See the red circle around Cotonou, Benin’s capital.

More fun facts:

• Though Benin looks like a tiny sliver of a country, it’s actually about the size of Pennsylvania.

• Benin is one of the most politically stable countries in Africa.
• The Route d’Esclaves was the last African soil seen by the many slaves bound for Brazil and the Caribbean.

• Many regional languages are spoken, but French in the language of business (and what I’ll be learning).
• You can track lions, leopards, baboons, elephants and hippos at the Pendjari National Park.

• Benin is the birthplace of voodoo. However, only 17% of the population currently practices it; 43% is Christian, 25% is Muslim, 8% belong to other religions and 7% claim no religious affiliation.

• There are indeed monkeys in Benin! Whether they’ll hang out in our backyard and pester Abbey, however, remains to be seen…