- Discovery
- Family
20 000FCFA
/ person
≈ 30 €
- Discovery
- Water sports
Traditional fishing immersion
A morning with the lake's fishermen: hauling the nets, the acadjas, and lunch on stilts.
- Ganvié, Benin
- 5 h
- 2 to 5 people
Departure before six, as the fishing pirogues leave the village. The trip follows a crew on its rounds: lifting the traps, emptying the acadjas, sorting the catch.
Acadjas are pens of branches planted into the lake bed. Fish come to shelter and breed there; they are later harvested by circling the pen with a net. The technique is ancient and passed down within families.
The morning ends with lunch prepared on the spot, in a stilt house, with part of the day's catch.
Hour by hour
Indicative times, adjusted on the day to the weather and the group.
5 h 45
Off before daylight
Meet at the quay. The air is cool, the lake is still, and the fishing pirogues set out alongside you.
6 h 30
Lifting the traps
You join the crew on their rounds. The traps come up one by one, the catch is sorted on board.
8 h 00
Emptying an acadja
The pen is circled with a net and hauled. The most physical moment of the morning.
10 h 00
Lunch on stilts
A meal cooked on the spot, in a village house, with part of the day's catch.
10 h 45
Return
Back to the Abomey-Calavi quay.
What’s included
- Accompanied fishing trip
- Lunch on stilts
- Life jackets
- French-speaking guide
- Not included — Transport from Cotonou
- Not included — Extra drinks
Upcoming dates
Shared departures — remaining seats are shown for each slot.
- Thu20Aug
- 05:305 seats
- Sat22Aug
- 05:305 seats
- Sun23Aug
- 05:305 seats
- Tue25Aug
- 05:305 seats
- Thu27Aug
- 05:302 seats left
Meeting point
Abomey-Calavi pier, main quay, at 5:45 am.
Safety
Life jackets provided and mandatory throughout the trip. The boat's maximum capacity is strictly observed. The departure may be postponed in case of strong wind or storms — that call belongs to the boatman.
Minimum age: 8.
Very early start: bring a long-sleeved layer, the air is cool on the water before sunrise.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure. Between 48 and 24 hours, 50% of the amount is retained. Less than 24 hours, the trip is due.
The partner
Coopérative des piroguiers de Ganvié
A collective of boatmen from the lake village, active for generations.
WaviGo makes the connection and secures the booking. The service is delivered by the partner, under their responsibility.
More experiences in Ganvié
- Discovery
- Cruises & sunset
22 000FCFA
/ person
≈ 34 €
25 000 FCFA
per person · ≈ 38 €