The Togolese Republic is a country narrowly shaped, wedged between Benin and Ghana and Burkina Faso to the north. Togo gained its independence from France in 1960s and made a smooth transition from a French protectorate to an independent democracy. This, however, did not last long as 3 years later, dissatisfied army officers overthrew the president in a coup d’etat.

Travelling info

All visitors traveling to Togo are required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements vary depending on visitors nationality. Some African countries including Romania enjoy visa-free movement to Togo. Citizens of all other nations must have a visa however requirements are lax, and such document can be obtained on arrival at an airport, maritime port or border crossing. Visitors who wish to drive in Togo must have both their national driving permit and an international driving permit. Beware that IDP does not substitute for the original driving permit and is only a translation of it. IDP cannot be used alone, meaning that both documents must be with the driver at all times.

Travelling hazards

Driving conditions are hazardous throughout Togo due to the presence of pedestrians, large swarms of small motorcycles, disorderly drivers, mopeds, car and truck drivers, livestock on the roadways, and the poor condition of the roads, which often contain deep potholes. While some major thoroughfares in urban parts of Togo are paved, many secondary streets are not, and they can become severely flooded when it rains. Overland travel off the main network of roads generally requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Many drivers in Togo do not obey traffic laws and most traffic signals do not function properly. Drivers should be prepared for the possibility that other drivers may run red lights or stop signs or drive in the wrong direction on one-way streets. Nighttime travel is dangerous. Poorly marked checkpoints, often manned by armed, undisciplined soldiers, exist throughout the country, including in the capital. Banditry, including demands for bribes at checkpoints, has been reported on major inter-city highways, including the Lomé Cotonou coastal highway. You should be aware of your surroundings and drive defensively. At official checkpoints, Togolese security officials prefer that you approach with your interior light on, and have your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance ready. If driving in Lome, equip yourself with a dashcam as insurance scams are common.

Environmental hazards

Despite Togo’s small size, the country has its fair share of potentially dangerous animals. African bush elephants are the largest land animals on earth. These animals are not dangerous however their sheer size can create life-threatening situations. When angered or startled, these animals can easily trample people, flip over cars or even break trees. Lions can be found in the very north of Togo. These giant felines are the apex predators of Africa and can easily kill humans. These animals are responsible for an estimated 250 deaths across Africa each year. Hippopotamuses inhabit the rivers and freshwaters of Togo. These large animals may look docile, but they are fiercely territorial and will attack anyone who approaches them, even crocs are not safe. There are numerous lethally venomous snakes in Togo. Among most dangerous are bush vipers, gaboon viper or the puff adder which alone is responsible for more than 30 thousand deaths across Africa yearly. Due to the fact that there are many lethally venomous snakes in Togo, visitors are recommended to avoid all snakes as an untrained eye won’t be able to tell venomous and nonvenomous snakes apart. West African crocodiles are present in the rivers of Togo. This species of crocs is considerably less aggressive than their eastern cousins: Nile crocodiles. Despite that, these large reptiles should not be approached. Despite the fact that there are no recorded shark attacks in Togo, there were reports of such attacks in neighboring countries making such incidents a possibility. This especially goes to those who swim far out into the sea.
Two main natural hazards occurring in Togo are wildfires and floods. Floods, however, occur the most, are responsible for most damage and carry the biggest death toll.

Health hazards

There is an outbreak of yellow fever in Togo. Every visitor is required to be vaccinated against yellow fever and has proof of such vaccination. There are other vaccines which are not required but recommended. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, meningitis and rabies vaccines. Mosquitoes in Togo carry malaria and Zika. Unfortunately, there is no approved vaccination against either of these. There are however alternative ways to protect against these. Since these diseases are transmitted through mosquito bites, using mosquito repellents and mosquito nets is recommended. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria which has to be taken prior, during and after the visit to protect against contracting malaria. Such medicine should be available to anyone after contacting their local general practitioner. Widespread poverty and the poor economy of the country contribute to poor sanitation conditions. Only 60% of the countries inhabitants have access to clean drinking water whilst only 20% have access to improved sanitation facilities. Togolese health care resources, especially in remote areas can be very poor, most rural clinics will be unable to provide any medical treatment outside of basic emergency care. Extra precautions should be made before making a trip to Togo. Due to the very limited local private health insurance options, arrangements must be made before travel. Emergency evacuation is usually required for situations requiring serious medical attention; therefore it is advised that a Togo health insurance plan, providing an emergency medical evacuation benefit, should be purchased in advance of departure.

Crime

In recent years, violent crime has become increasingly prevalent throughout the country. Incidents have included the use of machetes and knives, firearms, and makeshift weapons, as well as the use of ruses or trickery to lure in a victim. Robbery victims should comply with the demands of perpetrators, as perpetrators may be armed and resisting may cause the situation to escalate to violence. There have been sophisticated armed robberies, often committed by organized transnational criminal groups. Criminals may target foreigners based on perceived affluence or perceived vulnerability. Pickpocketing incidents and theft are common in Togo, especially along the beach and in the market areas of Lomé. Visitors should avoid certain areas within Lomé at night, including public beaches and Boulevard du Mono due to an elevated risk of crime. Beach areas where no security is provided should be avoided, even during daylight hours as purse snatching and muggings regularly occur in these areas. Travelers should not visit the Grand Marché area alone during the day and should avoid the area altogether in the evenings. There is no risk of terrorism in Togo as there are no indigenous terrorist groups. Narcotics are illegal and highly punishable. Mere possession is a criminal offense.

Summary

Despite numerous attractions, Togo remains a rather unpopular destination. This may partially be the fault of widespread poverty and lack of modern health facilities making stays rather hazardous. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/togo/passport-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/togo