Nzulezu is a village located near the village of Beyin, 90 kilometers west of Takoradi, in the Jomoro District in the Western Region of Ghana, West Africa. Over 500 people live in this community.
The spectacular scenery of the stilt-propped water settlement of Nzulezu stands out as an interesting interplay between man and his environment.
Nzulezu is an Nzema (a tribe in Ghana) word meaning “surface of water.” The inhabitants of the village are said to have migrated from Walata, a city in Ancient Ghana Empire’. According to tradition, ancestors of the village were brought to their present place under the guide of a snail.
The serene ambiance of the surrounding landscape, coupled with the general activities of life on stilts points to a dynamic relationship between man and nature. It is essentially one long pier, called Main Street by the locals, with buildings constructed on both sides. One side of the ‘street’ is living quarters while the other side has businesses, a school, a community center, and other commercial ventures.
The one-hour dugout canoe trip from the Beyin visitor center to Nzulezu passes through a pristine series of marshes, swamp forest (the largest strand left in Ghana), and open pools rich with wildlife, including crocodiles, egrets, herons, and kingfishers. This natural area has been designated as an Important Bird Area based on criteria from Birdlife International.
Traditional village life here at Nzulezo is adapted to the watery conditions to the amazement of the visitor. All activities pertaining to normal life chores such as pounding of fufu (a traditional meal in Ghana), schooling, worship and burial are done on the lake. New-born babies are also baptized in the lake.
The lake it is said, averts possible disasters like; outbreak of fire, killing of natives of the village on or around it. The sacred day of the lake is Thursday, a day set aside on which no activity is supposed to take place signifying a strict adherence to traditional norms and taboos. Nzulezu stilt settlement is a unique lacustrine habitation achieved by a harmony of forces of nature to meet man’s needs resulting in a settlement of outstanding value.
Nzulezu overlooks Lake Tadane in Ghana, and is entirely made up of stilts and platforms. In 2000, it was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is a major tourist attraction in Ghana, West Africa. The site is increasingly a source of tourism, with tourists coming to experience the village as well as a local alcohol produced in the village.
According to local legend, the village was built by a group of people from Oualata, a city in the ancient Ghana Empire and in present-day Mauritania, which came about from following a snail. The snail is therefore a totem and revered by the people of Nzulezo.
The reason Nzulezo was built over water, was for protection and safety during attacks in times of war since it lies five miles inland of the Southwest shores.
The main activity of its inhabitants is agriculture, while fishery plays a secondary role. The lake is perceived by the local population to protect against certain risks (e.g. a fire). The village has some of the houses partially submerged from a flood in 2009. The village has a limited number of nurses and health care capacity. There is also a primary school and after primary school learners have to leave the village to go for secondary schools and universities. However as of 2019, there were a shortage of teachers for the community.
About the Village
Near the coast at the far western side of Ghana, near the border with Cote d’Ivoire, is a unique village in all of Ghana. The spectacular scenery of the 400-year-old stilt propped water settlement of Nzulezu, is a unique village built on stilts in Lake Tadane, home to hundreds of people in the Western Region.
The Nzulezu stilt village is not connected to electricity, but there are a significant number of television poles attached to almost every home in the village. These are powered by car batteries. Inhabitants use lanterns, flashlights, or rechargeable lamps to move about at night. To the amazement of visitors, villagers carry on daily life as if they don’t live on stilts.
In addition, there is a beach adjacent to the visitor centre which is the site of a sea turtle conservation project in cooperation with the Ghana Wildlife Society. The project seeks to protect three endangered turtle species that nest on the beach. Evening tours are offered to see the massive turtles laying eggs and their tiny hatchlings making their way to the sea.
One of the highlights of a visit to Nzulezu is certainly the journey to get there. Nzulezu is one part of the Amasuri Wetland, a Ramsar site and the largest inland swamp forest in Ghana. After driving as far as the unpaved road will allow for the current conditions, there will be a short walk to get to your canoe. A canoe ride of 45 minutes to an hour passes narrow, lush channels, open plains, and finally the wide expanse of Amansuri Lake. The ride is safe and lifejackets are available.
Please ensure that whenever you are in Ghana, you pay a visit to the Nzulezu Stilt settlement..
