The Must-See Attractions of Togo

After breakfast, you set off early on the road heading north towards Togo, with Sokodé, one of the country's main cities, as your destination.

An important administrative center, Sokodé is home to a population predominantly composed of Kotokolis, who are of Muslim faith. Their traditional attire is reminiscent of that of North Africa: men wear large boubous, while women display veils combined with brightly colored clothing. The city is also distinguished by its musical traditions and local dances, particularly during the knife festival, which enlivens the streets to the rhythm of traditional music and dance.

You continue your visit through certain traditional houses sheltering the tombs of warriors, where offerings are still regularly placed. An opportunity to experience the beliefs and customs that hold an important place in the local culture.

Your journey in northern Togo continues in Kara, an expanding city at the heart of Kabyé territory, one of the country's main ethnic groups. Nicknamed the « stone farmers », the Kabyé are known for their ability to practice agriculture on rocky terrain.

The region is an important agricultural center where yams, cotton and peanuts are cultivated, as well as mangoes and other fruits. You also discover the traditional habitat of the Kabyé, the soukala, clusters of huts surrounded by an enclosing wall, housing the same patriarchal family.

Your immersion continues as you meet local craftspeople. You observe the demanding work of blacksmiths, who use large stones in place of hammers, before discovering the expertise of women in the manufacture of clay pottery. You will also have the opportunity to try your hand at shaping these ceramics.

You then visit a lively local market, where colorful stalls, food aromas and the scent of millet beer testify to the daily life of the inhabitants.

If your journey takes place in July, you may have the opportunity to attend the traditional festivalsEvala, an important initiation ceremony that holds a special place in Kabyé culture.

You continue your journey to the Batammariba country, whose inhabitants are also called Somba on the Benin side. Present mainly in the north of Togo and Benin, this people distinguish themselves by their traditional architecture and way of life.

You discover the fortified multi-story houses, characteristic of the region, recognizable by their defensive forms and terraces. These dwellings, called tamberma, are grouped in small villages of about ten constructions belonging to the same clan. Each house is designed to shelter the family and all the possessions of the head of the family.

In the heart of the village, you meet the Batammariba inhabitants, who show you their traditional construction techniques and daily life. With their permission, you will be able to enter several of these dwellings to better understand their organization and the traditions of this people.

In the evening, you head back on the road towards Kara, where you find your hotel for the night.

You head today towards Atakpamé, a prosperous town perched on a hill, which forms with Kpalimé and Badou the coffee-cocoa triangle in Togo.

Once a mountain refuge, Atakpamé became an important agricultural and administrative center during German colonization. The town is also renowned for its cultural traditions, particularly tchébé dancing, a traditional stilt dance emblematic of the region. With a bit of luck, you will have the opportunity to witness a performance of this ancestral practice.

You then discover the central market of Atakpamé, set up around the main square. As night falls, the atmosphere becomes more lively: locals and visitors mingle at the stalls and wander to the rhythm of music, in a convivial atmosphere.

You head toward Kpalimé, located northwest of Lomé, near the border with Ghana. Renowned for its coffee and cocoa plantations, the region offers a natural environment composed of wooded hills, deep valleys, and numerous natural waterfalls.

Dominating the surrounding landscapes, Agou Peak, the highest summit in Togo, is covered with dense forests and dotted with small villages. The region is also distinguished by its waterfalls, which offer pleasant places to cool off by the water.

Kpalimé is also an important craft center in Togo, where many artists and craftspeople come together: wood sculptors, batik artists, potters, weavers, and artisans working with gourds. These skills bear witness to the wealth of local traditions.

With the permission of the residents, you set out to discover the coffee and cocoa fields of the region. This immersion allows you to experience the daily life of producers and better understand their commitment to transforming local products.

At the end of the day, you return to Kpalimé, where you spend the night.

This morning, you take the road towards Lomé, the capital of Togo, for a day dedicated to discovering its markets, craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

Your first stop takes you to the great Assiganmé market, where you meet the famous Nana Benz, these merchants renowned for their activity in the trade of printed fabrics.

You continue your visit to the craft market of Lomé, a place conducive to discovering local expertise and purchasing souvenirs. You will be able to observe the artisans at work and appreciate different traditional techniques, namely batik, wood carving, engraving and weaving.

Your journey then takes you to the fetish market, where you discover the practices and products related to traditional Togolese pharmacopoeia.

The visit of Lomé continues through its main monuments and cultural sites, namely Liberty Square, Independence Square and the national museum of arts.

Finally, you reach Lomé fishing port, where you can observe the fishermen and soak in the atmosphere of this place animated by the daily activities of the inhabitants.

This morning, you set out to discover Agbodrafo, a former Portuguese city that has become a peaceful small town, located between Lake Togo and the Atlantic Ocean, about thirty kilometers from Lomé.

Once a slave trading port, Agbodrafo was part of the region historically known as the "Slave Coast". The town preserves several remains from this period, bearing witness to a painful past.

You discover in particular the slave house (Woold Home) and the well of the chained, two places of remembrance that allow for a better understanding of the history of the slave trade in this region of Togo.

This visit constitutes a moment of contemplation and emotion, in contact with a historical heritage that recalls a significant page in the history of the country.

You return to Lomé to enjoy your last moments in Togo. Some rest, a few souvenir shopping and a refreshing break allow you to end your stay peacefully.

It is then time to head to Lomé airport for your return flight, after this journey through the landscapes, traditions and encounters that have marked your circuit through Togo.