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Kpalimé · Lake Togo · Nangbéto · Ouidah · Accra

Day trips from Lomé

The Kpalimé highlands, the pirogue to Togoville, Lake Nangbéto, the Slave Route in Ouidah: Simone plans the day with a driver, leaving from the apartment.

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Our favourite days out

LOMÉIn town15 MIN FROM KÉGUÉ

Photo: Francisco Anzola from United States, CC BY 2.0

A day in town · with a driver

Lomé, from the Grand Marché to the Palais

The centre is a quarter of an hour’s drive from Kégué. One day is enough for the Grand Marché, the neighbourhood markets, the seafront and the Palais de Lomé, with a driver waiting while you wander.

  • The Grand Marché, below the cathedral, birthplace of the cloth-trading “Nana Benz”
  • The Sacred Heart cathedral, consecrated in 1902
  • The Palais de Lomé, an arts centre since 2019, and its 10-hectare garden facing the sea
  • The Independence Monument, by Paul Ahyi
  • The Akodessewa fetish market
  • The Village artisanal: carvings, fabrics, pottery

Simone’s tip The sea is lovely to look at but dangerous for swimming (strong currents), and the beach is best left at sunset.

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KPALIMÉThe highlands2 HRS DRIVE

Photo: Baname LARE, CC BY 4.0

A day · 119 km, about 2 hours’ drive

Kpalimé, Mount Agou and the waterfalls

North-west of Lomé, the Kpalimé area has some of Togo’s finest scenery: mountains, forests, coffee and cocoa plantations, waterfalls. The road from Lomé is decent.

  • Mount Agou, Togo’s highest peak (986 m)
  • Womé waterfall: a 25 m drop into a pool you can swim in
  • The Missahöhe forest and its butterflies
  • The Château Viale, high on the hills
  • The Kpalimé craft centre

Simone’s tip Leave early and aim for the dry season: the waterfalls are easier to reach from November to March, and November-December are the finest months.

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LAC TOGOTogoville40 MIN DRIVE

Photo: David Bacon, CC BY 2.0

A day · 34 km to Agbodrafo

Lake Togo, Togoville, Agbodrafo and Aného

East of Lomé, between the ocean and the lake: the pirogue crossing to Togoville, the village that gave the country its name, then the memory of the slave trade at Agbodrafo and the Afro-Brazilian houses of Aného, twice the capital.

  • The lake crossing by pirogue
  • The Notre-Dame du Lac sanctuary in Togoville
  • The slave house (Wood Home) in Agbodrafo
  • Aného, between lagoon and ocean

Simone’s tip Enjoy the lake by pirogue, but do not swim in it: guidebooks advise against it because of bilharzia.

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ROAD TRIPNangbétoWITH A DRIVER

Photo: Ubkoumbogny, CC BY-SA 4.0

A long day or two · 187 km

Atakpamé and Lake Nangbéto

Due north on National Road 1: Atakpamé, the “city of seven hills”, then the 180 km² lake created by the Nangbéto dam on the Mono river, a fishing spot where hippos are sometimes seen. Further on, the Badou mountains and their waterfalls.

  • Atakpamé and its views over the Mono plain
  • The Kamina ruins, a former German radio station
  • Lake Nangbéto
  • Optional: Badou and the Akloa waterfall

Simone’s tip No photos of the dam installations, and be back before dark: the road is not driven at night.

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BÉNINOuidah1 HR 35 DRIVE

Photo: Borisghost, CC0

A day in Benin · 115 km, plus the border

Ouidah, Ganvié and Cotonou

Along the coast road and across the Hillacondji border: Ouidah, the Slave Route and the Door of No Return, reopened in 2025; the stilt village of Ganvié on Lake Nokoué; Cotonou’s great Dantokpa market.

  • The Slave Route and the Door of No Return
  • The Portuguese fort and Ouidah history museum
  • The Python Temple and the Kpassè sacred forest
  • Ganvié, the “Venice of Africa”

Simone’s tip You need a Beninese visa (evisa.bj), your yellow fever card, and a Togolese visa that allows re-entry: check it before you go.

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GHANAAccra3 HRS DRIVE

Photo: Synth85, CC BY-SA 4.0

One or two days · 206 km, plus the border

Accra, across the border

Ghana begins at the edge of Lomé: the Aflao border is 15 km from Kégué and open day and night. Accra, a bustling English-speaking capital, is about three hours’ drive away.

  • The Aflao crossing on foot, then the coast road
  • Accra, its markets and galleries
  • In August, the Chale Wote festival; in November, Hogbetsotso in Anloga (see the events page)

Simone’s tip French citizens must get the Ghanaian visa from the embassy before leaving; yellow fever vaccination is compulsory.

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NORD TOGOKoutammakou2 DAYS MINIMUM

Photo: Africasounvi, CC BY-SA 4.0

The big road trip · 2 days at least

Koutammakou, land of the Batammariba

In north-eastern Togo, a cultural landscape on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 2004: the takienta, the earthen tower-houses of the Batammariba. Allow nearly five hours’ drive to Kara, where you spend the night, before going in.

  • The takienta of Nadoba
  • Kara and its region
  • In July: the Evala wrestling in Kara (see the events page)

Simone’s tip Do it in the dry season (November to March), never driving at night. The Savanes region further north is advised against: we stay in Koutammakou.

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Questions

Are the day trips only for Nid des Lys guests?

They are designed for them: leaving from and returning to the apartment, a trusted driver, a day fitted to your stay.

How much does a day trip cost?

It depends on the destination, the group size and the length. Simone sends you a firm price before you book.

Can we visit Benin or Ghana in a day?

Yes for Ouidah, Cotonou or Accra, with valid papers for the border crossing: we list them with the quote.