Ganvie is a fascinating town built entirely on stilts in the middle of Lake NokouƩ, home to more than 20,000 people, and can only be reached by pirogue (dug-out canoe).

The largest lake village in the vast continent of Africa; the local people here depend on fishing and fish farming for their livelihoods. In the 18th century, the rulers of the dynasty of Dahomey developed the annoying habit of capturing and enslaving all the members of smaller kingdoms. The stilt houses were their refuge.

smiling white male wearing a backpack

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