Togo

Togo is one of the smallest countries in Africa. The country is called “The smile of Africa”. The visitor will be very busy, starting with talking to the Togolese who only want to share their everyday life and to tell their “history” of the country.

Togo is about 700 km long and 100 km large, as is squeezed between Benin (in the East) and Ghana (in the West), with Burkina Faso in the North, it has a coast 45 km bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. In the south, a strip of sandy soil is bordered with lagoons. In the North, you will see mountains whose highest point is Mount Agou with 986 meters of altitude. With its arid plains, hills and green valleys, savannah and beaches, the wide variety of landscapes makes Togo an “Africa in miniature”. Lomé, its capital, is located in the extreme south-west of the country.

We can divide the country in its length by five regions (Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, and Savanes). The Kara region is very popular and a major touristic destination. The central region located in the center of the country, has many reserves and forests. Then the Plateaux Region perfect for hiking. Finally, discover the maritime region with its sandy beaches and attractions (museums, monuments and exotic markets). The capital, Lomé is located in that region. Your trip to Togo can very rich in various experiences, and if you travel the country on unbeaten tracks and far from the touristic places, you will be able to discover many unexpected aspects of this beautiful country.

From November to February, the time is perfect for visiting Togo. The South has four seasons and the North only two. From April to October (June for the South), it is the rainy season. From November (December for the South) to March is the dry season. The best place to avoid the overwhelming heat is the Plateaux region near the center of the country. For those who are interested in Voodoo (which has 80 million followers in the world), the festival celebrating African deities takes place in October.

There are more than 5 million inhabitants in Togo and about forty ethnic groups. To name but a few, the Kabyés, in the north of the country, are one of the most ancient ethnic groups living in the country. The Tems, or kotokoli, who live in the center of the country, are the most Islamized. In the south you will find the Adja-Tado people who are descendants of the ancient Egyptians.

All these communities celebrate yearly traditional rites such as the harvest festival in particular, or festivals of initiation. These ethnic groups also produce various fine-looking handicrafts. Discover the rock paintings of Sogou and Namoudjoga , or the ruins of the slave trade (present throughout the Gulf of Guinea), visit of the old quarters filled with rich colonial architecture, or the museums of Lomé (including the National Museum and the International Museum of the Gulf of Guinea).

Do not forget to visit the Koutammakou or the Land of the Batammariba in northern Togo. It is a cultural landscape designated in 2004 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Swimming, fishing, hiking and other sports are possible activities. Find out about all the possibilities available to you to make the most of it!  “Woezon”! Means ‘’welcome!’’. This warm and accessible population is very eager to make known its culture.

Everyone will charm you with his simplicity and sympathy. You will certainly come back different when returning to your “previous life”. You will keep in your heart the smile of the young children, the wise look of an old man and the rhythm of tribal music will reason for a long time in your head!

Please note: vaccine against yellow fever is mandatory. Your vaccination book may be requested directly at the airport. Taking pictures of the police, borders or inside museums is not allowed.

https://wwmaier.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/the-history-of-the-adja/

https://www.wondermondo.com/wonders-of-togo/

Art and culture

Did you know? “Togodo” means “the other shore”, and designated the city today called Togoville! After slave trade (from the 16th to the 19th century), the city became a German protectorate in the 1880s until the United Kingdom and France split the country after 1918. The country’s independence was declared in 1960 and the national language remains French. Like the rest of the continent, dance and music are part of daily life.

What To Visit

Classified by UNESCO, in the north-east of the country, discover Land of the Batammariba and their remarkable mud tower-houses (Takienta) , and Nôk and Mamproug  Cave Dwellings , located in Tandjouaré. The structures built between the 17th and 19th centuries served mainly for defensive purposes. Many natural parks such as Fazao-Malfakassa, Kéran, or the reserves of Oto-Mandouri and Alédjo will not leave you indifferent. In Lomé do not miss the governors’ palace or the site recalling the slave trade Woold Homé (The home of Woold) located in southern Togo

Gastronomic specialties

Many Togolese specialties include pancakes made from corn, millet, yam, cassava or plantain such as akoumé, fufu or ablo. They are served with fish and seafood, meat and vegetables. The “gboma dessi”, made from spinach, is served with mutton, dried fish or crab. We also find the beans fritters called “aklan” or “gaou” (spicy) accompanied by millet porridge (“koko”) sweetened. Taste also Djécoumê, especially consumed in South-Togo.