Things to see and do Lomé And The Maritime Region

Installed in an old colonial building, this small museum of ethnography is worth a visit to learn more about the history of Togo. Inside, several objects related to the traditional chieftaincies, the voodoo cult and the German colonial period are exhibited. One can discover old photos, copies of signed treaties, musical instruments and various royal attributes. Barthélemy, curator of the museum since 2015, will be happy to give you the necessary explanations to understand this museum.

Adjacent to the Mono River, the natural border between Togo and Benin, the Akissa forest covers an area of nearly 1,300 hectares. It is known for its sacred character, which dates back to the 13th century when the Xwla, emigrants from Tado, fleeing fratricidal conflicts, took refuge in the Ada forest. This people identified a sanctuary area, called Akissa. Today, the forest is still a sanctuary and retains all its mysticism. It is governed by Voodoo priests who have inherited a traditional system of conservation, consisting of rules and prohibitions that must be respected. Thus, every five days, the forest is forbidden to the public. This day is called Gratumbé. In addition to its sacred role, the forest contains a rich biodiversity, some species of which are not yet listed. It is known for its many plant species used in traditional medicine and is home to, among others, bushpigs, harnessed guibs and sitatungas. Akissa Forest is an integral part of the Mono Transboundary Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO in 2017 for its biodiversity and ecosystem services. This area concentrates a set of unique habitats for the region where rivers, lakes, swamps, savannahs, gallery forests, mangroves and beaches mix. It is quite complicated to visit this forest because of its sacred character. You can go through the chief of the village or through the association Arifad, which manages this place, or 1001 Pistes.

Classified since 1951, this sacred forest is the last natural forest of the Togolese coast. It is located in the southwest of Lake Togo and extends over 45 hectares on the edge of the floodplain of the Zio mouth in Lake Togo. It is home to two species of monkeys (the vervet tantalus and the cercopithecus mone), monitor lizards, squirrels, a myriad of butterflies and nearly a hundred species of birds. The Observatory of Fauna, Flora and Protected Areas of Togo (OFFAP) organizes nature walks to appreciate its rich biodiversity.

Here is a great opportunity to meet local artists in this cultural center, led by Yao Bobby, painter, sculptor and rapper. In a courtyard, you can refresh yourself with a fresh juice, while contemplating the works made of recycled materials. You can also eat good local food and sleep there. Yao Bobby and his team offer bike and dugout rides, the profits of which help the center to function. Library.