Organize your stay Togo

Covid-19 : current situation Togo

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply Togo. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information

Money Money Togo

Togo is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and uses the CFA franc as its currency. This is now aligned with the euro at a conversion rate of 1 € for about 656 CFA francs. The coins and banknotes are the same for all member countries of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). The denominations are divided into 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 FCFA. The currency is divided into coins of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 250 and 500 FCFA. It is strongly advised to always carry small denominations and change, as the exchange is not always easy and very often the large notes (5,000 and 10,000) are refused by traders who do not wish to empty their cash float. The 100 FCFA coins are particularly useful for travelling by oléyia (motorcycle taxi). However, you must insist if you are refused a large denomination. Money is money and the shopkeeper will always find a way to "break" your note.

Budget & Tips Budget & Tips Togo

The cost of living in Togo is relatively low. However, the term "relatively" should be stressed, because very often the visitor seems surprised by the final cost of his trip. The budget increases quite quickly when you travel (hotels, restaurants, car rental, guide) or when you bring back some gifts. It is therefore important to keep an eye on the budget and to prepare your trip well. It is of course possible to reduce costs by staying and eating in small maquis and cheap hotels and by travelling by taxi-brousse and taxi-moto. For a "comfort" or "luxury" discovery trip, count on around 200 € per day and per person (accommodation, food, vehicle + petrol, guide). For the more adventurous who travel by taxi-brousse, snack in cafeterias and make do with modest accommodation, count from 40 € per day and per person.

Passport and visas Passport and visas Togo

French nationals must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months after the date of return, bearing an entry visa. This visa can be obtained at the Embassy of the Togolese Republic in France (1 to 90 days), or directly on arrival at Lomé airport. The visa costs from 35 €. At Lomé airport, at the entry formalities, there is a special queue for applicants for 7-day visas; this is a service that works very well. It can also be extended at the airport at the passport and foreigners department of the Direction générale de la documentation nationale (https://dgdn.gouv.tg/page/document/visa).

Driver's license Driver's license Togo

During a tourist stay in Togo, it is possible to drive with an international license issued in France. However, French people who settle in Togo must exchange their French licence for a local one. As they are not sure to get back their original licence, many of them take the driving test on Togolese territory, in order to keep their French title.

Health Health Togo

Remember to consult your doctor before leaving and possibly your dentist. It is advisable to take a first aid kit with a mosquito repellent, an antidiarrheal, an intestinal antiseptic, a disinfectant, a preventive treatment against malaria, prescribed by your doctor, sun cream (sun block) and after sun, etc.

Mandatory vaccination Mandatory vaccination Togo

It is mandatory to be vaccinated against yellow fever to enter Togo. It is also recommended to be vaccinated against Covid as well as meningitis A, C, Y and W135. As everywhere, it is advisable to have your vaccines up to date against diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis as well as viral hepatitis A and B.

Time difference Time difference Togo

Togo is on GMT + 0. The time difference is 1 hour in winter and 2 hours in summer. Thus, when it is 10 am in Paris, it is 8 am (in summer) or 9 am (in winter) in Lomé.

Spoken languages Spoken languages Togo

French is the official language of Togo. However, the populations remain attached above all to their mother tongue. In the south, Mina is the lingua franca and in the north, Kabye is spoken.

Communication Communication Togo

The mobile network is well developed throughout the country. Two major operators share the market: Togo Cellulaire (the incumbent operator) and Moov (formerly Telecel). A third operator has arrived on the market: Togocom, a merger of Togo Telecom and Togo Cellulaire. Subscriptions cost about CFAF 5 000. At certain times of the year, there are major promotions on subscriptions. Without a subscription, you can top up your phone by transferring money at kiosks or official offices.
If you want to keep your French package, you will have to activate the international option (usually free) by calling your operator's customer service before leaving. Who pays what? The rule is the same for all operators. When you use your French phone abroad, you pay for the call, whether you make the call or receive it. In the case of an incoming call, your correspondent also pays, but only the price of a local call. All calls made to or from abroad are not included in the package, including those to voice mail. The best and cheapest solution for local calls, and even for France, is to buy a phone chip on the spot, and insert it in your mobile phone, which you have taken care to unlock before departure.
To contact your family or friends abroad, WhatsApp is a practical and inexpensive solution to call or send messages. It is also possible to download the Skype application, and to top up credit to call your friends and family on landlines. You should also know that most of the hotels have Wifi, which is very useful to stay in touch with your family.
Internet cafes are found all over the country. The phenomenon even seems surprising as there are so many Internet access points, probably due to the youth of the population. However, the connections remain slow, sometimes very slow, even in hotels. Connection prices are between 300 and 500 CFA francs per hour.

Electricity and measurements Electricity and measurements Togo

The voltage is 220 volts, with European plugs. As the electricity supply is not always assured, power cuts are not rare. In this case, it is advisable to unplug all electrical appliances to avoid burning them in case of power surges, a frequent accident after power cuts.

Luggage Luggage Togo

As the sun and heat are present all year round, it is advisable to take light clothes, preferably in cotton. Prefer shirts to T-shirts, which retain perspiration. During the rainy season, take a sweater and a raincoat to protect yourself from the cool of the night and the showers. You should also bring long clothes to avoid mosquito bites at nightfall. As far as shoes are concerned, you should bring a pair of flip-flops or sandals as well as a pair of sports shoes for walks in the forest. A good pair of sunglasses is also very useful. Finally, if by chance you have any old clothes you want to get rid of, take them with you, so that you can offer them to anyone who crosses your path.
Generally, 23 kg of luggage is allowed in the hold for economy class (exception for Africa for most airlines: 2 x 23 kg) and 30 to 40 kg for first class and business class. Some airlines allow two pieces of checked baggage up to a total weight of 40 kg. Find out before your departure what your ticket allows.
In economy class, one piece of hand luggage and one accessory (handbag, laptop computer) are allowed, all of which must not exceed 12 kg or 115 cm in size. In first and business class, two pieces of baggage are allowed in the cabin.
Liquids and gels are prohibited: only tubes and bottles of 100 ml maximum are allowed, in a closed transparent plastic bag (20 cm x 20 cm). The only exceptions to this rule are baby food and medicines accompanied by their prescription.
When it comes to excess baggage, airlines are now rather strict. If they will sometimes let you off the hook for an extra 1 or 2 kg on certain destinations, you will have no margin on African destinations, as passenger demand is so high! If you travel light, don't be surprised to be accosted several times in the check-in hall by other travellers in order to take, on your account, those kilos you don't use. You are free to choose, but this practice is forbidden, especially if you do not know what you are being asked to carry. Because it is true that once you have exceeded the weight limit, the penalty falls, and it falls severely: €30 per extra kilo on a long-haul flight with Air France, €120 per extra bag with British Airways. Note that airlines sometimes offer discounts of 20 to 30% if you pay for your excess baggage on their website before you arrive at the airport. If the cost is still too high, you can send some of your belongings by mail, if the destination allows it.

On average, 16 out of every 1,000 passengers do not find their luggage on the carpet upon arrival. If you are one of the unlucky ones, go to your airline's counter to report your missing luggage. For your claim to be valid, you must respond within 21 days of the loss. The company will give you a form that you must send by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt to its customer service or baggage claims department. In most cases, you will get your luggage back within a few days. In all cases, the company is solely responsible and will have to compensate you if you do not see the color of your goods (or if some goods are missing inside your baggage). The maximum reimbursement is set at €20 per kilo or a lump sum of €1,200. If you consider that the value of your belongings exceeds these ceilings, it is strongly advised to specify this to your airline at check-in (the ceiling will be increased for a fee) or to take out baggage insurance. Please note that hand luggage is your responsibility and not that of the company.