Often called “Venice in Africa,” Gambie is a stunning lake village south of Benin, the largest lakeside village in Africa, with accommodating around 30,000 people. Built in the middle of Lake Nokoué, the island is free of cars or motorborks, and the main mode of transport is a narrow canoe called a pirog, which locals use to sail through the waterways. Founded by the Tofinu people about 400 years ago, they built their homes on a lake stilt with a network of winding alleys. It was also recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.
Gumbies create a kind architectural wonder in a village filled with soccer fields that rise above the water, homes, markets, schools, churches, and even soccer fields. According to the local tourism bureau, the village is becoming increasingly popular and is one of the most visited tourists in the country, with at least 10,000 tourists each year.
Not only is it beautiful, but the village also has a rich history and symbolic meaning.
The name Gambie stands for Resilience and means “We Survive” in the local language.
The village was built in the 17th century by the Tofinu people as a refuge from the kingdom of Pon and Dahomy.
In the 19th century, French colonial forces saw Gambier as a symbol of rebellion and attempted to restrain it, but villagers negotiated to maintain their independence and tradition.
In search of safety, the Tofinu people fled to the lake. I fled to the lake. This was an area where enemy soldiers were kept at bay and the demons hiding under the water were believed to be cursed, allowing tribes to establish homes on the stilts.
The village continues to celebrate its rich culture, particularly through events such as the annual Regatta Festival, which honours the roots of the fisheries and the spirit of its community.
The village is also known for its innovative fish farming techniques used by locals in bamboo poles and palm leaves to create underwater enclosures for agriculture.
One TripAdvisor user wrote: “Gumbie, Benin is the stilted city of Lacnokoue, well known as “Venice in Africa.” The only way for this community, 22,000 residents, is by boat.
“The scenery was amazing… residents of boats returning home with supplies, male fishing, mangroves and buildings. When these residents asked why they lived in the lake she stated, they asked them that they were fleeing from Africans who were trying to capture them and enslaved them to the Europeans.
Someone else said: “A visit to Ganvier is absolutely worth it. I toured southern Benin and it is definitely the one that hit me the most. You can take a boat to the village of Lakeside. The houses, shops, schools, etc. are all located in prisons. It's a floating market for boats.
