"The smaller, the cuter," I hear. This expression applies wonderfully to Togo because it is one of the smallest countries in Africa. "Africa's smile," they say. The visitor will have a lot to do, starting by talking with Togolese who only want to share their everyday life and tell "their" history of the country.

Togo measures approximately 600 km long by 140 km (in its widest width), as slipped between Benin (in the East) and Ghana (in the West), with Burkina Faso in the North, it has a coast of 45 km bathed by the Atlantic Ocean. To the south, this coast, a sandy strip of land, is bordered by lagoons that separate it from the land. To the north rise the mountains whose highest point is Mount Agou with 986 meters of altitude. Between arid plains, hills and green valleys, savannah and beaches, the great variety of landscapes makes it a "miniature Africa". Lomé, its capital, is located at the extreme southwest of the country. One can divide the country in its length by five regions, with from North to South the Savanna, the region of Kara below, very appreciated by tourists. In the centre, well named, is the central region and its many reserves and forests, then come the plateaus, ideal for hiking. Finally the maritime region with its fine sandy beaches and attractions offered by the capital, with its museums, monuments and fetish markets. Your trip to Togo can very well imagine itself in the plural and understand different stages which will allow you to cross the country to discover its multiple facets. November to February is the ideal time for your stay in Togo. The South has four seasons and the North only two. From April to October (June for the South), it is the rainy season. From November (December for the South) to March it is the dry season. We don't promise you that a drop or two won't fall... We assure you however that the best place to escape the crushing heat remains the plateaus near the center of the country. For those who are interested in Voodoo (which has 80 million followers in the world), a festival takes place in October to celebrate the black divinities... There are more than 5 million inhabitants in Togo, belonging to about forty ethnic groups. To name but a few, the Kabyés in the north of the country are one of the oldest. The Tems, or kotokoli, in the center, are the most Islamized. In the south, there is a people calling themselves descendants of the Egyptians, the Adja-Tado. Each of these communities is punctuated by traditional rites such as the harvest festival, celebrated by many tribes, or initiation festivals. These ethnic groups also produce many handicrafts, depending on the materials present in their surroundings. For the amateurs of cultural visits an exceptional heritage is at your disposal. In addition to museums, discover the rock paintings of Sagou and Namodjoga, or the remains of the slave trade (present throughout the Gulf of Guinea), colonial districts, or the many museums of cities such as Lomé (including the National Museum and the International Museum of the Gulf of Guinea)... Don't forget the UNESCO listed landscape of Koutammakou. For others, swimming, fishing, hiking and other sports are possible activities. Find out all the possibilities available to you to make the most of them! "Woezon"! Thus the Togolese will welcome you. This accessible population, warm and eager to make known its culture will charm you by its simplicity and its sympathy. You will certainly return different from your trip and by returning to your "life before", you will keep in a corner of the heart the smile of a Togolese girl, the look full of wisdom of an old man. The rhythm of tribal music will reason in your mind for a long time!

Art and culture in Togo
Did you know that? "Togodo" means "the other bank", and meant the city now called Togoville! After the slave trade (from the 16th to the 19th century), the city became a German protectorate in the 1880s until the United Kingdom and France divided the country after 1918. The independence of the country is declared in 1960 and the national language remains French. Like the rest of the continent, dance and music are part of the customs. Here the "griots", former troubadours, perpetuate themselves as best as they can, contending out loud what is said out loud... What to visit in Togo Classified by UNESCO, in the North-East of the country, discover the Batammariba and their land habitats with turrets called "takienta". These hamlets of Koutammakou reserve a space for rituals and initiatory celebrations. Here the interaction between nature and beliefs is obvious. Before entering the savannah observe the attics and caves of Nok and Mamproug which served as refuge. Many parks like those of Fazao-Malfakassa, Kéran, or the reserves of Oto-Mandouri and Alédjo will not leave you indifferent. In Lomé do not miss the palace of the governors or the site of Woold Homé recalling the slave trade.

Gastronomic specialities in Togo
There are many Togolese specialities, including pasta and cakes made from corn, millet, yam, manioc or plantain, such as akoumé paste, fufu or ablo. They are enjoyed with fish and seafood, meat and vegetables. Gboma dessi", made with spinach, is served with mutton, dried fish or crab. There are also "aklan" or "gaou" bean dough, which is spiced with sweet millet porridge ("koko"). Taste also the Djécoumê, especially consumed in the South-Togo.