Lake Bè is a small, shallow lagoon in the old Ewe quarter of Bè, on the eastern edge of central Lomé. The neighbourhood around it is the oldest continuously inhabited part of the city, and the lake is a sacred site in the local vodun tradition — at certain times of year the chief priest of Bè performs ceremonies here that have continued through colonial occupation, single-party rule and the present day.
Walking the lake takes about half an hour and gives a glimpse of an older Lomé: small fishing canoes, women drying smoked fish, traditional family compounds with their household shrines. There is no formal tourist infrastructure; ask politely before photographing people, and consider hiring a guide through your hotel if you want the religious context explained. The market alongside the lake is one of the better places to buy palm wine.