A little more
Togo.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Togo: what to know before you go

Togo is a narrow West African country stretching from a short Atlantic coastline north through forested hills to savannah, with traditional earth tower-houses, vodun shrines and lively markets. It sees relatively few tourists and its tourism infrastructure is modest, but it is compact, friendly and rewarding for travellers interested in culture and landscapes.

Where to go

• Lomé. The coastal capital sits right on the border with Ghana.
• Akodésséwa fetish market. On the edge of Lomé, this market sells ingredients for traditional vodun medicine and rituals, including dried animal parts, herbs and charms.
• Koutammakou. In the north-east, the Batammariba people build takienta, two-storey earth tower-houses with granaries on the roof.
• Kpalimé and the plateau. A market town in green hills near the Ghana border, with cocoa and coffee plantations, waterfalls, butterflies and walks up Mount Kloto.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit is during the dry season, from roughly November to March, when roads are easier and the weather less humid, although the dusty harmattan wind from the Sahara can bring hazy skies from about December to February. The south has two rainy seasons, roughly April to July and September to October, while the north has a single rainy season from about May to October.

Staying online in Togo

Mobile coverage is generally good in Lomé, Kpalimé, Kara and other towns, with 4G available in the capital and some larger towns. Coverage weakens in rural areas, in the hills and in parts of the north, and some villages have little or no signal. Wi-Fi is available in many hotels in Lomé but less often elsewhere, and power cuts can occur. Download offline maps for longer journeys. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.