1249812456
lake nokoue, nobody, pile dwelling, wood

Ganvie Stilt Village

Benin


This stilt village, located in the lagoon of Lake Nokoue, was created for the Tofinu people to stay safe from slave hunters. It has become part of their culture and way of life. The teetering houses, schools, churches and other structures form a ramshackle village. The villagers live almost exclusively from fishing.

Despite the fact that the village has become a tourist magnet, it's a terrific place to explore and sample village life. Tip: rather than signing up for a tour (CFA500 for a tour only, organised in Abomey or via high-end hotels in Cotonou), overnight in Abomey or Ganvié and leave yourself ample time soak up the atmosphere and get a better understanding of the environment and traditional life of the community.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Benin attractions

1. Fetish Market

6.85 MILES

This market sells anything associated with Vodou, including varieties of tree barks and dried plants (both used in traditional medicine) and stalwarts…

2. Grand Marché de Dantokpa

6.93 MILES

The seemingly endless Grand Marché du Dantokpa is Cotonou's throbbing heart, bordered by the lagoon and Blvd St Michel. Everything under the sun can be…

3. Eglise St Michel

7.1 MILES

This pastel pink and green Catholic church is a simple affair, but notable for its exterior (it looks a bit like a pink gingerbread house). The interior…

4. Fondation Zinsou

7.45 MILES

Named after the family that started it, this fantastic exhibition space seeks to promote contemporary African art among Beninese people through…

5. Mosque

7.68 MILES

This mosque's two white towers stand out in this city of low-lying structures. It's an interesting place to pause for a few moments for a spot of people…

7. Cathedral de Notre Dame

8.05 MILES

With its vibrant red and white stripes, this Catholic cathedral is not just a place of worship but also home to a small bookshop selling titles by…

8. Fidjirossé Beach

8.15 MILES

This pretty stretch of sand is a lovely place to embrace local culture and cool off. It's a favorite spot for Beninese to retreat to with families and is…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "benin/ganvie/attractions/ganvie-stilt-village/a/poi-sig/1556130/1327394",
      "destination": "Benin",
      "continent": "Africa",
      "country": "Benin",
      "position": "superzone"
    }