Considered a safe country compared to its neighbors, Togo is a perfect destination to discover, during a stay, one of Africa’s treasures. The dry season is the best period if you want to not miss any of the beauty of this country, although the sun is always present throughout the year …
Togo, the country where pleasure rhymes with diversity
Offering its visitors a landscape worthy of a postcard, Togo has one of the most beautiful coastlines in coastal Africa. Dream beaches lined with huge coconut palms are reminiscent of the magnificent tropical islands. Nestled between Burkina Faso to the north, the Gulf of Guinea to the south, Benin to the east and Ghana to the west, Togo is one of the small African states but has a rich natural treasure. It alternates between savannah, sea, dense forests and sparse landscapes. In both east and west, it is full of several famous lakes intertwined with incredible mountain roads.
Togo has nothing to envy of its neighbors when it comes to its natural heritage. Rich and totally diverse, here is a small list of the sites not to be missed during your stay there. Lovers of hiking will be delighted to explore the country’s natural waterfalls, protected by dense forests. The starting point for this magnificent walk is Mount Kloto. You will take different paths crossing fields and plantations, fascinating traditional villages. Not to be missed on your way, a small detour to Kouma Kunda, Tokpli and Tomegbe.
Tourism enthusiasts will be delighted during their stay by visiting the region of Kpalimé which represents the green paradise of Togo. In addition to incredible flora and fauna, this part of the country also boasts many natural waterfalls. We can cite for example Badou, Kpimé, Yikpa, Kpelé Tsavié …
Destinations not to be missed in Togo
The first destination during a stay in Togo is Lomé, its capital. On its own, it has all the renown of the coast of the Gulf of Benin for its beautiful sandy beaches. Then comes the charming town of Agbodrafo which keeps precious within it, a body of water bordered by a forest considered sacred.
The Mono river valley is one of the places not to be missed during your visit to Togo. You will discover the exotic wild life in the middle of palm plantations, cassava and corn fields. To meet the hippos, these wonders of the savannah, you must go there in the morning or observe them at nightfall.
Among the Togolese wonders, you absolutely must also see the Aklowa waterfall, on the Badou side. To appreciate the spectacle of milky water being lost in a granite cliff, you must walk in about 40 minutes on narrow paths through cocoa plantations.
A journey through Togolese culture
Togo has a very rich and varied culture. Its seven million inhabitants are made up of more than 40 different ethnicities. The majority groups are the Kabyés and Mobas in the North, the Ewé and Mina in the South and the Kotokoli in the Center. We can also cite other ethnic groups such as the Akposso who occupy the Plateau Region in the West, the Lambas on the side of Kanté, the Mossis; the Peuhi and Hausa in the far north.
When we talk about Togolese culture, we cannot miss the fetish market in Lomé in the Akodésséwa district. A good number of the population does their shopping there after consulting their wizards. You will discover amazing items like bird feathers, animal skins, animal skulls, different herbal variations, in short, products considered to have magical powers. Tourists can buy souvenirs there, but you have to haggle since the prices are quite exorbitant.
Among the Togolese culture, you can also discover the various traditional festivals and dances. We can cite for example the Gadao and Adossa which are two great festivities, one for the Tem and the other for the Didaouré, an Islamic community. The Gadao celebrates the gush of endless water where the leader of the Mola has disappeared. The denomination was given to thank the ancestors for their benevolence and the abundance of the harvest. For Adossa, it is a festivity revolving around the knife dance which is performed by the Didaouré clans made up of the Traoré, Touré, Cissé, Fofana and Mendè.
Discovery of the beliefs and religions of Togo
A country of diversity, Togo also has a wide variety of religions. They range from Christianity to Islam, from animism to voodoo. Despite the presence of Islam and the Christian religion, the Togolese have generally remained very attached to their traditions. If you have the opportunity during your trip to visit a Togolese house, you will certainly find family altars on which various sacrifices are usually performed.
The Togolese practice a lot of animism, which is based on the links between man and the forces of nature brought together in a set of rites and customs. The basis of these religions is the belief in a higher entity and in secondary deities, the latter are the links between the supernatural and men. They consist of ancestor worship which is linked to natural life events such as birth, marriage, death …
As for voodoo, it is in the southern part of Togo that it is widely practiced. The cults are based on the worship of great spirits, we can quote: Dan, Egou, Légba or Hébiesso. As in all voodoo practices, those who are followers are caught in an intense trance to be able to communicate with the spirits.
The language used in Togo is French. If you want to improve your linguistic background, Angelio Academia offers intensive training given by native and experienced teachers. You can access French courses in Paris. In addition to French, you can learn Spanish, Brazilian, German, Russian, English and Italian there.
