A salt on the senses

More to fly-and-flop Cape Verde than just beautiful beaches

- BY NIGEL THOMPSON

We entered the 100-yard long rock tunnel at a windswept car park on an island in the Atlantic Ocean. We exited at the edge of a vast crater, mesmerised by an otherworldly view like a scene from a sci-fi film.

Before us lay a volcanic (dormant thankfully!) landscape of ochre, pinks and whites.

You feel it could be life on Mars were it not for the fact there is water in a lake below. But this is no "ordinary" water at the Pedra de Lume salt flats at Sal island in Cape Verde.

The lake is more than 20 times saltier than the sea - double the levels in the Dead Sea in Israel and Jordan - and, just like its Middle Eastern cousin, it's popular with tourists for the novelty of bobbing around on the surface unable to sink.

Locals swear blind by a dip, saying the life of brine restores the skin's health and people look 10 years younger after leaving the water.

Benjamin Button I was not, but floating is fun and it gets your attention as any tiny scratch (e.g. a paper cut or shaving nick) stings noticeably!

Entry is €6 and a freshwater shower afterwards (you will need it) is €1. There's also a small cafe and souvenir shop with cash preferred.