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Lagos City, Nigeria
Photo: S.aderogba, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Tarkwa Bay is an artificial, sheltered island beach destination in Amuwo-Odofin near the high-traffic shipping harbor of Lagos. Unlike the heavy, dangerous Atlantic swells that crash against most coastal shores in southwestern Nigeria, Tarkwa Bay's unique location behind man-made harbor breakwaters provides calm, highly swimmable waters. Because the bay has no connected vehicular road access from the mainland, it serves as a secluded, off-the-grid haven popular for swimming, beach sports, surfing, and weekend camping escapes.
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A long, sweeping crescent of soft sand lined with palm trees and a dense strip of thatched-roof cabanas. The water here is remarkably calm and safe for swimming due to the harbor walls blocking the fierce open-ocean undercurrents.
The Harbour Mole
A massive engineering barrier constructed of giant interlocking concrete tetrapods extending straight out into the Atlantic Ocean. It offers spectacular, uninhibited panoramic views of the incoming global shipping liners entering the Lagos port, and serves as an iconic spot for viewing sunsets.
Named after the 110-year-old lighthouse that guards the entrance to Lagos harbour. The Lighthouse can just be seen from the beach, and is well worth a visit as well. The walk along the beach between Tarkwa Bay and Lighthouse Beach is very pleasant– and at times one can be the only person on the beach. You can watch the many ships queuing up to enter the port on the nearby horizon.
Room rates are inclusive breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Day pass for access to the outdoor facilities with lunch & cocktails weekday ₦20,000, weekend ₦25,000.
beachfront craft market
A vibrant line of open-air wooden tables managed by local island residents. This is the absolute best spot to pick up hand-painted beach cover-ups, custom beaded jewelry, local wooden carvings, and cheap sunglasses. Prices are highly flexible, and polite bartering is expected.
Roaming vendors carrying large baskets on their heads. They sell practical beach necessities on the go, including cheap waterproof plastic phone pouches, sunscreen, basic swimming trunks, and lightweight towels. Keep your cash handy as they walk right to your beach chair.
Upon landing at the designated Tarkwa Bay beach jetty, navigation is strictly done on foot. The entire beach frontage is a flat, continuous sandy strand.
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