Togo

Togo is a thin sliver of a country running north to south through the heart of West Africa's Voodoo Coast, wedged between Ghana and Benin. It was once known as Togoland, colonised first by Germany in the late 1800s and later split between Britain and France after the First World War — a history that still shows up in the mix of French, English and local Ewe spoken around the country today. Togo then gained independence in 1960 and has been ruled by the Gnassinbé family since a military coup in 1963.

Togo's modern identity is closely tied to its role in the transatlantic slave trade and, alongside Benin, its deep Voodoo (Vodun) heritage — the country's fetish markets and voodoo temples are among the most significant in the region. Geographically it's just as varied as its history: sandy beaches and lagoons along the southern coast give way to hills and rainforest around Kpalimé further north, though most visitors don't stray far from the lively capital, Lomé. Togo is a great small snapshot of West African culture with more than 40 ethnic groups each with individual culture and languages.

Togo is generally considered one of the easier and more welcoming countries to travel through in West Africa, and offers a compact, genuine introduction to the region's culture, history and landscapes without needing weeks to see it. They also have a new evisa system and one of the best-connected airports in the region, with the airline Asky.

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Tours

West Africa & Sahel Combo Tour: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, Benin & Nigeria

This is Saiga Tours’ most comprehensive and ambitious West Africa and Sahel expedition — a rare 28-day overland and flight journey linking six countries and three distinct cultural worlds.

Jan. 29, 2027

28 days

EUR8695.00

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