Shop for tie-dye, batik and other fabrics, wood carvings (especially those made by the Ewe), puppets, pottery, wood furniture, local paintings, gold items, shell jewelry and musical instruments (particularly a
xokudu, a trumpet made from the fruit of a baobab tree). Prices are very reasonable, especially when purchased in the markets—bargaining is the rule. Lome has numerous markets selling special items: cloth, Togolese bells, copper bracelets, brass and wood sculpture, African beads, and magic charms and potions. Don't bargain for an item unless you're intent on buying. The merchants become quite annoyed if you don't purchase anything after you've taken their time. And don't buy anything made of ivory—although it's legal to buy ivory there, it's illegal to import ivory back home (the elephant populations in West Africa, among other places, have been devastated by poaching).
Shopping Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 7:30 am-12:30 pm.
Day By Day
Although most visitors stay only a few nights in Togo, we think the absolute minimum stay should be closer to six nights:
Day 1—Arrive Lome.
Day 2—Lome.
Day 3—Drive to Agbodrafo and take the ferry to Togoville. Overnight in either town.
Day 4—Drive to Aneho. Overnight or return to Lome.
Day 5—Begin an excursion north on a tour bus or with a car and driver. Drive to the Kpalime area, seeing Mount Agou. Overnight in Kloto.
Day 6—Go to Badou via Atakpame to see the waterfalls. Overnight Atakpame.
Day 7—Return to Lomo and depart.
If you have more time, visit some of the sites in the north, including Kara and Fazao.
