Village lacustre de Ganvié

Amazing place. Not because of old decrepited houses that are what you will find but because of what it stands for and the unique feeling you have visiting the place. Built by people who wanted to escape slavery this village has more than 30 000 people who mainly live off traditional fishery. A few basic hotels will deliver a unique experience. Amazingly the main market is also on the water. Correctly and rightfully considerer by the UN a word heritage city it is a must see site.

I've seen the reed islands in Bolivia/Peru, and this compares favourably if you like your man-made floating villages. Definitely worth a visit.

I was in Ganvie' several years ago. It is a big village with wood house over the water, well built and not so bad. I visited many houses and the people was proud to show them. It was all so corlorfull and the small wood boats was carrying people and food with colored spices. I got some artworks there made in ebony or other. Just an advise: carry with you secure water to drink, cover your skin with mosquito repellent, and do not eat anything there. Bring with you some local currency in small cut just to give something to the people and for small shopping. You will see people making anything to be photographed and ask after a cadeaux. Very interesting to take pics of all. I hope they stay better than when I was there. Any case you have to see the Africa's Venice!

Went to the floating village in a rowing boat and came back in a motorised boat. The village is worth a visit.. even if it is called as a floating village, its a village built on pillars and some parts are having land, looks like an island.. we can see various shops and market on this floating village.. Men are primarily into fishing and woman sell them.

The place and living style of the people from Ganvie is amazing. The abundant fish in the area naturally trapped in the aquatic vegetation was one of the drivers for this development. Nowadays, this lifestyle continues and they had to create an infrastructure, some floating and some not. The floating market and its lifestyle are amazing to see; ALWAYS being discrete with the camera and not being invasive to their everyday life.

Here we are in the lake village of Ganvie in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi. We are proud to say that it is the Venice of Africa even if we do not have the same infrastructure as Venise. It is a place that owes its fame to the history related to the tribal war in Dahomey, now Benin. Come to visit such as a wonderful and you will see not only the wonders of nature but also the intelligence of African man.

Very nice place to see the nature.. how people are living on water.. there is church, mosque, primary & secondary school, hospital & grave yard also.. there r small small islands .. filter drunking eater.. fuel.. airtime.. vegetable market.. almost everything as in a small town on land...

A wonderful place full of stories and history of this African Venice. A must go if you travel to Benin.