Weekend in Adiake

A wide tidal lagoon that forms the heart of Adiaké. Watch fishing pirogues come and go at the main landing stage; the water shifts colour with the tide.

Tip: Go around 6am to see the fish market set up on the shore. Buy fresh grilled fish for a few hundred CFA from the women there.

A small daily market where local women sell woven palm-frond baskets, coconut-fibre mats and hand-painted cloth. No fixed stalls — goods are laid on blankets under a mango tree.

Tip: Bring small bills. Haggling is expected but keep it light-hearted. A decent basket costs about 500-1000 CFA. Go before 10am when the best items are still there.

A clean but undeveloped stretch of Atlantic beach just west of the town centre. Palm trees provide some shade; the water is safe for swimming in calm conditions.

Tip: No lifeguards, so check with locals before going in if the surf is up. Bring a picnic — there are no shops on the beach. The best swimming is at high tide.

A modest concrete lighthouse on the coast north of town. Climb the external stairs for a 360-degree view over the lagoon, the Atlantic and the surrounding mangrove channels.

Tip: Take water and wear shoes with grip — the stairs are steep and there is no handrail past the first platform.

A rough wooden boardwalk built over the mangrove swamp on the eastern edge of town. Short but atmospheric — you'll see crabs, monitor lizards and plenty of wading birds.

Tip: Best at low tide when the mud is exposed and the birds feed actively. Go early to avoid the heat; there's no shade on the walkway.