About an hour´s drive from Cotonou, this town of on shallow Lake Nokoue is dubbed ¨the Venice of Africa¨¨and is considered to be the continent´s largest such settlement. With roots dating back to the 16th century, when the Tofino people fled here from the coast to avoid slavers, these days many of their 20,000 descendants make their living from fishing, fish farming, and increasinly tourism. But visitors should remember this is a working town and they should respect the locals - including asking before taking their pictures.

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