Togo tours & holidays
Togo's lush landscapes and vibrant Vodun culture connect the physical and spiritual worlds
Whether you're strolling the colourful craft stalls of Lome's Art Street, wandering through coffee and cocoa plantations in Kpalime or hiking up Mt Agou, Togo's highest peak, you'll be glad your feet have taken you off the well-worn tourist trail. After you feast your eyes on rolling hills, forests housing hundreds of species of butterflies, palm-fringed coastlines and tiny terraced villages, get ready for this part of West Africa to leave a mark on your heart.
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Togo at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Lome (population 1.5 million )
POPULATION
8.8 million
CURRENCY
XOF
LANGUAGE
French, Mina, Ewe
TIME ZONE
(GMT) Greenwich Mean Time : Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London
CALLING CODE
+228
ELECTRICITY
Type C (European 2-pin)
Learn more about Togo
Best time to visit Togo
The best time to visit Togo is between November and February, when the weather is at its mildest and driest. During these months, the harmattan winds blow sand from the Sahara, and the air can sometimes be thick with dust.
The rainy season is between May and October and often brings intense periods of rain, sometimes forcing the closure of unsealed roads.
Mid-February to April is the hottest period.
Geography and environment
Togo lies in a narrow strip bordered by Burkina Faso, Benin and Ghana. Its coast is small, tranquil and palm-fringed. Further north, seaside charm gives way to a network of lagoons and swampy plains, rolling hills, coffee and cocoa plantations, and eventually the mountain landscapes of Mt Kloto and Mt Agou.
Top 5 Togo Experiences
1. Learn about Vodun
West Africa is the birthplace of Vodun, a traditional religion that has evolved into Voodoo, Hoodoo and Vodou around the Americas.
Visit a Vodun cultural centre in Togoville to learn how locals honour their ancestors with shrines, idols and fetishes, or objects believed to be inhabited by spirits. You might have the opportunity to attend a Vodun ceremony to see the practice come to life through prayer, song, drumming and dance.
2. Behold a botanical wonderland
Hidden away in Togo’s highlands is Mt Kloto - home to dense forest, cascading streams, waterfalls and over five hundred different species of butterflies. Take a botanical excursion through the forest with a naturalist guide to see them in all their glory.
3. Travel by pirogue
When in Togo, travel like the Togolese. Join the fishermen on the lake and be paddled in a dugout canoe (pirogue) from Agbodrafo to Togoville.
4. Eat all things yam
They’re West Africa’s favorite food and nowhere does them quite like the Togolese. Go yam crazy with the beautifully named fufu - yam mashed in a nut sauce.
5. Hike in Kpalime Region
Hidden among the forested hills of the cocoa and coffee region, Kpalime offers some of Togo’s best scenery and hiking. Hike up Mt Agou, Togo’s highest peak, and traverse through backyards, plantations and small terraced mountain villages on your way to some unbeatable views.
Money matters
The local currency in Togo is the West African CFA franc. Cash is the preferred payment universally.
Many businesses and banks in West Africa may not accept US dollar notes issued before 2006 or those that are old or damaged.
Credit card use in Togo is limited. In Lomé, you can use Visa at major hotels and some restaurants, but Mastercard and other cards are less commonly accepted.
ATMs are available in Lomé, but they are much harder to find in rural areas. It's recommended that travellers carry cash when travelling outside urban centres.
Togo travel FAQs
TOGO:
Australia: Yes - In advance
Belgium: Yes - In advance
Canada: Yes - In advance
Germany: Yes - In advance
Ireland: Yes - In advance
Netherlands: Yes - In advance
New Zealand: Yes - In advance
South Africa: Yes - In advance
Switzerland: Yes - In advance
United Kingdom: Yes - In advance
USA: Yes - In advance
Please obtain your visa to Togo in advance. We recommend that you check current visa requirements with your nearest Embassy or Consulate. For Australian passport holders, the French Consulate in Sydney is authorized to issue short stay visas on behalf of Togo for tourism. Alternatively, you can get a visa issued at the border crossing into Togo for 15,000 CFA franc (25 Euros). Make sure to have 4 passport size photos available for use if needed at the border.
Please note that it may be possible to obtain a visa for Togo at the Togolese Embassy in Accra. It is sometimes possible to get this visa in 1 day (if you drop your application off in the morning – Weekdays only). However, visa information is subject to change on a regular basis.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.
Your leader will record your travel insurance details on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
Tipping 10% is customary in most places, and a service charge may be added to your bill.
While gratuities aren’t compulsory, they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you are happy with the service provided, a tip is an appropriate way to thank them.
Tap water isn’t safe to drink in Togo. Your local leader will help you locate filtered water, or you can bring water purification tablets.
Wi-fi is available in some hotels, and internet cafes can be found in most cities. However, outside of Lome, internet access can be sparse.
Mobile phone coverage is good in urban areas. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your carrier, or use an eSIM if you wish to use your phone.
ATMs are available in Lomé and a few other towns, but they are much harder to find in rural areas. It's recommended to carry cash when travelling outside urban areas. You can use your card to withdraw cash at a bank.
Credit cards are accepted in cities like Lomé, but cash is the preferred payment option outside of major centres.
Togo’s toilets may be basic. Be prepared for squat toilets, even in major cities.
We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. If travelling from Canada, you can find helpful information on the Government of Canada website and the World Health Organisation.
Read more about travelling with Intrepid as a Canadian