Cotonou Baba Floating Village - African version of Venice

Today, the babies will take you to the Baba Floating Village (Ganvie) in Cotonou, Benin! 🎉 This is the largest floating village in West Africa and the "African version of Venice"! 🌍✨ The entire village floats on Lake Nokoué. All the houses are built on the water. The daily lives of the residents are all completed by canoes. It is super dreamy and unique! 🚣‍♀️🌿 ⸻ 🏡 The magic of Baba Water Village ✔ Floating Village! The houses, schools, churches and markets here are all built on the water. Residents row boats to school, buy groceries and visit relatives. All aspects of life are closely connected to the water! 🌊🏠 ✔ Unique Tafen culture! The residents here are the Tofinu people. Their ancestors moved to the lake hundreds of years ago to avoid slave traders, and they still maintain a unique water culture! 📜⛵ ✔ Boat market, experience water trading! There are no shops on land in the village, all buying and selling is done on boats! Rowing a boat to the "supermarket" to buy things is simply a real-life fairy tale world! 🛶🍍 ✔ Magnificent lake and nature views! The village is surrounded by vast lakes and mangroves. Come in the early morning or at dusk and you’ll see the village reflected on the lake, perfect for taking photos! 📸🌅 ⸻ 💯 Is it worth going? ✅ Definitely worth it! This is one of the most unique villages in the world and a must see if you enjoy cultural exploration! 🌎🔍 ✅ Super beautiful photos! The houses on the water, the colorful canoes, the reflections of the lake, just take a quick shot and it will be a blockbuster movie! 📷💖 ✅ Experience the culture of the Tafen people in depth! This place is not like an ordinary tourist attraction, but a real "water society". It is super interesting to see their lifestyle! 👀🛶 ⚠️ But beware: •Inconvenient transportation! You have to take a boat to get here, and it takes about 30-40 minutes by boat from Cotonou Port (Abomey-Calavi)! 🚤 • It is recommended to find a tour guide! The residents here don’t speak English very well, so it is recommended to hire a local tour guide to explain, otherwise you may just be able to “see the scenery”! 🌍👨‍🏫 •Bargaining is a must! The boat fare and guide fee are usually negotiable, so don’t get ripped off! 💰😂 •Environmental awareness! This is the real home of the residents. Please do not litter when visiting and respect their lifestyle! ♻️💚 ⸻ 💡 Intimate Guide ✔ Opening hours: All day, but it is recommended to come in the morning or evening when the sunlight is soft and the scenery is the most beautiful! 🌅🚣‍♂️ ✔ Transportation: •From Cotonou, take a bus to Abomey-Calavi Pier (about 30 minutes), and then take a boat there! 🚗➡️🚤 ✔ Visiting time: It is recommended to reserve 3-4 hours to slowly experience the charm of life on the water! ⌛ ✔ Ticket cost: The boat ticket + guide fee is usually 10,000-15,000 CFA francs (about 17-25 US dollars). It is recommended to negotiate the price in advance! 💰 ⸻ Overall, Baba Floating Village is one of the most worthwhile places to visit in Benin! 💙 It is not only a picturesque water world, but also a cultural heritage carrying a century of history! 🚣‍♂️💫 If you like exploring unique cultures or want a different travel experience, this place will definitely not disappoint you! 🌍✨