The city of Ganvie is entirely built on the water. A folkloric group entertains tourists visiting Ganvie. The people in Ganvie are used to move around in small boats.

ganvie Quite unique on the African continent, the village of Ganvie, about an hour north of Cotonou, is built on the water. The houses stand on stilts and the inhabitants move around in small boats. Even the market is on the water and people carry out their business by boat. Stories tell that the people of Ganvie in the 17^th century were fleeing the Abomey kings and their brutal rule, war and slave trade. Since the king’s soldiers could not swim, they built themselves a village on the water, and were thereby safe from the persecutors. Today the main trade of the people of Ganvie is fishing, but tourism is also important. Ganvie has various churches built on small islands, and also Vodoun temples that are built on stilts like the rest of the houses. You will also find a crafts shop, a hotel and restaurants. To get to Ganvie you drive to Abomey-Calavie (not to be confused with the city of Abomey) and take a boat from there. It can be a good idea to go with a guide from Cotonou, as it there is sometimes an element of hustling at the boat stand, as people are getting used to tourist being around.

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