Venice: A Second Time Around

Venice has always been my dream city. I got to visit for the first time a few years ago when I toured some parts of Europe. I’m afraid I didn’t do the city much justice at the time and I have always longed to return. Luckily, I got the chance to do so recently. I got the chance to revisit the city of my dreams, only this time, it had an entirely different name and was in a completely different continent. This time, I returned to Ganvie – The Venice of Africa!

Ganvie
OK, not a gondola but very very close!

Ganvie is a stilt village built on the Lake Nokoué in Benin Republic. It isn’t the only one of its kind but it is the largest, being home to about 20,000 people, and the most visited on the Lake. In a lot of ways, Ganvie is very similar to Makoko – also sometimes referred to as the ‘Venice of Africa’, but I found this place to much cleaner than its Nigerian counterpart and more primeval than the city it is nicknamed after.

women ganvie boats Ganvie BeninGanvie womanLife in Ganvie is conducted primarily on the water. The villagers here go about their normal businesses on boats. I suppose every household owns one. The village also contains schools, churches, restaurants and hotels where tourists can spend the night. Most choose however to visit from the cities nearby. I visited from Fidjrosse with Mark – my couchsurfing host and the drive to Ganvie took about 30 minutes.

Ganvie stilit village Ganvie market Ganvie hotelThe tour itself was pretty interesting. I don’t recall exactly how much it cost us but it was somewhere around 5,000cefa pp. I wonder how much of this actually goes back to the village and its inhabitants.

Ganvie boatWe completed our visit in about two hours which was just enough time to cruise on the lake, stop over at two places to get drinks and souvenirs before finding our way back to the mainland. Overall, my second visit to ‘Venice’ was just as interesting as the first!

Some points to note when visiting Ganvie:

  • Take pictures discreetly. If you want to take pictures of people, you may want to seek their permission first. Some hold the believe that taking their picture is akin to stealing their souls.
  • Plan to visit in the morning. We had the best weather and very few tourists when we visited.

Have you visited Ganvie or any other floating village? What was your experience like?

6 comments

  1. Hey tourist!!! I was wondering for a moment…if u were in Venice. HAHAHA!!! you got me there…What’s interesting about this piece is the way you captured poverty in its original form. I didn’t get to visit Ganvie but will make it next time. Thank you for this piece and keep exploring…

    1. Haha, I wish! I would really love to visit Venice again but for now, Ganvie would be my Venice. 🙂 I’d be on the lookout for your post about it when you do get to visit. Thanks for stopping by…

  2. Beautiful photos that underlies the poverty going on in that region. Beautiful but sad. Thanks for capturing it all. Greetings!

    1. Hiya, thanks for your comment. I really hope the people who live there somehow benefit from the inflow of tourists to their village.

  3. I literally laughed aloud when it hit me that it wasn’t actually Venice.

    Great Post.

    I do wonder if there’s a floating city in every African country.

    Would be interesting to note how come.

    1. A little click bait, sorry, LOL. I think most countries along the coast might have a floating village cos of their proximity to the water. This is my uninformed guess anyway.

I love to hear from you, Leave a comment here!

Close
Help! Why are we losing home and away! 😭🤣 God abeg!

I will resume my complaining once we fix our visa process/make it more accessible for other African travellers!

Side bar: if you have connections in Vietnam, please DM me! 😭😂 I still want to go!
Help! Why are we losing home and away! 😭🤣 God abeg! I will resume my complaining once we fix our visa process/make it more accessible for other African travellers! Side bar: if you have connections in Vietnam, please DM me! 😭😂 I still want to go!
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Mount Kilimanjaro and giraffes - I could cry! 🥹

If you're looking for a great weekend trip from Nairobi to change the pace, Amboseli National Park is truly one of the best places to visit!

For a road trip that's only about 4-5 hours from Nairobi, you get epic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, large elephant herds and if you pick the right lodge, you can watch incredible wildlife come and go, right from the comfort of your dining table or even your room!
Mount Kilimanjaro and giraffes - I could cry! 🥹 If you're looking for a great weekend trip from Nairobi to change the pace, Amboseli National Park is truly one of the best places to visit! For a road trip that's only about 4-5 hours from Nairobi, you get epic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, large elephant herds and if you pick the right lodge, you can watch incredible wildlife come and go, right from the comfort of your dining table or even your room!
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
💙
💙
7 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
It was a rainy morning in Nairobi and we went on a walk with the pup 🐶
It was a rainy morning in Nairobi and we went on a walk with the pup 🐶
7 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
A not-so-hidden gem in South Korea 🇰🇷 

Suncheon Bay National Garden is absolutely worth visiting.😍
A not-so-hidden gem in South Korea 🇰🇷 Suncheon Bay National Garden is absolutely worth visiting.😍
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Everyday is a pleasant surprise! 🌻🥹
Everyday is a pleasant surprise! 🌻🥹
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Oh please, add Gyeongju to your South Korean itinerary! 🇰🇷

It's a charming, beautiful and walkable city that I think is worth visiting. 

When I visited the country for the first time, I picked Jeonju over Gyeongju. Not much thought went into that decision. I just did it - no regrets.

Luckily I got to revisit and what a joy! It's magical in every way! ✨️
Oh please, add Gyeongju to your South Korean itinerary! 🇰🇷 It's a charming, beautiful and walkable city that I think is worth visiting. When I visited the country for the first time, I picked Jeonju over Gyeongju. Not much thought went into that decision. I just did it - no regrets. Luckily I got to revisit and what a joy! It's magical in every way! ✨️
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Natural, Unfiltered Beauty! 🌸💙

The cherry blossoms were late but that itself was a blessing. I was happy to get clear, gorgeous views of Mount Fuji!

Oh, this trip - this country! Some places leave a permanent mark. This was one of them!
Natural, Unfiltered Beauty! 🌸💙 The cherry blossoms were late but that itself was a blessing. I was happy to get clear, gorgeous views of Mount Fuji! Oh, this trip - this country! Some places leave a permanent mark. This was one of them!
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Oh, this charming town! 💙

Beautiful cobbled-stone streets, a gorgeous trail that leads to yet another beautiful well-preserved Edo-period post town, temples and shrines... this is Magome-Juku 

If you plan to visit, I recommend staying a night or two. Accommodation is quite limited and everything shuts down by 5pm.

We stayed at Magomechaya for 2 nights. This place has both hostels and private rooms and our stay was absolutely wonderful. I'd definitely revisit!
Oh, this charming town! 💙 Beautiful cobbled-stone streets, a gorgeous trail that leads to yet another beautiful well-preserved Edo-period post town, temples and shrines... this is Magome-Juku If you plan to visit, I recommend staying a night or two. Accommodation is quite limited and everything shuts down by 5pm. We stayed at Magomechaya for 2 nights. This place has both hostels and private rooms and our stay was absolutely wonderful. I'd definitely revisit!
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
Latest Posts
  • 2 Weeks South Korea Travel Itinerary for First Time Visitors

  • Slow Days in Fast-Paced Tokyo

  • A Serene Weekend at Tawi Lodge, Amboseli

  • Top 10 Easiest Countries for Nigerians to Visit (Visa-Free or Easy Visa)

  • 1000 Days of Learning Swahili – I Quit!

Translate
Become an Insider!
Archives
Close

Travel with a Pen

Seek out New Adventures, Travel Differently

Travel with a Pen © Copyright 2025
Close