Travelers to Togo can immerse themselves in the vibrant cultural festivals that take place throughout the year. These festivals highlight the diverse traditions and rituals of the country's different populations. One such festival is the Epe Ekpe Festival, held in Glidji, which marks the beginning of the Mina year. Another significant event is the initiation rites in the Kabye mountains, where ancient customs are celebrated. Additionally, Togo celebrates its bountiful harvest with festivals like the grand Bassar yam festival, a time of gratitude and joy. Lastly, visitors can witness the mesmerizing traditional fire and horse dance performed by the Tem people. These festivals offer a unique opportunity to experience Togo's rich cultural heritage and create unforgettable memories.

Every year in the village of Glidji, the Guen ethnic group, also known as Mina, comes together for the Epe Epke Festival. This festival serves as a time for family reunions, New Year celebrations, and religious worship. The highlight of the festival revolves around a stone that is sought after by a priest in the sacred forest. The color of this stone is believed to predict the fate of the upcoming year. A blue stone signifies a year of plentiful rainfall and bountiful harvests, while a red stone indicates a year filled with conflicts and wars. The presence of a black stone is seen as a forewarning of famine, devastating diseases, and heavy rains. On the other hand, the appearance of a white stone symbolizes a year that will be blessed with luck and abundance.

In the heart of the village, a mesmerizing spectacle takes place as a vibrant fire illuminates the expressions on the faces of the gathered participants. They sway to the enchanting rhythm of the drums, their bodies moving in perfect harmony with the ancient beats. As the intensity builds, they fearlessly leap into the glowing embers, their bodies untouched by the scorching heat. Astonishingly, they handle burning coals with ease, passing them over their bodies and even placing them in their mouths without flinching or displaying any signs of pain. This awe-inspiring display leaves spectators perplexed, questioning the source of their seemingly supernatural abilities. Is it courage that emboldens them? Perhaps it is self-suggestion, or even a touch of magic. Some speculate that it could be the mystical power of the fetishes they carry, safeguarding them from the fire's harm.

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Explore Togo, Land of Festivals with Dahomey African Tours

At our company, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of service to ensure that our guests have an unforgettable experience during their tour with us. Our team is passionate about creating the best overall experience for our guests, from the moment they book their tour to the moment they leave. We take pride in offering top-notch customer service, knowledgeable guides, and well-planned itineraries that highlight the best attractions and landmarks in the area. Our goal is to exceed our guests' expectations and leave them with lifelong memories of their time spent touring with us. Whether it's a city tour, a scenic hike, or a cultural excursion, we strive to make every moment count and provide an exceptional experience for all our guests.

Visas Most travellers planning to visit Benin, Togo, and Ghana will need to obtain a visa before their travel. It is important to note that depending on the specific requirements of the embassy you apply at, you may also need an invitation letter. We are here to assist you with providing the necessary invitation letter if required. However, visa regulations are subject to change, and it is advised that you contact your nearest embassy for the most current and accurate information. Health and vaccinations We are not medically qualified and cannot provide advice on recommended vaccinations. It is important to consult your doctor or nearest health professional for personalized recommendations based on your specific health condition and travel plans. They will be able to assess your individual needs and provide guidance on necessary vaccinations to protect against potential health risks at your destination. Additionally, for further information and guidance on vaccinations, you can visit the website www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. Remember, it is always better to be proactive and prioritize your health and well-being while traveling. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry to Benin, Togo and Ghana and you must bring this with you. Insurance It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they will cover, but as a minimum, you need medical and health cover which will cover you for the whole time that you are away. Most policies will also include cancellation cover, which will cover you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as you book your trip. Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, and you should check this with your insurance company. Money The local currency in Ghana is the cedi, while in Togo and Benin it is the West African CFA, a currency that is shared with many other countries in the region. It is not however, the same as the Central African CFA, and the two are not interchangeable. It is best to bring Euros for exchange purposes as the CFA is not obtainable outside of the region. It’s not difficult to change money here, either at banks or the hotels and your guide can assist with this. There are also an increasing number of ATMs in larger towns. However, these are not always reliable and so it is best to think of them as a back up rather than a main means of obtaining money. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and better restaurants (usually in larger cities only) but are not commonly accepted elsewhere. You should also be aware that credit card fraud is not uncommon in the region and so should you choose to use one, do bear this in mind. Local conditions When travelling to some of the destinations we offer you need to bear in mind that things won’t always work here as we’re used to them working at home. Travelling in underdeveloped and untouristed destinations requires both patience and a sense of humour. There may be problems with infrastructure, attitudes may be different, and maintenance may not be as high a standard as we would always like, but this is very much part and parcel of travelling in such a place. We aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, and thank you for your patience. Travel advice We keep a very close eye on the travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that we can keep you up to date with any warnings. At the time of writing the FCO does not advise against travel to any parts of Benin, Togo or Ghana that we visit. This relates to advice from the British government – other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governemments. Please note that the information contained above is highly susceptible to change, and while we endeavour to keep up to date we recommend that you use this as a guide only. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Updated July 2023

If you find that other reputable companies are offering you cheaper quotes for the exact same tour package, we will do our best to match or even beat their price. Our goal is to ensure that you get the best value for your money and have a memorable travel experience. We understand that price is an important factor when choosing a tour package, and we want to make sure that you are satisfied with both the quality and affordability of our services. Therefore, if you come across lower prices elsewhere, don't hesitate to let us know, and we will do everything we can to accommodate your budget and make your dream vacation a reality.

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Our tours in Togo are available throughout the year, but the dry season from November to April is the most preferred time for travel. Although, traveling during the rainy season is also manageable as we are seldom affected by the rainfall.

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Important Information

Our Togo Festival Tours

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Travel to Togo, in the ideal time for the country’s festivals. Each population celebrates the cycles of life and seasons according to their own rituals. In particular: the Epe Ekpe Festival, in Glidji, which inaugurates the Mina year; the initiation rites in the Kabye mountains; harvest celebrations such as the great Bassar yam festival; traditional fire and horse dance of the Tem people.

Epe Epke Festival

Every year in the village of Glidji, Guen ethnic group (also called Mina) gathers together for the Epe Epke Festival: family reunification, New Year, religious worship. The fulcrum around which the festival takes place is a stone, sought by a priest in the sacred forest. The colour of the stone will predict the fate of the year to come. The blue stone announces a year of rain and abundant harvests. If it is red it will be a year of wars, the black stone is an omen of famine, devastating diseases and rains and, finally, the white stone indicates that the year will be blessed with luck and ‘abundance.

Traditional Fire and Horse Dance Festival of the Tem population

In the centre of the village a large fire lights up the faces of the participants, who dance to the hypnotic beat of the drums eventually leaping into the glowing embers. They pick up burning coals and pass them over their bodies and even put them in their mouths without injuring themselves or showing any sign of pain. It’s difficult to explain such a performance. Is it matter of courage? Self suggestion? Magic? Maybe it really is the fetishes that protect them from the fire.

Festival Photos

Epe-Ekpe Festival

Bassar Yam Festival

Tem Fire Dance

Horse Dance