Explore the lake city Ganvié

Frequently Asked Questions

• History of the town of Ganvié

  Located in southern Benin, Ganvié is a small village built in the 18th century by the Toffinous, peoples from Togo. The history of the city dates back 300 years. The time when slave raids engaged in hostilities against the entire population living in Togo. Fleeing the heinous acts, the villagers took refuge in the swamps of Lake Nokoué. Once they arrived on the shores of the lake, they hardly had the means to cross it. Then, King Agbogdobé turned into a hawk, flew over the lagoon and spotted the island of Ganvié. Then he changed into a crocodile and carried his people on his back to this new land..

• The town of Ganvié today

  Commonly known as “the Venice of Africa”, Ganvié is a small lakeside village in southern Benin. It is located on Lake Nokoué slightly about 8 km north of Cotonou. In this small river corner, there is a rather peaceful environment, far from the urban atmosphere of the big cities. One forgets the embarrassing noises of the cars, and one sees only the parades of the dugouts everywhere in the city. We travel with these canoes to travel all over the city, whether to go to the market, to the church or to the mosque. On the site, you can see inns, charming lodges for passing visitors, one of which is right in the heart of the hamlet. Obtaining accommodation in the middle of this magnificent lagoon gives the opportunity to dive into the daily life of the natives. On the landscape side, the constructions of the village mostly float on the water. The reason why it nicknamed the Venice of Africa. All the houses are on stilts in solid wood or bamboo. The water streets in every corner are crowded with water hyacinths. However, traders settle there freely with their canoes selling fruits and vegetables. Some even go door to door with this light boat to detail to the inhabitants: wood, tubers, rice, etc. Apart from the general description of this magnificent water village, Ganvié is also known for its marvelous buildings. We can see the great Church of the Celestial Christians (ECC), and the gigantic mosque. Among Celestial Christians, followers are all dressed in white during a mass every Sunday morning. As for the Muslims, they have a huge mosque built in solid. The latter was therefore set up thanks to a donation from Kuwait.

• Climate

  Like some cities in Benin, Ganvié also has a subequatorial savannah climate. Precipitation during the summer period is greater than that during the winter (1217.1 mm). Its average annual temperature is 27.4°C, which is quite pleasant for an expedition. To travel without a climatic imbalance, the best is to leave in January until February or in August or even from November to December.

• How to get there ?

  In this lakeside village of Ganvié, the only means of transport is the canoe. From one box to another, you need a canoe. This floating village has water streets leading all over the city. It remains to be seen whether you opt for a paddle canoe or one that is motorized. If you are planning to go sightseeing in Ganvié  , then you have come to the right place.