Tanguiéta is a town in Northern Benin

Understand

Forget Natitingou. The new Natitingou is Tanguiéta. With a more concise city center and a better small town feel, Tanguiéta is also a crossroads and an ideal place to stop and spend a night on your way to the gorgeous waterfalls in Tanangou (40 km on dirt road, a 3000F motorcycle ride), the National Park Pendjari (an additional 15km past Tanangou), the Saturday millet beer market in Tayacou (10 km, 1000F motorcycle ride on the Cobly road) or heading up to Burkina Faso.

Get in

From Cotonou, there are two bus services that leave at 7am and arrive in Tanguiéta around 4pm. This is your best bet. The companies are Confort Lines and Coton' Bus. Confort Lines has less leg room but gives you a free sandwich. Coton' Bus has more room, is an independent company and not a behemoth like Confort Lines and was also the first company to provide service to Tanguiéta. Both provide free bags of treated water. Your choice. There is also a return bus each day, again leaving Tanguita at 7am and arriving in Cotonou at 4pm.

Get around

One can walk most distances in town. Zemi rides range from 100-300 FCFA. There is no need for car services while moving around town.

Buy

Market day is Monday and Tanguiéta is at its busiest.

Check out the millet beer market in neighboring Tayacou if you are in Tanguiéta on a Saturday. It doesn't get started until the afternoon but promises lots of yummy millet beer and dancing old folk.

Sleep

Campement Tata, Tanguiéta The camp is located on the outskirts of Tanguieta close to a traditional Tata Somba. The camp offers rooms with fan, shower, toilet and TV. There is a small restaurant with traditional and European meals for visitors.

Hôtel Atakora, Tanguiéta The Hotel is located in centre of Tanguieta above Quidata supermarket. The hotel offers 10 comfortable with air conditioning, shower, toilet, water heater and TV. Food is available in the cafeteria.

Hôtel Baobab, Tanguiéta Hotel Baobab is located in Tanguiéta towards Porga. The hotel offers 16 bungalows style rooms constructed similar to the local architecture. All rooms have a shower and a toilet: 14 rooms have fan for and 2 rooms are air-conditioned . The restaurant is located under the shade of old trees which offers European and African dishes.

Hôtel Cascade, Tanguiéta The Hotel Cascade is located at the exit of Tanguiéta towards Batia. The hotel is open all year and offers 8 rooms with a fan, shower / toilet.

Relais de Tanongou Located at the entrance of the waterfall in Tanongou Hotel Relay offers a relaxing place to rest. There are 6 bungalows rooms with a fan, shower / internal or external toilet. The restaurant offers European dishes. The relay offers a minimum service from 1 June to 30 November.

Hébergement chez l’habitant, Tanongou In the village of Tanongou people are offering rooms in their homes and will provide traditional cuisine. Rooms are equipped with mosquito nets, lights, showers and toilets. The rooms offer a unique opportunity to immerse into village life

Camp Numi, Batia Camp Numi is near the entrance to the National Park Pendjari in Batia. It offers six rooms with water heater, shower and a toilet. There is a pool and a restaurant with European cuisine

Hôtel Pendjari, Parc Pendjari Hotel Pendjari is the only hotel in the park. The hotel has a total of 43 rooms and bungalows. There is also a swimming pool and restaurant. The hotel is open from 1 December to 31 May.

Hôtel Porga, Porga Hotel Porga is located at the entrance of National Park Pendjari in Porga. The hotel is also 7 km from the border between Benin and Burkina Faso. The hotel offers 12 rooms and 3 bungalows with fans. A restaurant is available to visitors. The hotel is only open during the dry season from 15 December to 31 May.

Go next

• Pendjari National Park - safari trips available to see big wildlife