Ganvie is a pretty lake village on stilts in Southern Benin.

Understand

Ganvie market

Ganvie is probably the largest lake village in Africa and is popular with tourists. The village was created in the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries by the Tofinu people who took to the lake to avoid Fon warriors who were taking people hostage to sell them to European enslavers. Making the shallow waters and islands of Lake Nokoue a haven, the Ganvie villagers are often referred to as "water men" and the area itself is often called the "Venice of Africa." The village's main industries other than tourism are fishing and fish farming.

Get in

Ganvie is an easy day trip from Cotonou. Boats to the village launch from Abomey-Calavi. Tours are available from there (they last 2-3 hours and cost around 10,000 CFA), but you can also stay in the village. The boat ride takes roughly 35 minutes.

Get around

Ganvie pirogue

Hire a pirogue and explore the village on your own.

Sleep

Expotel Ganvie Chez Raphaël

• Chez M a Ganvie, ☏ +229 97 37 22 71. Basic rooms. Has a restaurant. (updated Nov 2023)
• Expotel Ganvie Chez Raphaël, ☏ +229 96 96 75 72. Has a restaurant and a market is held out front. (updated Nov 2023)