Porto Novo , the capital, is the administrative centre of the country, containing many examples of colonial and pre-colonial art and architecture. The Ethnological Museum is probably the most notable place of interest for a visitor. The northwest of the country is the home of the Somba people, whose goods can be bought at the weekly market at Boukombe . Benin has two national parks. Pendjari is normally only open between December and June and has a wide range of wildlife including cheetahs, hippos and crocodiles.
Accommodation is available.
The 'W' National Park straddles the frontier region between Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso and is less well-developed.