFA, American clation 2,500 CFA, menu of the day 5,000 CFA, dish of the day 2,500 CFA), ☎ 229 23 82 13 36. African, European and Asian specialties available. 
• Tata Somba hotels, ☎ 229 23 82 11 24, 229 23 82 20 99, 229 23 82 22 00, fax: 229 23 82 15 84. Air-conditioned room with TV 26,000 CFA, plus 1,000 CFA tax / pax / night. Breakfast 4,000 CFA, 3-course lunch / dinner 7,000 CFA. This hotel has the only swimming pool in Natitingou and is lovely. 
• Campement de la Pendjari hotels (In the middle of the Pendjari National Park). To access this hotel you need to pay the 10,000 CFA park entry fee. Air-conditioned room 28,000 CFA, non-air-conditioned room 20,000 CFA, bungalow 18,000 CFA, extra bed 3,000 CFA. Breakfast 2,500 CFA, lunch / dinner 6,000 CFA. Reservations can be made at the Tata Somba Hotel. This hotel is only open from the end of October to mid-May. 
• Campement de Porga hotels. Air-conditioned room 22,000 CFA, non-air-conditioned room 15,000 CFA, extra bed 3,000 CFA. Breakfast 2,500 CFA, lunch / dinner 6,000 CFA. Reservations can be made at the Tata Somba Hotel. 

Safety

How to keep in touch

Telephony

Great mobile coverage.

Around

• Pendjari National Park

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Natitingou
• Commons contains images or other files on Natitingou

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