My Favourite Place In Lagos (Tarkwa Bay Beach)

(picture taken while on the boat to Tarkwa Bay)

When it comes to picking a favourite place, food, colour, music artist, anything, I find it hard to pick one over numerous. I don't know why it is always so, but for picking a place, after visiting this place, I found it very easy to pick a place because it stood out among every other place I have been to in Lagos.

The very first time I visited this place, I got connected with it, and its beauty is something that lives rent-free in my head. One thing that makes me enjoy this place is that you will never get enough fun from it, no matter how long you stay. This place is Tarkwa Bay beach in Lagos.

(picture taken while on the boat leaving Tarkwa Bay)

I have been to this beach alone, with friends, and with family on different occasions, and it is all an enjoyable moment for me. One question I know you will want to ask me is why Tarkwa Bay, knowing there are numerous places one can have fun in Lagos. However, before answering this, I will be glad to tell you about how I got to know about Tarkwa Bay.
(Myself abd my friends at Tarkwa Bay)

I was new to Lagos Island in the year 2016. I moved to Lagos Island in 2016 and in 2017 I wrote my jamb and during my jamb classes I met Dami at the tutorial centre. Conversation led to conversation, and we discussed Tarkwa Bay. She narrated how beautiful Tarkwa Bay is, the enjoyable boat ride, the hospitable stay on the island, and the most interesting beach swimming experience.

I got caught up in her narration and anticipate visiting this place. I googled about it, but I never had the nerves to visit Tarkwa Bay all alone, knowing I would be taking a boat ride. My dream of visiting this place died down and I forgot about the place until December 2020, when a friend, Michael, chatted me up and gisted me about how he and his family spent the weekend at Tarkwa Bay.

I was like, "I have always wanted to go to Tarkwa Bay." At this point, I can't help it but to fix a day we hang out together at Tarkwa Bay. Michael's gist about Tarkwa Bay confirms to me that Tarkwa Bay is truly what Dami described to me in 2017. We fixed the 26th of December, 2020 to visit Tarkwa Bay.

Away from my narration about my experience with Tarkwa Bay. Let me tell you about Tarkwa Bay itself. Tarkwa Bay is a beach situated on an island. The beach can only be accessed by water, and you can access the beach by taking a boat ride from jetties in Centre Marine Square (CMS), Liverpool, Victoria Island, and Bonny Camp.

The beach is away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos, and when you want to see the beauty of Lagos and also the beauty of nature, Your seat on your boat while going to Tarkwa Bay shows you how beautiful nature can be. While your seat on your boat ride returning to CMS is just a literary view of Lagos, the media are yet to show you. What a beauty.
(Michael and I on my first day at Tarkwa Bay)

On the 26th of December, Michael and I met at CMS, and our plan to be in Tarkwa Bay turned out to be happening. At the jetty, I saw how big the Lagos lagoon is, and in no time, we started boarding the boat. Some ladies were scared about it, but as for me, I wasn't because it was not my first time on a boat. It is quite beautiful, but getting to know about the duration of the boat ride makes me realise this is different.

The boat ride from CMS to Tarkwa Bay took 25 minutes, and the last part of the ride was terrifying because our boat was now in salt water. However, this wavy boat ride is one thing I enjoy the most. It makes my heart pump hard and I feel like my boat is flying on water because the waves make you feel so.

The beach itself. I fell so much in love with Takwa Bay because of how beautiful it is. The beach has so much to offer, and it is a safe place to swim. It is different from other Lagos beaches I have been to. Tarkwa Bay has this part that is not wavy, so you can enjoy swimming without being disrupted by waves. You might tend to forget the beach for the pool, but the fact that it is salt water and the current will make you come to your senses.

You know, I talked about Tarkwa Bay being not so wavy. There is a part of this beach (toward the end) that is very wavy and swimming cannot be enjoyed there. Rather, you do surfing.

The beach is far from the hustle and bustle of Lagos, and the breath of fresh air on his beach is so cool. I usually enjoy the calmness of the place and how less crowded it is compared to most other Lagos beaches. You know, Lagos is always attributed to noise and overpopulation, but at this beach, especially on weekdays, you will have a quiet moment without seeing too many faces on your face.

Since I have always been to Tarkwa Bay, I see myself bonding with people I don't know and making new friends. I enjoy playing this beach game where we form two teams and scrabble to see which team dominates the football the most. There is also beach volleyball to enjoy, though I have never tried it. Kayaking is also enjoyed at Tarkwa Bay. I love to be at Tarkwa. It has captured my heart so much that I'm yet to see a place in my city that will take over this place.

After my first visit on the 26th of December, I have been to Tarkwa Bay times without number. It has been my culture to spend boxing day and 2nd of January at Tarkwa Bay.