AGBODRAFO
Half an hour by car from Lomé is Agbodrafo , an ancient Portuguese city (formerly Porto Seguro ) which is now a quiet little town on the shores of Lake Togo; The town of Agbodrafo has been recognized as part of the ” Coast of Slaves “. One can discover there some vestiges of this past such as the ” house of the slaves ” ( Woold Home ) or the well of the chained ones.Surrounded by small villages, Lake Togo , a 64 km2 lake full of fish and aquatic life , is one of the most welcoming places in the country where you can practice water sports.

 

ANÉHO
Located 15 kilometers east of Agbodrafo , Aného is the spiritual center of the Guin-Mina people. The city is built near a winding lagoon and is surrounded by fishing villages and coconut groves. Formerly the center of the slave trade , Aného was the first center of German administration . Later, it became the first capital of the territory.

Nowadays, Aného retains the soul of a small colonial town from the 19th Century. It is a peaceful city of fishermen and farmers , an agricultural center renowned for its production of cassava , an important food crop. In Aného , we can observe the functioning of fishing cooperatives, these large groups of fishing families who share the catch.

 

ATAKPAME
The thriving hill town of Atakpamé completes the ” coffee-cocoa triangle ” formed by Kpalimé , Badou and Atakpamé. In the past, Atakpamé was a mountain refuge . Later, during German colonization , the city became an agricultural and administrative center. With a little luck, we can attend a tchebé dance performance on stilts . It is one of the most famous dances of Togo and one of the specialties of the region. Today, Atakpamé remains a major agricultural center. It is also a production center; there is an important textile factory there.

BADOU
A short distance from Kpalimé , the small town of Badou nestles in a green and fertile valley surrounded by wooded hills and coffee plantations on the hillsides. Almost all of Badou’s inhabitants are planters or traders, and agriculture is the main topic of conversation. The harvest takes place in early November and Badou then becomes the center of feverish activity. Farmers come to town with their agricultural produce and large trucks leave the valley loaded with coffee and cocoa for Lomé for export.

 

BAGUIDA / AVÉPOZO
You will find the most beautiful beaches in Togo between Baguida and Avépozo (about 20 km from Lomé towards Benin ). Fine sandy beaches lined with coconut palms …

 

BASSAR / BANDJÉLI
Dominated by arid mountains , crisscrossed by rivers , the Bassar region offers splendid panoramas over an area of wooded savannahs. The region is famous for being the center of yam cultivation. Each year the yam festival , ” D’pontr / N’dack ” ( harvest festival ), marks the beginning of a new year in Bassar and Konkomba country. The region also conceals magnificent blast furnaces which attest to the ancestral work of iron in the region.

DAPAONG
The city of Dapaong is nestled in the hollow of the hills. It is an ideal place to go to meet the Moba country or to discover the many historical sites. The caves and granaries of Nano and Maproug flanked in the hollow of the cliff and the cave paintings of Namoudjoga are among the major tourist attractions of the region.

KANDÉ
About fifty kilometers north of Kara , we will discover the Koutammakou landscape , classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO ( 2004 ). An exceptional site both for the authentic character of the local populations and for their traditional habitat : the takienta. In Kandé , you have to take the track for about 15 km before arriving at the entrance to the site.

KARA
Kara is at the heart of the visit to North Togo. The city makes it possible to shine towards the many natural and cultural sites of the region including the Koutammakou landscape , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kara has a large hotel structure and many restaurants. Kara is a growing city. It quickly became a modern center of administration and production as part of the government’s goals of creating infrastructure in all regions of the country.

It is in the Kara region that we find one of the most numerous ethnic groups in Togo , the Kabyés. They are called ” stone peasants ” because they practice agriculture on rocky terrain. The kabyés have made the region an important agricultural center where yams , cotton , peanuts are grown , and mangoes and other fruits are found.

From a tourist point of view, Kara is central for visiting the region. To the north , you will reach the Sarakawa Wildlife Reserve , Niamtougou , Défalé and Koutammakou landscape , declared a World Heritage by UNESCO.

To the east are the Kabyés Mountains which will take you through the old colonial trails to discover the populations and local crafts ( potters and blacksmiths ).

KPALIME
Kpalimé is located about 1h30 drive from Lomé and is located in a beautiful natural environment. We are in the heart of the coffee and cocoa region.

A lively market is held on Tuesday and Saturday. The inhabitants come from all over the region to sell their harvest and stock up on provisions. The market offers many exotic fruits.

The area surrounding the city is lush and fertile, encircled by thick wooded hills, deep valleys and small peasant villages. The landscape remains always green even during the dry season. Despite the intense agricultural development, the Kpalimé region still retains some of the prettiest forests in Togo where mahogany , wawa and irokos abound.

Kpalimé is also the most important craft center in the country where a very large number of artists and craftsmen have settled: wood sculptors , batikers , potters , weavers , calabashers , … The many “nature” walks and hikes lead through paths to discover the daily life of the local populations who live mainly from agriculture. The paths cross fields of yams and corn but also banana plantations and pineapple fields.

 

LOME
The economic heart of the country. A bustling capital day and night ( Grand market , Port of Lomé , nightclubs & maquis ), shops and stalls (loincloths, crafts) for shopping fans, a fetish market renowned throughout the sub-region. Built on the coast, facing the blue waters of the Gulf of Benin , the city of Lomé forms a relaxed, harmonious and welcoming whole. It is a city with modern hotels , offering a plethora of restaurants , casinos , thriving markets and lively nightclubs. With more than a million inhabitants, Lomé is the largest city in Togo.

Like most of the capitals of the West African coast , Lomé has a fine sandy beach bordered by coconut palms. It is also a lively capital both during the day where all the economic activity of the country boils and at night or its bars / maquis and its many discotheques ignite the Lomean night. By day, the streets are buzzing with activity and commerce. After the sun sets, the street vendors set up small stalls by the glow of lamps that light up the peaceful night. The African music brought by the sea breeze flutters in the evening air.

 

NIAMTOUGOU
The region of Niamtougou , about thirty kilometers north of Kara , is full of magnificent landscapes and small villages in traditional huts. We will visit the Artisanal Center CODHANI ( Cooperative of the Handicapped of Niamtougou ) specializing in batik textiles. Its market is held every Sunday and is one of the largest in the region.

NOTED
Notsé is the capital of the Ewe people. There are not many traces of the Kingdom that developed there around the 15th Century but Notsé remains a mythical place for many Ewe as evidenced each year by the biggest traditional festival of the Ewe people : Agbogbo-Za. Founded by peoples who left the Nile Valley and after a transition to Oyo ( Nigeria ), Kétou ( Benin ), Tado ( Togo ), Notsè is the last stage of Ewé migrations around the 15th century. To protect his people, the chief built an imposing 14.5 km wall known as ” Agbogbo “, the remains of which are still visible in places. In the 17th century, following an internal crisis, the Ewe revolted and fled south and west to neighboring Ghana (now Volta Region ). Those who remained founded the six original districts ( Alinou , Agbaladomé , Adimé , Ekli , Tégbé and Kpédomé ) which have district chiefs, notables of the Superior Chief who is today Agokoli IV.

 

SOKODE
Sokodé is one of the largest cities in Togo. It is an administrative center where the majority of Kotokolis live , Muslims whose clothes are reminiscent of North Africa. The men wear large boubous and the women the veil over magnificent and colorful outfits. Life is organized around the traditional chiefdoms which are still the authority on the TEM today. Local music and dances are not found anywhere else in Togo . During the knife festival, the streets fill with traditional music and dances. The region is also rich in crafts , weaving is one of the main activities. Finally, the region is full of colorful markets such as Tchamba or Sokodé. The Fazao-Malfakassa reserve offers a very beautiful bio-diversity.

 

TOGOVILLE
Togoville is a small village in the maritime region of Togo, which is located near Lake Togo . Togoville is located in the prefecture of Vo 8 km from Wogba. The village, whose original name was Togo , took the name of Togoville when the German explorer Gustav Nachtigal , was sent there by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck as special commissioner, to negotiate with King Mlapa III , the establishment of ‘a protectorate of the German Empire. This was done July 5, 1884 , by signing a treaty creating Togoland.

The village, which gave its name to the country, originally means city ” beyond the cliff ” in the Ewe language (and not city “beyond the river”, a common mistake). It is indeed located at the edge of a very shallow lagoon, which is called Lake Togo , which has had the effect of misleading many inhabitants as to the origin of the word ” togo “. Visitors can discover the house of the descendant of King Mlapa III who signed with Nachtigal the treaty establishing the German protectorate over Togo .

TSÉVIÉ
Tsévié was born from the stopover of the Ewés who fled the administration of King AGOKOLI of Notsé. The fugitives settled temporarily while awaiting the harvest of the beans they sowed, hence ” ayia ne tsevie ” which means in French: ” let the bean produce a little ! “. It is the capital of the Maritime Region .

 

VOGAN
Vogan is a city in Togo , capital of the prefecture of Vo in the Maritime Region. Mainly animist culture , authentic red clay huts, pleasant landscape. Vogan is located 45 km from Lomé with a population of just over 1000 inhabitants. Breeding pigs and growing beans . It is a city that has a dispensary and schools. Under the reign of the KALIPE family.

The Togo has a real heritage-listed World Heritage of UNESCO in 2004. This is the Koutammakou landscape , located in northeastern Togo and extending across the border to Benin , is home to the Batammariba whose remarkable earthen turret houses have become a symbol of Togo .

Activities related to World Heritage
The Koutammakou (Tamberma) landscape
Region: Kara
City: Kandé
The Koutammakou landscape , located in the northeast of Togo and extending across the border to Benin , is home to the Batammariba whose remarkable earthen turret houses have become a symbol of Togo. The site is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this landscape, nature is closely associated with the rituals and beliefs of society.

The 50,000 ha cultural landscape owes its remarkable appearance to its Takienta , turreted houses that reflect the social structure, as well as to its agricultural lands and forests, and to the association between the people and the landscape.

The Dayes plateau ( Danyi ): The Dzogbégan monastery : The Benedictine monks introduced different cultures to the region, including the variety of “ robusta ” coffee. They transform and market many of their products, like the Benedictines from the neighboring monastery : yogurt , jams , natural essences.

Activities related to Curiosities
The monastery of Dzogbégan (Danyi)
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
The monastery of Dzogbégan: The Benedictine monks introduced different cultures to the region, including the variety of “ robusta ” coffee. They transform and market many of their products, like the Benedictines from the neighboring monastery : yogurt , jams , natural essences.

Chapel: Circular wooden chapel, surmounted by a conical roof. This chapel was built entirely with local materials.

 

The Sarakawa monument
Region: Kara
City: kara
Sarakawa Monument: Monument built in commemoration of the plane crash of January 24, 1974 from which the late Head of State Gnasinbé Eyadema miraculously escaped. You can see the wreckage of the plane.

Discover the cultural and traditional diversity of Togo.

Traditional konkonba chiefdom
Region: Kara
City: Bassar / Bandjéli
You can visit Bandjéli , a very beautiful traditional Konkonba chiefdom. After the audience with the chief , visit the huts of his home which are very nicely decorated with paintings.

The traditional Chiefdom of Kparatao
Region: Centrale
City: Sokodé
Kparatao : Traditional chiefdom and Tem tombs. Do not miss to visit the traditional chief of Kparato (in the direction of Tchamba and Benin ) who reigns over the Tem who are spread over Benin , Togo and Ghana. We will also discover in certain private houses the graves of warriors to whom regular offerings are still made.

Traditional festivals and dances
Region: Centrale
City: Sokodé
The name Gadao-Adossa is the common expression to designate two major Tem festivals, namely Gadao for the Tem and Adossa for the strongly Islamized community of Didaoure.

The story of Gadao is linked to the gushing of an inexhaustible pond of water in a place which took the name of Tabalo and where the chief of the Mola had sunk , leaving a red Chechia there . From then on, the name of Gadao became a myth and is celebrated in order to thank the ancestors for the abundance of the harvests. Adossa is the knife dance performed by the Traoré , Touré , Mendè , Cissé , Fofana clans who inhabit Didaouré.

The Kabyés Mountains
Region: Kara
City: kara
Located to the east of Kara , in the direction of Benin , the Kabyés Mountains offer to discover the life of the local populations through magnificent tracks which cross many traditional villages. The mountainous landscapes offer splendid views over the plains.

Animist practices
Region: Maritime
City: Togoville
The practices and animistic beliefs are still deeply rooted in the daily life of local people. There are fetishes for each of the districts of Togoville. These are still used as evidenced by the many sacrifices placed at their feet. It is also not uncommon to see women go into a trance or meet the voodoo priests.

The Togo has a historical and cultural remarkable.
From the remains of the slave trade : Agbodrafo : Woold Home ), to buildings of colonial architecture : Lomé , Aného-Glidji , Kpalimé , Atakpamé , Sokodé, passing through the koutammakou landscape (classified as a World Heritage Site) ‘ UNESCO in 2004 ), the caves and granaries of Nok and Mamproug or the cave paintings of Namoudjoga and Sogou, the visitor will be able to discover a thousand and one wonders.

 

Activities related to Historical & Cultural Heritage
Buildings & Architecture in Aného
Region: Maritime
City: Aného
Aného is full of buildings whose architecture is characteristic of the colonial period ( 19th Century ). They bear witness to the past of the city which was the first capital of Togo and one of the main commercial centers of Togo.

 

Buildings & Architecture in Kpalimé
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
There are still a few buildings in Kpalimé dating from colonial times when the city was at the center of the coffee and cocoa trade . The German cathedral of Kpalimé also testifies to the colonial past of the city.

The governor’s house in Missahoe. The village of Missahoe is located on the road from Kusuntu to the village of Kuma-Konda. The old Governor’s House is characteristic of the architectural remains of the German colonial period. The governor’s house offers a splendid view of Kpalimé and the German cemetery.

 

Buildings & Architecture in Sokodé
Region: Centrale
City: Sokodé
Some buildings and remains from the German colonial period remain in Sokodé . the main ones are located on the Place de la Préfecture.

 

Buildings and Architecture in Lomé
Region: Maritime
City: Lomé
The colonial architecture was inspired by three architectural styles. The oldest of them is a transposition of European colonial architecture. The second style present is the “ Porto-Novo style ” derived from the Portuguese Baroque of Brazil. Finally, some buildings are a legacy of the English neo-classical style inspired by neighboring Ghana.

 

The German Cathedral of Lomé
Region: Maritime
City: Lomé
The German Cathedral in the city center is the appropriate place to start a city tour. Its ornate arrows , beautifully painted facade and interior , carved wooden benches and frescoes depicting African saints are living memories of Togo’s colonial heritage.

 

Notre Dame du Lac Togo Cathedral
Region: Maritime
City: Togoville
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Lake Togo was built in 1910. It is adorned with paintings of African martyrs. There is a reproduction of the boat on which the Virgin Mary appeared on the lake in 1940.

 

The House of Slaves – Wood Home – The well of the chained
Region: Maritime
City: Agbodrafo
” Wood Homé “, according to the local name, is the home of Wood , an English trader and slave trader.

This house was built shortly after the installation in Agbodrafo in 1835 of a fraction of the Adjigo clan driven out of Aného and led by Chief Assiakoley .

Accustomed to the practice of slavery on the coasts of Aného , the chief and his notables could not abandon this lucrative trade despite the injunctions of the Western powers and the surveillance of anti-slavery cruises in the Gulf of Benin .

 

The Château Viale
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
Direction Togo and Kpalimé 120 km north-west of Lomé , a few kilometers from its border with Ghana .
Above Kpalimé , a large town, is Mount Kloto, where Château Viale , presidential residence since 1975, sits enthroned .

In 1940, during a horseback ride , a German named Viale discovered this hill, facing Mount Kloto , and was amazed by the panorama offered by this site.

He decided to build a castle there . This castle built during the Second World War , began in 1940 , and was completed in 1944 , at a time when no tarmac road served neither Mount Kloto , nor a fortiori its summit.

 

The Governors Palace
Region: Maritime
City: Lomé
The Palace of the Governors was built from 1898 to 1905 under the technical direction of engineer of German work FURTKAMP , following the decision of the Governor August KOHLER – one who erected Lome in capital of Togo – to build a palace rather representative that is recognizable from a distance of a thousand kilometers in order to impress the boats .

The so-called ” head-up ” architecture not only recalls at first glance that of the metropolis, whose aura it reflects, but it also rhymes – proudly – with the rating of ” the model German colony ” that constituted the Togo at the time.

 

The Royal Palace of King Mlapa
Region: Maritime
City: Togoville
Meeting with the descendants of King Mlapa who in 1884 signed the treaty with Doctor Nachtigal which will give the Germans hegemony over Togolese territory. Justice is still rendered there every Saturday morning according to customary law.

 

The caves of Nok and Maproug
Region: Savanes
City: Dapaong
High cliffs, whose walls face north, dominate the savannah of this northern part of Togo. They are the last high reliefs before this immense expanse of savannah which extends into Burkina Faso . This formation commonly known as Boumbouaka sandstone presents escarpments of cliffs of Upper Proterozoic age of rare beauty with at the base an alternation of pellites ( argillites ) and psammites , the whole resting on a crystalline base dating from the Birrimian .

Horizontal crevices open at the last upper quarter of their height; difficult to access, they have served, for a very long time, shelter and refuge for indigenous populations during the various periods of insecurity that plagued the region from the 17th to the 19th century.

 

The blast furnaces of Bassar & Bandjéli
Region: Kara
City: Bassar / Bandjéli
The soil of Bassar , like that of Bandjéli, concealed iron ores which were exploited very early on by the local populations. The region is renowned for its smelting technique and for its blacksmiths. Before independence there were more than 500 stoves in the region.

 

The rock paintings of Namoudjoga & Sogou
Region: Savanes
City: Dapaong
Until their discovery in 1990 by missionaries , nothing indicated the presence of the paintings in this region.

They are located in the Sodjoual mountains in Sogou , in the canton of Naki , and the Namoudjoga mountains . Sodjoual presents three painting stations , made on rock faces. There are three rows of very distinctly distinct morphological characters: several horizontal lines separated by a vertical median. One can notice, without difficulty, some animal forms.

There have been counted more than sixty-three groups of signs composed of vertical and horizontal lines, lines of dots, circles and isolated dots. There are also riders and animal figures.

 

The ruins of Kamina
Region: Plateaux
City: Atakpamé
The ruins of Kamina : Located 20 kilometers from Atakpamé , Kamina is the site of the former German military base. The walls of the headquarters are still erected as well as the concrete pylons which supported the antenna of a giant radio transmitter which linked Togo to Berlin and to the German fleet in the South Atlantic.

 

The remains of the Ewe kingdom
Region: Maritime
City: Notsé
There are still some rare vestiges dating from the kingdom of Notsé. The walls. Only a few fragments remain, which are protected given the erosion of time. It was King Agokoli ( probably at the beginning of the 17th century) who had them built using clay kneaded with water. Notsé will then become a fortress where the Ewe took refuge but also other peoples such as the Akposso Pavements. Archaeological excavations have uncovered pavements dating from an ancient era. These were protected within the confines of a small building.

TRADITIONAL FESTIVITIES
Live in the heart of the rites & traditions among the most authentic in West Africa !!! The TOGO has a very diverse ethnic and cultural. This richness is expressed through the festivals and traditional rites that punctuate the life of each of the communities. These are generally linked to the oldest and most deeply rooted beliefs and traditions within the local populations. The TOGO offers some traditional festivals of exceptions: Epe-Ekpe ( taking the sacred stone ): New Year in Guins , Gadao-back against : Knife festival in TEM , Evala : the struggles traditional Kabyés …

 

Activities related to Traditional Festivities
Agbogbo-Za (Historical festival of the Ewe)
Region: Maritime
City: Notsé
Agbogbo-Za ( Historical festival of the Ewe ). More than a ritual feast, Agbogbo-Za is the biggest traditional feast of the Ewe people. It marks the commemoration of the exodus of the Ewé people in the 17th century. The first ritual ceremonies begin on the 1st Thursday of September and the climax takes place the following Saturday. The apotheosis takes place on the 1st Saturday of this month in the same city.

 

Ayiza (Harvest Festival in Zio)
Region: Maritime
City: Tsévié
According to the history of the Ewé people , the founders of the city of Tsévié, emigrating to the south (exodus from Notsé which dates back to 1720 ), tired and destitute, decided to sow beans. When it was time to get back on the road, the sowers protested, demanding to wait for the harvest. From there came the current name of Tsévié formed of ” Tsé ” (to produce) and vié (a little). Ayiza owes its name to the ” Ayi ” bean and is celebrated every year on the 2nd Saturday of August in Tsévié.

 

D’pontr / N’dack
Region: Kara
City: Bassar / Bandjéli
It marks the beginning of a new year in Bassar and Konkomba country. The yam cultivation in the region remains the key element around which we find the meaning of D’pontr and N’dack. D’pontr and N’dack give the Bassar man or Konkonba the opportunity to appreciate the fruit of his labor of the year and allow him to offer the first fruits to the gods and the manes of the ancestors in sign of recognition. It is celebrated each year on the 1st Saturday of September alternately in Bassar and Guérinkouka.

 

Dzawuwu-za (Harvest Festival of Ewé de Kloto)
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
It is a cultural practice that is based on ancestral beliefs in the Kloto region. It is also a party in which in ancient times was spread to the intention of the gods and the spirits of ancestors dishes prepared with the beginnings of some crops ( maize , cassava , yam ,.). It is celebrated every year on the 1st Saturday of August in Kpalimé.

 

Sword Ekpé
Region: Maritime
City: Aného
Epe – Ekpé (historical festival of the Guins ). This is probably one of the most important ceremonies of the whole of Africa from the West. Specific to the Guens who came from Ghana in the 17th century to settle in the lakes region in 1663 , Epe-Ekpé is the occasion for the taking of the sacred stone ( Kpessosso ) which remains the core around which all events revolve.

 

Evala
Region: Kara
City: kara
Evala ( Initiation party in Kabyé country ). Evala is the feast of wrestling in Kabyé country. It is the occasion for the young evalou to distinguish themselves among its co-initiates by their strength, their endurance and the elegance of their dance. This ritual initiation ceremony, which is performed individually from house to house in January, allows 18-year-olds to join the adult class. the final ceremonies begin on July 11, 12, 13 and 14, which coincides with the 2nd Saturday of that month each year. They last a week and take place in all the cantons of the prefecture.

 

Gadao-Adossa (Festival of knives)
Region: Centrale
City: Sokodé
The name Gadao-Adossa is the common expression to designate two major Tem festivals, namely Gadao for the Tem and Adossa for the strongly Islamized community of Didaouré. The story of Gadao is linked to the gushing of an inexhaustible pond of water in a place which took the name of Tabalo and where the chief of the Mola had sunk , leaving a red Chechia there. From then on, the name of Gadao has become a myth and is celebrated in order to thank the ancestors for the bountiful harvest. Adossa is the knife dance performed by the Traoré , Touré , Mendè , Cissé , Fofana clans who inhabit Didaouré.

 

Habye
Region: Kara
City: kara
Habye ( Religious festival of the Kabyé of the Kozah ). It is a magic demonstration dance . This is the opportunity to demonstrate the occult strength of wizards. It offers only initiates the opportunity to prove to each other a mastery of the forces of nature. It takes place every 5 years in November. It is also triennial in certain cantons of Kozah.

 

Kamaka
Region: Kara
City: kara
Kamaka ( Assoli TEM Harvest Festival ). Originally, Kamaka means in the TEM language ” the hammock ” which was used to transport as a sign of homage the one who during the year distinguished himself by a great harvest and who moreover helped the poor by donations. of agricultural products. It is also a mark of gratitude to the ancestors for having given the TEM people of Assoli abundant harvests. The ceremonies take place on the 2nd Saturday of December each year in Bafilo.

 

Kilikpo (Harvest Festival in Tchamba)
Region: Centrale
City: Sokodé
Kilikpo ( Harvest Festival in Tchamba ). It is the feast of bountiful harvests and the dawn of a stupendous era. It is marked by the consumption of the new yam and is surrounded by a ritual consisting of offerings to the divinities: manes , twins , protective spirits. It is celebrated in Tchamba every year, on the 1st Saturday of August which thus passes to be a month of providence , abundance and sanctification.

MUSEUMS
The National Museum and the International Museum of the Gulf of Guinea are the two main museums in the capital. In the interior of the country, do not miss the museums of the central region and the savannas which offer very beautiful pieces related to the life of the local populations.

 

Activities related to Museums
The National Museum
Region: Maritime
City: Lomé
Lomé has a fascinating national museum. It is located in the Palais des Congrès near Independence Square , opposite the hotel February 2. This museum is the ideal place to discover Togolese culture . Inside, well-lit display cases tell the local history and display excellent specimens of traditional art.

 

The Regional Savannah Museum
Region: Savanes
City: Dapaong
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday : 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Saturday : 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 

International Museum of the Gulf of Guinea
Region: Maritime
City: Lomé
Founded by René David and his wife Enam Ekpe , the International Museum of the Gulf of Guinea houses a large part of the private collection of the great dealer and collector René David, born in 1928 in Basel , Switzerland. He returned to Africa in 2006 most of his own collection to be exhibited in Lomé. The museum brings together a collection of more than 1500 pieces covering the period: 2 centuries BC , until the beginning of the 20th century.

 

Regional Museum of the Center / Sokodé
Region: Centrale
City: Sokodé
Regional Museum of the center / Sokodé. Open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The museum offers some very beautiful antique pieces and everyday objects representing TEM life and culture.

MARITIME REGION

The maritime region stretches along the coast bordered by fine sandy beaches and coconut palms. Lomé is renowned for its fine sandy beaches , its shaded walks, its large daily markets and its many tourist attractions: national museum , fetish market , German cathedral of the Grand-Marché, architectural monuments.

From the capital, the coast is bordered to Benin by a splendid road that crosses coconut groves and typical fishing villages. The most beautiful beaches in the country are located in the vicinity of Baguida and Avepozo. The outline of the sandy coast on the edge of the coastal plain and a coconut plantation where Lomé is located , the city which recalls “Conventions”, which bears its name and is the subject of preferential exchanges between the European Economic Community ” EEC ” and the countries of Africa , the Caribbean and the Pacific. Lomé presents a very attractive market with their large luxury hotels, shady streets, lively beaches and the hospitality of its inhabitants.

About thirty kilometers east of Lomé , Lake Togo offers water sports and nature lovers opportunities for considerable leisure and entertainment. The Mono River offers visitors a strange canoe crossing: a very fascinating discovery of crocodiles , hippos from time to time, and flocks of birds of different species. Fishermen navigate in small canoes dug out of tree trunks to collect their nets and traps.

In Agbodrafo , you will also have the opportunity to discover all the richness of the cultural heritage of the region with the remains of the slave coast such as the ” House of slaves or WOOD house ” or the well of the chained. Aneho , located 15 km east of Agbodrafo , is the spiritual and cultural center of the Guin people. The city is built near a winding lagoon, surrounded by fishing villages and coconut plantations . Aného retains the soul of a 19th century colonial town.

TRAYS REGION
THE WESTERN PLATEAU REGION IS RENOWNED FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CHARACTERIZED BY THE EXUBERANCE OF ITS FORESTS, VERITABLE PLANT MUSEUMS OF TROPICAL SPECIES.

It is the ideal place for lovers of hiking and green tourism. Kpalimé is also one of the largest artistic and craft center in the country. Since Kpalime , visitors will discover the wealth of fauna and flora tropical and the many natural waterfalls in the region including that of Aklowa ( Badou ), one of the most important of Togo. The region is also rich in crafts , Kpalimé is the main artistic and craft center of the country.

With its moderate mountains, exposed to the elements, the plateau region gives visitors the opportunity to experience places and monuments such as the Presidential Palace , the Kevuvu , Kuma , Dzobean and monasteries bat caves , as well as of the waterfalls of Kpimé. It is a region with a wide variety of landscapes and activities with tropical agricultural products such as bananas , oranges , pineapples , avocado , coffee , cocoa , cotton , etc. A visit to the Art training centers of Kloto and Atakpamé , allows tourists to take with them some souvenirs (Gifts). We will discover the artisanal artistic center of Kpalimé ( CEAA ) where most of the artists and craftsmen of the country were trained as well as many workshops and shops.

In the east, we will discover Notsé , the cradle of the Ewe people. Finally in the North , Atakpame , capital of the region, remained for a long time the city of refuge for the Germans. A few kilometers from the city is the Nangbéto dam , a huge water reservoir where you can see hippos.

CENTRAL REGION
The central region covers an area of ​​approximately 13,500 km2 of which more than 20% are reserves and classified forests, including the reserve of the Fazao national park which covers nearly 2,000 km2. The city of Sokodé (predominantly Muslim) is the second largest city in the country in terms of population. The central region is at the heart of the culture of TEM traditions (traditional chiefdoms, fire and knife dance).

The region offers many cultural assets, the traditions have remained alive. The folklore , quickened by the incessant côtoiement different ethnic groups, with interpenetration of customs, here is particularly relevant and authentic. The festivals of Ramadan , Tabaski , Gadoa and Adossa (also known as the festival of knives), all of Muslim origins and whose practice has been propagated by the Kotokoli , are celebrated with great pomp.

The central region also offers a magnificent nature reserve, the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park, where animal species such as bulbals , bongos , colobus and baboons still exist. Some safaris are organized by the Foundation Franz Weber from Sokode. The Fazao-Malfakassa Wildlife Reserve with species of animals such as antelopes , elephants , buffaloes , birds and primates , is the place of attraction for tourists who are set Safari enthusiasts.

KARA REGION
The Kara region offers unquestionable tourist interest:
Splendid sites landscape Koutammakou , a World Heritage by UNESCO , authentic peoples, diverse landscapes ( Kabyés mountains , cliffs Défalé ) and a folklore remarkably rich in populations that have maintained intact and their traditions alive. The koutammakou landscape and its houses / fortifications called ” takienta ” are among the most beautiful tourist sites that Togo offers. The site is registered with the world heritage of UNESCO under the name of KOUTAMMAKOU , country of Batammariba.

The many traditional festivals and dances of the region ( evala , akpema , habyé , etc.) are all living testimonies of the attachment of the populations of the region to ancestral traditions and ways of life.

The region of Bassar / Bandjéli attest to the distant work of iron in the region. Several old blast furnaces have been preserved ( Nangbéni – Bassar ). In Bandjéli we will also visit the beautiful traditional chiefdom.

The Kara region is also full of many markets such as those of Niamtougou , Ketao , Bassar and Bandjéli or even Nadoba (Koutammakou).

SAVANNAHS REGION
The far north of Togo is made up of exceptionally flat savannah vegetation. A region curiously interspersed with verdant mountains rich in rock hyraxes: it is the area par excellence of the palm tree , of harnessing and cattle breeding. The region is full of historic sites that seem to date from time immemorial reminding that Africa was also one of the cradles of humanity.

The region is rich in historical and cultural treasures such as the cave paintings of Namoudjoga or the caves and granaries of Nano and Maproug. These sites have been nominated as UNESCO World Heritage. This region is mainly populated by Moba-Gurma , the most numerous, and Tchokossi. The Moba are mainly cultivators and hunters, they are mainly found in the Dapaong region. The Tchokossi (originally from Côte d’Ivoire ) settled in the Mango region as a result of the wars. Animist or Muslim people, they are at the origin of the establishment of Islam in this part of Togo.

Discovering crafts
In West Africa , Togo surprises with the variety of its craft traditions. Land of a thousand colorful contrasts, Togo offers visitors many testimonies of traditional craftsmanship.

The multitude of ethnic groups and landscapes creates an abundance of artisanal activities which seem to specialize by region according to the predisposition of men and the availability of raw materials.

Activities related to Art & Crafts
Crafts: Central region
Region: Centrale
City: Sokodé
The variety of artisanal activities can be found here too: in the many markets in the region, among others, those of Blitta , Pagala or Adjengré where you can find various products of local crafts: agricultural tools , gourds and calabashes. , shopping bags, Sokodé , the regional capital is famous for weaving . The national weaving center perfects this art, but you can also go to Kpassouadé east of Sokodé , a town famous for the work of its weavers. Further east , the town of Tchamba specializes in the pyrography of gourds and calabashes.

Crafts: Plateau region
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
Mountainous and covered with forests of various species, the Plateaux Region , by the density of its raw materials, creates a flourishing of artisanal activities, the most important of which is statuary art.

Many artisans exercise their talents either alone, in groups or even within craft centers. These artisans produce a variety of objects: wood carving , macrame , batik , ceramics . The weaving is also very developed in the region with the ” kente ” the traditional loincloth ewe whose motives are loaded symbols.

Crafts: Kara region
Region: Kara
City: kara
Region mountain soils in places difficult to work the middle of the development depends for much of the knowledge of farmers and craftsmen.

The work of iron is thus revealed a tradition which plunges its origin in the mists of time. The ruins of the blast furnaces of Nangbani and Bandjéli in the Bassar prefecture are still living witnesses of this ancestral tradition. In Tcharé , Pya and Yadé in Kozah prefecture , one can admire the work of traditional blacksmiths who use large mountain stones as an anvil and hammer to beat red iron.

Crafts: Savanes region
Region: Savanes
City: Dapaong
The region is characterized in terms of craftsmanship by the predominance of basketry , leather goods and weaving.

The markets of Dapaong and Cinkassé which come to life weekly bring together artisans who display, on the ground, finely crafted utilitarian objects: straw hats , bird cages , palm fan of palm trees, handbags and bracelets in leather. We will enjoy discovering the talent of the many weavers and weavers of the region at the center of women’s self-promotion of Dapaong ( CEDAF ) or at the cooperative of craftsmen of Lotougou.

 

Crafts: Maritime Region
Region: Maritime
City: Lomé
In the Maritime Region , Lomé the capital, drains most of what is most ingenious and most naive of national artisanal production.

In the popular districts of the city, jewelers , shoemakers , upholsterers , tailors and other carpenters set up their stalls on the sidewalks. In the Grand Market in Lomé , one can admire the stalls of multicolored beads of utensils menus of kitchen pottery or wickerwork and sacred statues.

 

Kpalimé, the city of artists and craftsmen
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
Kpalimé is the most important craft center in the country. Many artists and artisans have settled in the region and have opened their workshops and shops all over the city. We will discover batik , woodcarving , weaving , calabash work.

The craft center Kloto : Founded in 1967 ; the Kloto Handicraft Center , near Kpalimé has a dual role. It is the production center for a wide variety of handicrafts : woodcarvings , pottery , batiks and macrame ; it is also a school where young apprentices can acquire the knowledge of their teachers.

The Market and the Craft Village of Lomé
Region: Maritime
City: Lomé
You can find rue des Arts , very close to the Hôtel du Golfe , where all kinds of art objects are sold . It is a great place to shop for souvenirs and the discerning shopper can discover valuable items.

The craft village brings together different trades. You can see the craftsmen at work: batik , woodcarving , engraving , weaving…

The traditional blacksmiths of Atakpamé
Region: Plateaux
City: Atakpamé
Traditional blacksmiths: There are many blacksmiths in town who practice their profession using entirely artisanal techniques and means.

Pya’s traditional potters and blacksmiths
Region: Kara
City: kara
Traditional Pottery ( Pya Pittah ): Essentially female activity, traditional pottery is done with bare hands without special tools. Traditional blacksmiths ( Pya Katdeka or Tcharé ): traditional forges.

Traditional weavers in Sokodé
Region: Centrale
City: Sokodé
Sokodé , the regional capital is famous for weaving. The loincloths of the weavers are used to sew the tunics or the large embroidered boubous that the Tem knights wear on their horses on feast days.

The traditional weavers of Bafilo
Region: Kara
City: kara
About twenty kilometers from Kara , in the direction of Lomé , there are traditional weavers near the town of Bafilo .

The Togo , state party to the Convention on the Protection of the World Heritage Cultural and Natural , has the nature reserves or protected areas localized, each in a specific region, which straddles two adjacent regions togo-reserve-fauna-flora

Nine (9) nature reserves are declared priority in Togo and three (3) among them are proposed in 2004 to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and have the necessary attractive criteria that can make a valid contribution to tourism .

The Togo has many parks and nature reserves.
We can site among others:
– Fazao-Malfakassa National Park: Leaning against the chain of the Fazao-Malfakassa Mountains , sumptuously dressed in a mosaic of plant formations, the park is swarmed with beautiful forest galleries and fertile plains colonized by many plant species known for their sweet aroma, under which we can see wandering buffaloes , elephants , antelopes , hartebeest , cobs , warthogs , etc. Covering an area of 192,000 hectares , this park is a sanctuary for birds , primates , reptiles and other wildlife curiosities.

Managed by the Franz Weber Foundation , it opens for vision safari tours during the dry season , from November to April .

– The Aledjo wildlife reserve: The Alédjo Wildlife Reserve is located in the prefectures of Tchaoudjo and Assoli. Straddling the Central and Kara regions , the Alédjo zone is limited to the north by the village Kpéwa , to the south by the village Aléhéridè , to the east by the Kpéwa – Kadara trail and on the west side by the village Efolo and localities atypical.

Inscribed in a section of the Togo Mountains , the Alédjo Wildlife Reserve is a natural area of 765 ha which intervenes in the conservation of biological diversity , the protection of local geological and physiographic formations .

– Sarakawa wildlife reserve: This reserve was recently opened to the public. Some safaris discovery are organized to meet the African wildlife. You can see, among other things, zebras , cobs , hartebeest and many other animal species.

– The Oti reserve & the Kéran national park: The Oti reserve covers the valley of the Oti river over 1878.40 km². The Kéran National Park straddles the savannah region ( Oti prefecture ) and the Kara region ( Kéran prefecture). It covers approximately 1700 km². The main species visible in the Keran are: the Warthog , the Buffoon Cob , the Buffalo , the Grimm’s Cephalophe , the hyppotrogne , the hartebeest , the Fassa Cob .

– Mandouri reserve & Dung pit: Mandouri reserve: The reserve, located 97 km from Dapaong track, offers the opportunity to discover in a still quite informal way the fauna and flora of a parkcontiguous to the large national parks of Burkina Fasoand Benin. The Dung pit: sacred pit inhabited by spirits.

The Togo has a natural heritage remarkable.
The Mono valley , near the border with Benin , is swarmed with small hamlets nestled on the banks of the river among palm plantations, corn and cassava fields .

If you visit Badou , don’t miss seeing one of Togo’s wonders , a 100m cascade of milky water that rushes from a granite cliff into a pool deep in the forest.

 

Activities related to Natural Heritage:
Aklowa waterfall
Region: Plateaux
City: Badou
If you visit Badou , don’t miss seeing one of Togo’s wonders , a 100m cascade of milky water that rushes from a granite cliff into a pool deep in the forest.

You will need to take a 40-minute walk on narrow paths that wind over hills through cocoa plantations before entering the forest.

The journey is a bit tiring but well worth it. You will find yourself deep in the forest and you will have the impression of discovering the world when you arrive in the ravine withdrawn at the base of the fall.

 

The Kpelé Tsavié waterfall
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
Are you in Togo and want nature? Are you looking for a preserved, green, refreshing place? Look no further, we have what you need! La Cascade Verte welcomes you to Gbaledze .

After a pleasant hike of an hour, you will reach a first small pool. Cross it and discover a cool rest area, in the shade of the trees, ideal for enjoying a good picnic or for a little nap.

Climbing the path from this landscaped area will lead you to the second basin, deeper, ideal for swimming and grandiose by the power of its waterfall. Do not hesitate to explore the cave on the way: it overlooks the territory of Gbaledze and guarantees you an exceptional view of the valley.

 

The Tomegbé waterfall
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
Tomégbé is a village 15km from the city center of Kpalimé . It is located at the foot of Mount Kloto towards the west side.

Presenting an almost mountainous geographical situation, this village is served by a tarmac road leading to the interior towns of Ghana, in particular Kpando and Hohoe .
The village has decent social collective infrastructure including two primary schools, a college and a dispensary.

In terms of water the village is crowded with rivers and spring water. Like other rural towns in southwestern Togo , coffee and cocoa are cash crops for export. Food crops and fruit trees are also produced in this village.

 

The Yikpa waterfall (La Cascade d’Agumatsa)
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
Yikpa waterfall: About 40 km from Kpalimé .
From Kpalimé , take the road to Atakpamé . At Adeta , take the direction of the Dayes plateau .

Yikpa is a village and it is the pride of the people of Yikpa and TOGO . It is the largest waterfall in TOGO . The Agumatsa Waterfall is a large waterfall located in a small village in Togo called Yikpa .

It is a stunt that was unknown to the public. Today we are trying to show it to the whole world. Yikpa is a tourist and mountainous area with waterfalls and caves.

 

The Mono River Valley
Region: Maritime
City: Aného
The Mono valley , near the border with Benin , is swarmed with small hamlets nestled on the banks of the river among palm plantations, corn and cassava fields . It is also a region of exotic wildlife where hippos laze in the deep water holes of the river.

While it is true that we see a lot of hippos in the pits of the river, the largest pit near Tokpli remains the best. Remember, hippos are only visible very early in the morning or after dark.

 

The Nangbéto dam
Region: Plateaux
City: Atakpamé
The dam Nangbeto : The hydroelectric dam of Nangbeto is about 45 km of track (about 45 minutes) of Atakpame on a lake with an area of 180 km2. You can see hippos early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

 

Mont Agou
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
Le Pic d’Agou : The highest peak in Togo , Mont Agou , is located between Amoussoukope and Kpalimé .

This 986 m mountain is covered with dense forests and dotted with small Ewe villages. Trails crisscross the side of the mountain and energetic walkers climb to the top. However it is not necessary to walk, because a good road winds up to the top. However you get to the top, the reward is the same: the spectacular panorama of the valleys and plains below.

 

Mount Kloto
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
The Mont Kloto : Starting point for many hikes hiking to discover the fauna and tropical flora and natural waterfalls. The paths taken cross fields and plantations as well as small traditional villages such as Kouma Kunda , Tomegbe or Tokpli.

 

Green tourism – Ecotourism
Region: Plateaux
City: Kpalimé
The region of Kpalimé is renowned for its natural setting and its beautiful vegetation, it is the green paradise of Togo. A few kilometers from the city we reach small peasant villages perched on a green and fertile plateau.

Many hikes are offered to the discovery of the kind , of the fauna and tropical flora. The area is also rich in natural waterfalls where visitors can cool off and swim surrounded by lush vegetation. Among the many waterfalls in the region are those of Tomegbe , Womé , Kpimé , Yikpa , Kpelé Tsavié or even that of Aklowa in Badou.