MANGROVES

In Togo, natural mangroves are located along the Gbaga Channel in the extreme southeast of the country and in places along the Mono River. The Gbaga Channel is a natural communication between the Mono River to the east and the lagoon system consisting of the Aného lagoons and Lake Togo to the west. The traveler arriving from Lomé to Aného in front of the offices of the Lakes prefecture goes to the Togolese mangroves by turning right towards Aklakou. The mangrove forest is a paradise for living beings. Its pools are full of important populations of hippos, Nile crocodiles, ducks, anhingas, different species of herons, kingfishers and a myriad of fish that can be easily observed. We also meet a rare species of turtle. The mangrove presents by its diversity of ecosystem a multitude of landscapes: the ponds with water lilies, water lettuce, water hyacinths which, when they are in flower, expose a multitude of white, beige, pink, yellow, purple corollas... forming an impressive multicolored layer on the surface of the water. The ponds with cattails, the articulated stumps, the meadows and the savannahs are as many landscapes to admire. Also the mangrove forests with thousands of stilt roots offer a picturesque view. Artificial mangrove plantations, some of which are accessible only by dugout canoe, are spectacular in their extent and complete this lush natural vegetation of mangroves.