If you have 5 days and ££ = Ngala Lodge, The Gambia

If it’s tropical views, puff puff (not how it sounds) and a bit of history you’re after, this is the place to be

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This early Thomas Cook flight (they also fly from London Gatwick) means you can be at your hotel – we like Ngala Lodge, a child-free zone with tropical gardens and a view of the ocean – by 4pm. They are also on the same time zone as GMT, so no jetlag. Spend a few hours chilling (or book a massage with therapist Yassin), watch the sun set at around 8pm, then head to the cliff-top restaurant for dinner.

On a tight schedule? Book in for the ‘Six Tours in One’* (£52) the following day, which includes a trip to the ancient Kachikally crocodile pool, two market trips, a break at the beautiful Lamin Lodge for coffee and puff puff (nope, not Snoop’s ‘special herbs’, but a traditional doughnut snack that’ll have you drooling), Gambian wrestling (not a euphemism) and a local fishing village. Spend your third day with Ida – the Gambian supper-club queen who hosts dinner parties and cooking courses in her courtyard (from £27) – and on your fourth day, we’d recommend mostly horizontal meditation (aka snoozing on a lounger).

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Before you go, make the eight-minute car ride over to Calypso Beach Bar & Restaurant at Cape Point for early brunch (also great for nighttime cocktails), then head back to catch the flight home.

Rooms from £134; Ngalalodge.com. Flights from £81.99 one way; Thomascookairlines.com