Togo- Africa's Hidden Gem

                                                     

What can I say about this beautiful gem of a country? It is a tiny country right between Ghana and Benin that carries an extensive history. In Lome, where I began my journey in Togo, I was surprised to see beautifully laid palm fringed white beaches that decorate the city as I drove along it upon my arrival  which made me almost forget I was in Africa!

In Togo, women in their traditional wear rode motorbikes which I found to be one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever seen. Just imagine seeing an aunty in her attire with a helmet on and her shopping behind her. In Togo, everything seems compact and it only takes a few hours from one city to the next so I pretty much visited the whole of Togo in 4 days. People prefer to use the motos for transport as it’s quicker and cheaper.

Some interesting places to visit in Togo is in Anehu which is where a local lake meets the Atlantic Ocean.
                                     

Anehu- The water on the left side is Lake Togo and the right is the Atlantic Ocean

                                            

It’s a beautiful sight  and you can actually see the difference in the waters. I spent about an hour in this spot jusrt admiring the beauty of creation.


Another interesting place to go and see is the Fetish Market where you can have a browse of all the different objects, animal skulls, dolls and many other things used in fetish ceremonies. 

On my tour of the market, the guide took my driver and I  past an array of animal skulls and skinned birds (the smell was unbearable) and led us into a tiny room where we found the son of a voodoo priest. He said his father was in the woods consulting the gods so he was in charge. My guide took out all these different types of objects and described its uses, to make a man love you, to make a man you’re with do what you say ( I was tempted to buy this one), to take revenge on your enemy and to protect your home, I kindly declined all as I was a little freaked out to which I saw the look of disappointment on their face and the son of the voodoo priest then proceeded to stare at me with a look of dismissal. He didn’t have to tell me twice as I was more than eager to leave!

However my favourite place to visit in Togo was Kpalime.

View of Togo Mountain

If you are a nature lover like me you will love Kpalime (pronounced Pa-li-may). I learneed of a mountain called Togo Mountain which stretches into Ghana and Benin with both countries also calling it something different (Akwapim Hills in Ghana and Atakora Mountains in Benin). It just also really shows how united we Africans really are because the mountain was probably used any times by our ancestors to cross into each land and now borders have separated us.

The waterfalls and scenary were  also  just breath taking.  I had a guide take me around a forested area with a lot of history. We had to drive up high into the mountains where we reached a village that was surrounded by so much natural beauty.

Different trees told a story,

certain plants were for medicinal purposes, others for cosmetics, some for food.

I was even able to pick guavas fresh from the tree and eat (the food in Togo was the best) it whilst listening to the colonial history of Kpalime.

I even felt  like a Queen for a day as I visited the remains of a castle. 

What Togo lacks in infrastructure, it defintely makes up for in nature.