Tarkwa Bay

 

The things we like about going to Tarkwa Bay in Lagos, Nigeria are the short boat ride (20-30 minutes) made easy by taxi boats and the kid-friendly beach itself. We don’t even have to pack any food or drinks, because we could buy those, even fresh fruits, from the vendors. The grilled fish and beef suya were particularly yummy with local bread. Yes, the vendors hawking batik, wood carvings, sunglasses, etc. can be annoying if you just want to be left alone … but I was thrilled to meet the farmer selling fresh herbs and vegetables. Of course, the other reason people go there is to have fun, not shop — my husband and his colleagues love body boarding, but there are also surfers. Some kids also get to do this and we met a couple of Nigerians who give surfing lessons. It can get busy, and locals often play soccer with expats while their kids are happily playing with sand toys.

When we first visited the school beach house beyond Lekki we initially thought we’d like to visit it once a month. But all we could manage was twice a year during our first two years. The main reason is it takes at least an hour to get there, and the last 20 minutes is over bumpy road. Being stopped a couple of times by cops for inspection (they wanted to know if we have anything for them) added to the annoyances. The strong current and big waves were also not safe for our little boy. But it is a quiet place to relax if you simply want to get away from people once in a while.