Often called the ‘Venice of Africa’, Ganvie is a stunning lake village in the south of Benin and the largest lakeside village in the entirety of Africa, housing around 30,000 people. Built in the midst of Lake Nokoué, the island has no cars or motorbokes and the primary mode of transportation is a narrow canoe called the pirogue that locals use to navigate the waterways. Founded by the Tofinu people around 400 years ago, they built their houses on stilts in the lake with its network of winding water alleys. It was even recognised as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO back in 1996.
Ganvie is a village filled with houses, markets, schools, churches, and even a football field all elevated above the water, creating a one of a kind architectural marvel. The village is becoming increasingly popular and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country, with at least 10,000 tourists every year, according to the local tourism office.
Not only is it beautiful, but the village has a rich history and a symbolic meaning as well.
The name Ganvie stands for resilience and means “we survived” in the local language.
The village was built by the Tofinu tribe in the 17th century as a refuge from the Fon and Dahomey kingdoms, who captured people and sold them into slavery to Portuguese traders.
During the 19th century, French colonial forces viewed Ganvié as a symbol of defiance and though attempts were made to suppress it, the villagers negotiated to maintain their independence and traditions.
In search of safety, the Tofinu people fled to the lake, an area that was believed to be cursed by a demon lurking beneath its waters which helped keep enemy soldiers at bay, allowing the tribe to establish their homes on stilts.
The village continues to celebrate its rich culture, notably through events like the annual Regatta Festival, which honours its fishing roots and community spirit.
The village is also known for the innovative fish farming techniques the locals use with bamboo poles and palm fronds to create underwater enclosures for farming.
One TripAdvisor user wrote: “Ganvie, Benin is a stilt city on Lac Nokoue, and is better known as the “Venice of Africa.”The only way to see this community, of 22,000 residents, is by boat. We were a group was 30 people so we went in 2 boats.
“The scenery was amazing… residents in their boats going home with supplies, men fishing, the mangroves, and buildings. When I asked our guide why these residents lived on the lake she stated, that they were escaping from Africans who were trying to capture them and sell them to Europeans to enslave them.”
Someone else said: “A visit to Ganvié is absolutely worth it. I only toured southern Benin, but there is no doubt that it is the place that struck me the most. You can only get to the lakeside village by boat. The houses, shops and school etc are all on stilts. The floating market on boats. Where there is soil, they created it to teach children to walk. A unique and fascinating experience.”