From Benin to Burkina-Faso

[igham]

Hi to all! Just wondering why not so many people go directly from Benin to Burkina and instead go through Togo? Any issues with the border crossing (according to africa border monitor the border have some "issues")? Or maybe bad roads? We are on the budget now and thinking about save some money on the visa. Thanks!

[Mrwood120]

Hi I drove from Burkina Faso into benin 6 weeks ago. We had no issues, althought at the last police stop we were told to be careful over the next 60km as it's very remote and known for car ambushes. We didn't see anyone for those 60km

The road was rough but very drivable In a 4x4. It was very dry and dusty but I can imagine it's very tough in the wet. There was river crossings (dried out when we went through) and some steep rutted tracks


If it's dry then go for it, if it's wet the. I'd advise taking 2 vehicles

[Dave The Hat]

Mr Wood,

Just to check, did you take the main highway from Fada Ngourma (Burkina Faso) to the border at Porger and onto Natitingou in Benin? How recently did you take this road?

Dave The Hat

[CREER]

Dave the Hat - I would be very surprised to hear it's the Fada N'Gourma-Porga- Tanguieta road which is still in good shape with tarmac according to a friend at Fada

[Mrwood120]

No we came from pama along a rough 4x4 track and joint that tar road near the end to cross the border. It was about 7/8 weeks ago when we were there

[Dave The Hat]

Hi CREER and Mr Wood,

Thanks for letting me know. It has been a good 8 years since I travelled direct from Burkina to Benin so good to know the road conditions as they are today. remember the main highway south from Fada was pretty good tar with the usual potholes but as we know roads in the region deteriorate surprisingly quickly with no maintenance!

David

[Primusbeer]

I don't know if this info is still usefull but i took the main road from Natitingou towards Fada a couple of days ago. All good tarmac with not too many potholes.
Border crossing straight forward without any problems. And, according to the border officials, no security problems on this stretch.

[Dave The Hat]

Hi Primus,

Thanks for the update!

Do you remember if visas were available at the border (for either direction)?

[Primusbeer]

Hi Dave the Hat,

Visa going from Benin to BF is available at the border, unfortunately i can't remember the price they put up on a paper in their office (i entered on the famous VTE visa..).

Going from BF into Benin is probably not possible any more without a visa on forehand. I entered Benin through the Ketou border coming from Nigeria and the police officer couldn't issue me a vise neither stamp my passport. After some talking he gave me a hand written paper so i could drive to Cotonou without a problem and present myself at the immigration to apply for a visa.
Arriving at the immigration they were not to happy that i entered without a visa. the fine was 50.000 CFA on top of the visa costs (33.000CFA?) but was not charged in the end luckily.
I guess that this rule applies to Benin in general now and no VoA is issued any more..

[Dave The Hat]

Good information thanks for letting me know Primus, we will be going from Benin to BF later this year so good to know the visa is available at that border still.

Dave the Hat