Flag of Togo

Flag of Togo

République togolaise

(english » Togolese Republic)

Facts

  • Population » 8,703,961 (2023 est)
  • Official language » French
  • Religions » Christian, Muslim
  • Joined The Commonwealth since 2022
  • Emergency / Police » 116
  • Fire » 118
  • Calling code » +228
  • Internet TLD » .tg
  • Currency » West African CFA franc (XOF) (XE.com)
    • Note » Remember to have some on hand when arriving at the border as it will be required for the immigration visa. Reference » CFA25,000 = ~$50-60 CDN (2023)
Map of Togo

Map of Togo (Source » Wikimedia)

Geography

  • Togo is 56,785 square kilometres (22,000 square miles).
  • A West African nation, bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north, the Gulf of Guinea to the south.
    • Has 51 km (32 miles) of coastline on the Gulf of Guinea.
    • Togo extends northward 515 km (320 miles)
  • Highest point » Mount Agou at 986 m (3,235 ft) (Wikipedia)
    • Can drive to the summit

Maps

Climate

  • Southern region
    • In the south the rainy seasons occur from mid-April through June and from mid-September through October.
    • The driest region is the narrow coastal zone on the south, receives about 890 mm (35 inches) of precipitation annually
    • Palimé (Wikipedia), 120 km north of Lomé and 15 km from the border with Ghana, receives about 1,800 mm (70 inches) of precipitation annually.
  • Semiarid in north

Tourism

Visa

  • Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nationals can enter Togo freely , without a visa, with a valid passport or a national identity card .
  • Foreigners who are not members of ECOWAS countries must have a passport with a visa.
  • The Visa Entente Touristique ( VTE ) is valid for 60 days, issued by the passport service in Togo, and costs 25,000 CFA francs.

National Parks

  • Fazao Mafakassa National Park (Wikipedia / Lonely Planet)
    • Largest of three national parks, in Central Togo, near the border with Ghana
  • Kéran National Park
    • Little-visited Park in Northern Togo, with little tourist infrastructure
  • Fosse aux Lions National Park (Wikipedia)
    • In the Savanes Region of Northern Togo. (near Burkina Faso)
    • In the ’70s and ’80s, the park was home to a significant number of African elephants, but their numbers have declined to nearly zero due to poaching.
    • The small town of Tandjouaré, Togo lies within the park.
    • Visited very little. Could find little tourism info.
    • Note »» Check security situation near border reagion before proceeding.
  • Togo Tourism

Overland

  • Driving » Right side
  • An international driving license may be required.
  • Togo has only two major highways, Highway N1 and N2

Adventures to consider

  • In the capital, Lomé, are the multistory Grand Marché bazaar and the Fetish Market, offering traditional talismans and remedies relating to the vodun (voodoo) religion.
  • Vogan (OSM) » known for its Friday market which has one of the largest vodun markets in West Africa.
    • Vogan is primarily inhabited by Ewe people.
    • Vogan has one of the biggest and most colourful markets in Togo. On Friday, people from Aneho, Lomé, and even Ghana go to buy or sell goods in the Vogan market.
  • Highest point » Mount Agou at 986 m (3,235 ft) (Wikipedia)
    • Near Kpalimé (pop. 75,000)
    • Can drive to the summit
  • Nature, Waterfalls

Notes

  • The Togolese Republic was proclaimed on 27 April 1960.
  • Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation whose economy depends mostly on agriculture.
  • The UNWTO reported that in 2017 the African nation had the second biggest year-over-year percentage increase in international tourist arrivals.

Security Notes

  • Northern border region adjacent to Burkina Faso at higher risk due to potential for terrorism and kidnapping.

Government Travel Advice

References