Ganvié: Africa's Largest Stilt Village on Lake Nokoué
Ganvié is the 'Venice of Africa' — a city of 30,000 people living entirely on stilts in Lake Nokoué, founded by the Tofinu people to escape Dahomey slave raiders who could not follow by water
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Pirogue Departure from Abomey-Calavi
The pirogue crossing from the beach to Ganvié takes 30 minutes across the shallow lake — the stilt houses gradually emerge from the water like a mirage
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Ganvié Stilt House Architecture
The traditional stilt houses are built on wooden posts driven into the lake bed — each family's house, kitchen and toilet, all on platforms above the water
- 3
Ganvié Floating Market
Women traders paddle their pirogues between the houses and sell fresh fish, vegetables and household items — the market comes to customers on the water
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Lake Nokoué Fishing Methods
The Tofinu people use fish trapping methods specific to Lake Nokoué — carefully placed barriers of sticks guide fish to areas where they can be scooped up easily
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Ganvié school and church on stilts
Even the school and the Catholic church in Ganvié are on stilts — children paddle to school by canoe and the priest celebrates Mass above the water
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Sunset at Lake Nokoué
The lake turns gold at sunset as families return home by canoe — fires burning on the stilt platforms and the smell of smoked fish drifting across the water