CONGO REPUBLIC: .Try Visiting The Republic Of Congo

The Republic of the Congo, also known as the Congo Republic,West Congo, Congo-Brazzaville or simply Congo, is a country located in Central Africa. It is bordered by five countries: Gabon and the Atlantic Ocean to the west; Cameroon to the northwest; the Central African Republic to the northeast; the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the east and south; and the Angolan exclave of Cabinda to the southwest.

The region was dominated by Bantu-speaking tribes, who built trade links leading into the Congo River basin. Congo-Brazzaville was formerly part of the French colony of Equatorial Africa.Upon independence in 1960, the former colony of French Congo became the Republic of the Congo. The People's Republic of the Congo was a Marxist–Leninist one-party state from 1970 to 1991.

Multi-party elections have been held since 1992, although a democratically elected government was ousted in the 1997 Republic of the Congo Civil War and President Denis Sassou Nguesso has ruled for 26 of the past 36 years.

The political stability and development of hydrocarbon production made the Republic of the Congo the fourth largest oil producer in the Gulf of Guinea, providing the country with relative prosperity despite instability in some areas and unequal distribution of oil revenue nationwide.

Bantu-speaking peoples who founded tribes during the Bantu expansions largely displaced and absorbed the earliest inhabitants of the region, the Pygmy people, about 1500 BC. The Bakongo, a Bantu ethnic group that also occupied parts of present-day Angola, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formed the basis for ethnic affinities and rivalries among those countries. Several Bantu kingdoms—notably those of the Kongo, the Loango, and the Teke—built trade links leading into the Congo River basin.

Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão reached the mouth of the Congo in 1484.Commercial relationships quickly grew between the inland Bantu kingdoms and European merchants who traded various commodities, manufactured goods, and people captured from the hinterlands. After centuries as a major hub for transatlantic trade, direct European colonization of the Congo river delta began in the late 19th century, subsequently eroding the power of the Bantu societies in the region.

Congo-Brazzaville has had a multi-party political system since the early 1990s, although the system is heavily dominated by President Denis Sassou Nguesso; he has lacked serious competition in the presidential elections held under his rule. Sassou Nguesso is backed by his own Congolese Labour Party (French: Parti Congolais du Travail) as well as a range of smaller parties.

Sassou's regime has been hit by corruption revelations despite attempts to censor them. One French investigation found over 110 bank accounts and dozens of lavish properties in France; Sassou denounced embezzlement investigations as "racist" and "colonial".Denis Christel Sassou-Nguesso, son of Denis Sassou Nguesso, has been named in association with the Panama Papers.

On 27 March 2015, Sassou Nguesso announced that his government would hold a referendum on changing the country's 2002 constitution to allow him to run for a third consecutive term in office. On October 25 the government held a referendum to allow Sassou Nguesso to run in the next election. The government claimed that the proposal was approved by 92% of voters with 72% of eligible voters participating. The opposition, who boycotted the referendum, said that the government's statistics were false and the vote was a sham.

The election raised questions and was accompanied by civil unrest and police shootings of protesters;at least 18 people were killed by security forces during opposition rallies leading up to the referendum held in October.

Many Pygmies belong from birth to Bantus in a relationship many refer to as slavery. The Congolese Human Rights Observatory says that the Pygmies are treated as property the same way "pets" are.On 30 December 2010, the Congolese parliament adopted a law for the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. This law is the first of its kind in Africa, and its adoption is a historic development for indigenous peoples on the continent.

Congo is located in the central-western part of sub-Saharan Africa, along the Equator, lying between latitudes 4°N and 5°S, and longitudes 11° and 19°E. To the south and east of it is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is also bounded by Gabon to the west, Cameroon and the Central African Republic to the north, and Cabinda (Angola) to the southwest. It has a short coast on the Atlantic Ocean.

The capital, Brazzaville, is located on the Congo River, in the south of the country, immediately across from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The southwest of the country is a coastal plain for which the primary drainage is the Kouilou-Niari River; the interior of the country consists of a central plateau between two basins to the south and north. Forests are under increasing exploitation pressure.

Since the country is located on the Equator, the climate is consistent year-round, with the average day temperature a humid 24 °C (75 °F) and nights generally between 16 °C (61 °F) and 21 °C (70 °F). The average yearly rainfall ranges from 1,100 millimetres (43 in) in the Niari Valley in the south to over 2,000 millimetres (79 in) in central parts of the country. The dry season is from June to August, while in the majority of the country the wet season has two rainfall maxima: one in March–May and another in September–November.

In 2006–07, researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society studied gorillas in heavily forested regions centered on the Ouesso district of the Sangha Region. They suggest a population on the order of 125,000 western lowland gorillas, whose isolation from humans has been largely preserved by inhospitable swamps.

The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on petroleum, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Petroleum extraction has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy. In 2008, oil sector accounted for 65% of the GDP, 85% of government revenue, and 92% of exports. The country also has large untapped mineral wealth.

In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its petroleum earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues. 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 46% in 1994, but inflation has subsided since.

Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. When Sassou Nguesso returned to power at the end of the war in October 1997, he publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit.

The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic problems of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty, despite record-high oil prices since 2003. Natural gas and diamonds are also recent major Congolese exports, although Congo was excluded from the Kimberley Process in 2004 amid allegations that most of its diamond exports were in fact being smuggled out of the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo; it was re-admitted to the group in 2007.

The Republic of the Congo also has large untapped base metal, gold, iron and phosphate deposits. The country is a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA).The Congolese government signed an agreement in 2009 to lease 200,000 hectares of land to South African farmers to reduce its dependence on imports.

The GDP of the Republic of the Congo grew by 6% in 2014 and is expected to have grown by 7.5% in 2015.

Transport in the Republic of the Congo includes land, air and water transportation. The country's rail system was built by forced laborers during the 1930s and largely remains in operation. There are also over 1000 km of paved roads and two major international airports (Maya-Maya Airport and Pointe Noire Airport) which have flights to destinations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The country also has a large port on the Atlantic Ocean at Pointe-Noire and others along the Congo River at Brazzaville and Impfondo.

The Republic of the Congo's sparse population is concentrated in the southwestern portion of the country, leaving the vast areas of tropical jungle in the north virtually uninhabited. Thus, Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with 70% of its total population living in a few urban areas, namely in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire or one of the small cities or villages lining the 534-kilometre (332 mi) railway which connects the two cities. In rural areas, industrial and commercial activity has declined rapidly in recent years, leaving rural economies dependent on the government for support and subsistence.

Ethnically and linguistically the population of the Republic of the Congo is diverse—Ethnologue recognises 62 spoken languages in the country—but can be grouped into three categories. The Kongo are the largest ethnic group and form roughly half of the population. The most significant subgroups of the Kongo are Laari in Brazzaville and Pool regions and Vili around Pointe-Noire and along the Atlantic coast. The second largest group are the Teke who live to the north of Brazzaville with 17% of the population. Boulangui (M’Boshi) live in the northwest and in Brazzaville and form 12% of the population.Pygmies make up 2% of Congo's population.

Before the 1997 war, about 9,000 Europeans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were French; only a fraction of this number remains.Around 300 American expatriates reside in the Congo.

According to CIA World Factbook, the people of the Republic of the Congo are largely a mix of Catholics (33.1%), Awakening Lutherans (22.3%) and other Protestants (19.9%). Followers of Islam makeup 1.6%, and this is primarily due to an influx of foreign workers into the urban centers.

According to a 2011–12 survey, total fertility rate was 5.1 children born per woman, with 4.5 in urban areas and 6.5 in rural areas.

The Congolese culture has been influenced by a wide variety of natural landscapes, stretching from the savannah plains in the North Niari flooded forests, to the great Congo River, to rugged mountains and forest of Mayombe, and including 170 km of beaches along the Atlantic coast. The presence of numerous ethnic groups and various political structures once (Kongo Empire, Kingdom of Loango kingdom Teke, Northern chiefdoms) provided an enormous amount of diversity in the traditional cultures as well as in many ancient artistic expressions. Vili Nail fetishes, Bembe statuettes which are very expressive despite their small size, the strange masks of the Punu and Kwele, reliquaries Kinabalu, Teke fetishes, curious cemeteries, with their monumental tombs, the Lari country.

The Congolese also have a considerable colonial architectural heritage, which they are rediscovering today as part of their ancestry, and their tourist capital. They are also taking great pains to restore these artifacts, at least in Brazzaville.

Tourism remains a very marginal resource in the Congo, reception facilities based out of Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville lack a sufficient and consistent communications network. Many sites are difficult to visit but, paradoxically, some of the South's most populous and developed locations are often the least accessible. For example, the massive Chaillu Mountains are almost impossible to visit.

Many Congolese singers have carried the country's image to the furthest reaches of the globe: the Franco-Congolese rapper Passi playing in France to whom we owe the release of several hit albums to like the "Temptations" with the famous song "I zap and I mate", without forgetting the M'Passi singer of the former group Melgroove, rappers Calbo of Arsenik group, Ben J of Neg Marrons, Mystic, RCFA, The group Bisso Na Bisso and Casimir Zao.

The Republic of Congo has several writers recognized in Africa and the French-speaking world: Alain Mabanckou, Jean-Baptiste Tati Loutard Jeannette Ballou Tchichelle, Henri Lopes, Lassy Mbouity and Tchicaya U Tam'si.

Other artistic genres such as movies often struggle to make breakthroughs. After a promising start in the 1970s, the troubled political situation and the closure of cinemas made production difficult. The country produces no feature film each year and generally the filmmakers directly broadcast their video production. Unfortunately, Congolese culture, art, and media has remained a poor investment due to the various successive governments creating instability.

Destinations

Conkouati Reserve
Ile Mbamou Island — a government-owned island that is located about one hour from Brazzaville.
Lefini Reserve — the country's best known reserve, bordering Lesio-Louna to the north.
The Lesio Louna Gorilla Reserve — a park located north of Brazzaville and is dedicated to the protection of gorillas in the Congo.
Mount Fouari National Reserve
Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park — the largest and most remote of Congo's national parks and reserves, located in the far north bordering the Central African Republic's Dzanga Sangha National Reserve.
Odzala National Park — the country's most famous national park.
Tiger Fish Congo Camp. You can visit the Tiger Fish Camp to capture the biggest tiger fish in the world - the largest fish ever caught there was 56kg!

Entering Congo

All foreigners need a visa to enter the Republic of Congo. Except for citizens of some West and North African countries, visas are not available on arrival, and showing up without one can cause many things you will want to avoid at all costs (fines, passport confiscation, etc.).

However transit without a visa is possible, if you take the next connecting plane and don't leave the airport.


Enter By Air

Maya-Maya Airport (IATA: BZV) in Brazzaville is linked by flights to by Air France, Douala in Cameroon, Addis Ababa and Kinshasa by Ethiopian Airlines, Nairobi, Casablanca and the national carrier, ECAir.

Enter By Car

It's safe to drive in the Republic of the Congo. A good sealed road goes north from Brazzaville, but only as far north as President Sassou's hometown of Oyo. Beyond Oyo, the roads get very bumpy and are totally impassable in the rain. It is also very hard to get a rental car you drive yourself

Entering By Boat

Passenger and VIP ferries operate daily between Brazzaville and Kinshasa roughly every 2 hours between 8AM and 3PM. Prices for the ferries are: US$15 for the passenger and US$30 for the VIP ferry. The VIP ferry is recommended as these are brand new boats and are not as cramped.

A valid visa for both countries is required in either direction. The bureaucracy at either end require some time. Entry and exit procedures in Brazzaville are "easy" and straight forward and people are very helpful in assisting to get through without troubles.

In contrast, these procedures are a bit difficult in Kinshasa and depend much on whether you are an individual traveller or assisted by an organisation or an official government representative. There are also speed boats to hire, either in a group or alone, however, it is not advisable to book them as they really speed across the river along the rapids.

Barges follow the Congo, then the Oubangui, rivers right up to Bangui.

Touring Pointe-Noire By Taxi Or Minibus

Ridiculously cheap shared taxis and minibuses run on an ad hoc basis between towns and villages, crammed with Congolese villagers taking all sorts of livestock for sale in Brazzaville.

By Taxi

In Brazzaville, taxis are green. FCFA 700 generally gets you around a neighborhood. This goes up to FCFA 1000 at night. Drivers are generally fair with prices, and haggling is not required before getting in.

By Train

The Congo-Ocean Railway (COR, or CFCO) links the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire in the Republic of Congo with Brazzaville, a distance of 502km.

Language

The official language of the RoC is French. The main indigenous languages are Kituba and Lingala.

Visit
Epulu river in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve

Odzala National Park
Gorillas in Lesio Louna Gorilla Reserve.
Colonial and post-colonial architecture in Brazzaville.
Sangha Trinational - a forest in the Sangha and Likouala region that is an UNESCO World Heritage Site (shared with Cameroon and the Central African Republic).

Currency

Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available from XE.com

The currency of the country is the Central African CFA franc, denoted FCFA (ISO currency code: XAF). It's also used by five other Central African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the West African CFA franc (XOF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.

The U.S. dollar is not widely accepted.

ATMs

All Ecobank ATMs in Gabon take Mastercard and Visa card for cash withdrawal.

Shopping

There is an artisan mart and boutiques in the market near the BDEAC (Banque Developpement pour les Etats de l'Afrique Centrale). Really beautiful jewelry, masks, paintings, and other artwork.

All business is conducted in cash. Small change is very scarce and hard to come by. Do not accept torn or taped banknotes.

Food

Dried fish for sale at the Oyo river market

There is good and healthy Chinese food at Osaka Restaurant, in Pointe Noire. The average price for a meal was US$12-18. All meals were served in nice clean dishes, the restaurant is indoors and has AC, with a back-up generator, just in case. Some of the workers speak English and French.

There are several great restaurants in Brazzaville. Any taxi driver can take you to one of these nicer places (FCFA 5000-15 000). Most places are closed on Sundays. Expect beers to be overpriced here (FCFA 1000-2000).

Drink

Palm wine is a local favorite in the village. Beer is the favorite in town next to Fanta, Coke etc. There is also a local red wine (SOVINCO) imported from Gabon and the "brique", a liter of imported, mostly Spanish wine from the box.

There is a big price range on beer (FCFA 500-5,000) depending on what neighborhood and type of bar or estaurant you're in.

Produced in Congo under Heineken supervision: N'Gok (meaning "Crocodile", blond, Congolese), Primus (blond, Belgium, Central Africa), Mütsig (blond, French Alsace Region), Guinness (dark, Ireland), and Turbo King (dark, Central Africa)

Imported: Heineken and Bavaria

If the above is too much there is also water of various local and imported brands sold in 1.5 litre plastic bottles.

Safety

In Brazzaville, petty street crime targeting foreigners is rare. However, muggings and pick pocketing do happen frequently near the ports in Pointe Noire and Brazzaville, and sometimes in the Congolese neighborhoods surrounding Brazzaville's City Center.

Criminal elements are known to target middle-class and affluent residences without 24-hour guards.

Police resources are limited and response to emergency calls is slow. In the case of theft and robbery, legal recourse is limited and therefore, it is highly recommended to leave all valuable items at home.

There have been some demonstrations against the re-election of President Sassou in July 2009. Some foreign reporters were assaulted by riot police and had their equipment destroyed. It is generally safe to walk the streets, but stay well away from demonstrations.

White travelers should take care while travelling in the Republic. Racial tension and discrimination is not uncommon here, so be safe and keep to yourself.

You can talk to your loved ones using any of the three mobile operators MTN, CelTel (now Zain), or Warid

The local call rate are relatively cheap and cost you around FCFA 20-20 per minute.

Piracy In The Gulf of Guinea

Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, particularly the resurgence of violent marine kidnapping for ransom, will continue to plague the waters off of West Africa until local governments commit to ending corruption and building their nations.

Around the globe piracy is in decline – but for merchant seafarers, the Gulf of Guinea, off West Africa, is a dangerous exception. Following a five-year period as the epicentre of hijacking for cargo theft, marine kidnapping for ransom is now the saveur du jour in the Gulf of Guinea – particularly in the Bight of Benin and Bight of Bonny. At least 44 seafarers were kidnapped for ransom in the first six months of 2016, most of them seized in Nigerian waters.

Pirates have always preyed on ships trading in and around African waters, but the current level of violent crime against seafarers is unprecedented. It is all but certain that many assaults are going unreported.

Theories abound as to the renaissance of piratical activity and the transition from one form of crime to another. However, the resurgence in marine kidnap for ransom has coincided with a deteriorating security situation in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. There has been a wave of attacks on oil and gas facilities. So serious has been the unrest that Nigeria, once Africa’s top crude oil producer, has now fallen behind Angola in terms of crude oil output.

Piracy, wherever it occurs, is first and foremost a land-based problem. The fact of this was most readily observed in the Somalia-based piracy epidemic between 2005 and 2012. Although it is easy to pronounce on the shortcomings of Somalia – a failed state – spelling out the root causes of piracy to the governments of West African countries is a difficult message to deliver diplomatically.

The nature and prevalence of maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea is a function of many interrelated and interacting factors. Strategically, the endemic corruption and political permissiveness of criminal activity in the region is difficult to address because West African governments are reluctant to acknowledge the extent of the problem.

Tactically, the inadequacy of security forces and law enforcement agencies as well as attitudes within the shipping industry toward security, will take more time to turn around. But progress is being made.

Much of the instability ashore that gives rise to the criminality at sea is politically driven and government officials like to draw a distinction between criminality, militancy and piracy. For the individuals at the receiving end of an attack, the distinction is irrelevant.

Last year, at least 23 people were believed to have died at the hands of pirates in the Gulf of Guinea and the treatment of crew that have survived has frequently been appalling. Many have faced routine beatings and some, mock executions.

There is no quick fix to piracy, especially where it manifests itself today and the scope for effective near-term solutions to address what is happening at sea is narrow. Security management is becoming part of day-to-day operational discipline. It is also becoming increasingly obvious to owners that the security of their ships is their responsibility and theirs alone.

Piracy, unlike land-based insecurity, is probably doing little direct harm to West African economies. Economic drivers that would normally induce a reduction in the supply of tonnage willing to trade in areas of significant hostility – or stimulate a hike in freight rates for vessels prepared to trade in such areas – are absent.

Given the size of West African economies – with Nigeria dominating as a major oil producer – and the parlous state of shipping markets internationally, ships will continue to sail the Gulf of Guinea on their way to and from the region’s ports.

In the long term, only regional stability and better government will sustainably deliver an antidote to piracy. The case of Somalia, where piracy has been contained – thus far – despite continuing conflict onshore, is likely to prove an exception.

Regional co-operation in the fight against piracy, such as the joint naval patrols between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, is welcome, but will have limited impact.

What is needed is for the region’s governments to focus on good governance; resolving conflict, ending corruption and pursuing nation-building. It is not a new concept, but it is a fact nonetheless that in order to develop a sustainable solution to piracy, it is necessary to address issues on shore.

As U.S. President Thomas Jefferson observed more than 200 years ago, when American merchant ships were being attacked by pirates from the ‘Barbary States’ and their crews held to ransom, “The surest way to create peace at sea,” was to “impose rule of law on the land where pirates hid.”

TOGO: Togo Tourism

Togo gathers together a series of natural, cultural and human atractions which, if given importance constitute a 'tourist product' very well appreciated by the tourist from issuing big markets of Europe and America.

1. Cultural and Human Strong points
The people of Togo have kept, all across the centuries, an authentic and deep tolerance, a mutual respect towards the other races, cultures and regions, very solid family ties and also between work an leisure.

A very important part of adults among the population speak non only French, but also German and English, this facilitate agreeably communication with visitors. One of the most fascinating attractions to visitors in Togo is also the possibility of watching the spontaneous explosion of joy about life, friendship and hospitality.

Togo is rich with cultural expressions such as songs, dances, arts and crafts, musical, spectacles, religious ceremonies, dress, clothing fashions and others. These cultural expressions present a very marked diversity from one region to another.

This causes the visitors to benefit from a varied and interesting stay. Numerous celebrations and ceremonies reflect the living customs and traditions of the peoples, and give chance to colourful manifestations.

2. Natural strong points
A country of flat land rather than high mountains, Togo is however, crossed by a big and long chain of mountains and plateaus which alternate each other and whose tallest summit reaches an altitude of 986m. The massif of Lama, in the core of Atakora chain, draws the attention of tourists by its romantic breaks and the beauty of its landscapes.

In the North of the country, lies the savanna region where a plateau is erected with picturesque cliffs. The coastal region also presents attractions with its fine sand seashores and the lake of Togo, for practicing nautic sports and a pleasant weather almost all the year. Moreover, tourist places and sites are found in each of the five regions of the country.

These cultural, human and natural strengths which are original or inputrescible, some of which are subject to equipping so that they can be contemplated and allow access for visitors, are completed by series of derivative strengths which are tourist and hotel trades, communication, telecommunication and transport infrastructures.

Tourist regions and wealth
Despite its average size, Togo provides travellers with a diversity of physical and human features, a variety of wild life and flora. It is Africa in miniature. These help tourism in Togo to be in tune with the entertainment world and attract many visitors.

1. Maritime Region
Renowned all along the coast of the Gulf of Benin, Lome the capital is known for its fine-sand beaches and shadowy walks along the littoral.

The only capital city on an international border (Ghana), Lome is outstanding for its neatness and hospitality of its population. It offers the following:

- Adawlato big market; it is known for cloth business where the Nana Benz reign supreme in Africa.
- Hedranawoé market is known for its second-hand trade.
- The Akodessewa fetish market is the spot for pagan curiosities and the traditional medicine of the sub-region.
- The cathedral of Lome, dating back to the German era stands near the Central Market of Lome. Of gothic style, the beautifully painted frescoes inside portray a few saints of the Catholic Church. It is part of the colonial heritage of Togo.
- The National Museum of Lome; built at the back of the Conference Hall, it gives an idea of the Togolese identity. Behind the well-lit windows are exposed historic and ethnographic objects as well as excellent samples of the traditional art.
- The international museum of the Gulf of Guinea is located on the boulevard du Mono opposite the Atlantic Ocean. It has a collection of art and ethnographic objects from various African countries.

Other sites and monuments include The Independence Monument, Colombe de la Paix, the Centenary Monument of the friendship between Germany and Togo and the art craft village.

At about 30 km from Lome on the road to Benin, is Togo Lake, ideal for water sports, or tours in canoe and the village of Agbodrafo. It is a fantastic place for relaxation away from the noisy city.

The visitors will also have the opportunity to discover slave sites like la Maison des Esclaves (slave house),Maison Wood Gatovoudo "the well of those in chain" at Nikaya, Lolame black smith, Joachim D'Almeida's Memorial at Ahoeta.

You will also discover on the northern bank of Togo Lake the historical village of Togoville with the Marial Sanctuary, royal museum of Mlapa, the barter market square, Dekpo slave market (Blokotissimé) and traditional practices like the cult of Maman Tchamba and the Voodoo Hlan.

As to the historical city of Aneho, it presents the glamour of the colonial time. It was the capital of Togo from 1887 to 1897 and from 1914 to 1920. Surrounded here and there by the lagoon and the sea, it is an ideal site for walks and relaxation on its beaches.

Accommodation wise Hotel 2 fevrier, Hotel Ibis Lome-centre, Hotel Mercure Sarakawa at Lomé, Hotel Le Lake at Agbodrafo and Hotel Natchigal at Togoville provide a whole range of air-conditioned rooms and entertainment such as tennis, swimming pool and dancing.

Beside the restaurants of the major hotels, restaurants and food joints in the area serve various dishes from local, foreign, European, Eastern and Asian. These include Marox, Alt Munchen, Lotus, Malesan etc.

2. Plateaux Region
The Plateau region is accessible in two ways, either through the national N°1 linking Lome to Atakpamé or the national N°2 Lome-Kpalimé to Atakpame city.

The west side is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful tourist sites in Togo. The western Plateaus are in contrast with the maritime region because of their green landscape. Some miles away from the coast would take you away into the heart of nature and luxurious vegetation.

Main region for coffee and cocoa farming and a holiday resort with Kpalimé city serving as a weekend rest area. It has many tourist attractions; Agou Peak (986m of altitude) the highest summit in Togo, coffee and cocoa nurseries at Tové Koloto art center, Viale Castle, kloto camping, Dzogbegan monastery on Dayes Plateaux and the cascades the biggest of which is Aklowa with its waters allegedly endowed with therapeutic virtues. The western Plateau region is an exceptional natural framework that offers many ecotourism opportunities.

The eastern part of the Plateaux on its side affords interesting urban centers such as Atakpamé, a city built on hills with magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding valleys; Tado and Notse, the historic cradles of the Adja-Ewe people.

The hotels like: Le Berceau at Notse, 20th august and Cristal at Kpalimé, Roc hotel and the Sahalien at Atakpamé are open for your stay in the said region.

These hotels and others, highly recommended, like Bel Air and the Gournet at Kpalimé, the Pentagone and the Madone at Atakpamé provide exquisite services.

Several associations and NGOs are at work on the field to promote joint tourism, ecotourism and responsible tourism.

3. Central Region
The central region covers an area of 13000 km2 more than 20% of which are reserves and classified forests including that of the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park covering about 476.903 acres and managed by Franz-Weber Foundation.

The central region presents significant cultural assets. The regional capital Sokodé, the greatest Islamic city of the country is renowned for its weaving used in the making of tunics and big booboos. It has inherited a horse-riding tradition transmitted by influential chieftaincies including that of Kparatao who founded the city and its surrounding communities.

In the Far East is the Tchamba city, specialised in pyrography on calabashes and flasks. These art objects are found in the market animated by the local population including the many Peuhl women with their beautiful weaving and tattoos.

The following accommodation facilities will possibly welcome you during your stay are Hotel Aléhéridé and Hotel Central, Hotel Essofa, Hotel Ave Kedia and restaurants such as Chez Marco

4. Kara region
The Kara region is probably on of the richest in Togo through its diversity both natural and cultural. The tourist sites are many. They are accessible through Aledjo Mountain Gap, a spectacular human masterpiece. Female potters and blacksmiths, in Kabyeland perpetuate very laudable ancestral art and techniques.

The region is equally known for its terraced cultivation techniques on hilly slopes. The Kara region is also a spot for tradition where traditional fights: Evala are organised every year in July. Mainly agricultural, it produces yams, millet, ground-nuts and others.

Highly animated and colourful markets likethat of Ketao are all over. They provide many meeting opportunities with the local population.

The populations of the region have been able to keep their traditions as in Bassar district with the high funaces of Banjeli and Nangbani; a proof of an ancestral know-how in iron work.

The visitors will be able to go on excursion to Sarakawa Park close to that of Djamde.

5. Savanna region
Exceptionally flat, with curiously scattered green mountains, rich in "danams" of rocs this region is tehe region by excellence of wine palm trees. The visitors will discover the Sacred Pit of Doung, the cave paintings of Nanoundjoga, the Nok grotto (Nano), a historic and cultural vestige.

The Sacred Pit of "Tanlona" on Karyata Bank at the Togo-Ghana border, and the Mandouri Hunting Reserve can also be visited. The Oti Which crosses the region waters a vast plane.

Accommodation facilities include Dapaong Hotel, Caroli Hotel, Dapaong Camping and Leota Yendoubé hotel for the tourist's stay.

Traveler's Guide
Are you from abroad down to Togo? Are you resident in Togo and leaving for abroad? This guide is for you, it gives a brief description of the requirements you have to meet. Traveler's Customs control

1. Generality
In crossing the border, both at the entrance and exit of the country (article 80 CD) and in moving across the country around the check points (article 50 CD) you can be controlled by the customs officers recognizable by their uniform; some customs officers in charge of controlling the travellers do not wear uniform. In any case, customs officers must show at first requisitioning their professional card called Commission d'emploi (employment commission)

2. Objectives
The customs control of travellers aims at ensuring:

- The protection of the national economy
- The preservation of the national economy
- The preservation of the national heritage
- The regularity of the transactions
- The safety and health of the traveller
- The protection of the fauna and the flora

Customs check is therefore necessary, yet it must take place in a mood of mutual respect and understanding.

Therefore, any related misunderstanding has but to be solved amicably.

In this situation, the traveller has an important role to play by facilitating the opening of the luggage and the car boot.

3. Authorities of customs officers
Customs officers in charge of the control of the travellers can check the luggage in cars.

They can also check the identity of the traveller by asking their id papers (Passport or id card)

4. Nature of Control
The customs control is not systematic; it is done unexpectedly and by survey. At any control, the customs officer asks the usual question: "do you have anything to declare?"

You answer constitute a verbal declaration , a real customs declaration that involves your responsibility.

IVORY COAST: Grand-Bassam

Grand-Bassam is a town in south-eastern Ivory Coast, lying east of Abidjan. It was the French colonial capital city from 1893 to 1896, when the administration was transferred to Bingerville after a bout of yellow fever. The town remained a key seaport until the growth of Abidjan from the 1930s.

Grand-Bassam is a sub-prefecture of and the seat of Grand-Bassam Department; it is also a commune. The town has the aura of a ghost town, since large sections have been abandoned for decades. In 1896, the French capital was moved to Bingerville, and commercial shipping gradually declined until it virtually ceased in the 1930s. In 1960, with independence, all remaining administrative offices were transferred to Abidjan, and for many years Grand-Bassam was inhabited only by squatters. Beginning in the late 1970s, the town began to revive as a tourist destination and craft centre.

The town is divided by the Ébrié Lagoon into two halves: Ancien Bassam is the former French settlement, facing the Gulf of Guinea. It is home to the grander colonial buildings, some of which have been restored. The district is also home to a cathedral and the Ivory Coast National Museum of Costume. Nouveau Bassam, linked to Ancien Bassam by a bridge, lies on the inland, northern side of the lagoon. It grew from the African servants' quarter and is now the main commercial centre of the town.

The town is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand-Bassam. The diocese's cathedral is the Cathédrale Sacré Cœur in Grand-Bassam.

In 2012, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In March 2016, the town was targeted in a terrorist attack which killed at least 16 people.

Gulf Of Guinea

The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean between Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Three Points in Western region Ghana. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian (zero degrees latitude and longitude) is in the gulf.

Among the many rivers that drain into the Gulf of Guinea are the Niger and the Volta. The coastline on the gulf includes the Bight of Benin and the Bight of Bonny.

The Niger River in particular deposited organic sediments out to sea over millions of years which became crude oil. The Gulf of Guinea region, along with the Congo River delta and Angola further south, are expected to provide around a quarter of the United States' oil imports by 2015.This region is now regarded as one of the world's top oil and gas exploration hotspots.

The origin of the name Guinea is thought to be an area in the region, although the specifics are disputed. Bovill (1995) gives a thorough description:

The name Guinea is usually said to have been a corrupt form of the name Ghana, picked up by the Portuguese in the Maghrib. The present writer finds this unacceptable. The name Guinea has been in use both in the Maghrib and in Europe long before Prince Henry's time.

For example, on a map dated about 1320 by the Genoese cartographer Giovanni di Carignano, who got his information about Africa from a fellow-countryman in Sijilmas,ancient trading city in North Africa, we find Gunuia, and in the Catalan atlas of 1375 as Ginyia.

A passage in Leo Africanus points to Guinea having been a corrupt form of Jenne (2,000-year-old city in central Mali on Niger river), less famous than Ghana but nevertheless for many centuries famed in the Maghrib as a great market and a seat of learning.

The relevant passage reads: "The Kingdom of Ghinea . . . called by the merchants of our nation Gheneoa, by the natural inhabitants thereof Genni and by the Portugals and other people of Europe Ghinea."

But it seems more probable that Guinea derives from aguinaou, the Berber for Negro. Marrakech the city in southeastern Morocco has a gate, built in the twelfth century, called the Bab Aguinaou, the Gate of the Negro. The modern application of the name Guinea to the coast dates only from 1481. In that year the Portuguese built a fort, São Jorge da Mina (modern day Elmina), on the Gold Coast region, and their king, John II, was permitted by the Pope (Sixtus II or Innocent VIII) to style himself Lord of Guinea, a title that survived until the recent extinction of the monarchy.

The name "Guinea" was also applied to south coast of West Africa, north of the Gulf of Guinea, which became known as "Upper Guinea", and the west coast of Southern Africa, to the east, which became known as "Lower Guinea." The name "Guinea" is still attached to the names of three countries in Africa: Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea, as well as New Guinea in Melanesia.

Islands in the Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea contains a number of islands, the largest of which are in a southwest-northeast chain, forming part of the Cameroon line of volcanoes.

Annobón
Annobón, also known as Pagalu or Pigalu, is an island that is part of Equatorial Guinea.

Bobowasi Island
Bobowasi Island is an island off the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea that is part of Western region Ghana.

Bioko
Bioko is an island off the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea that is part of Equatorial Guinea.

Corisco
Corisco is an island belonging to Equatorial Guinea.

The Elobeys
Elobey Grande and Elobey Chico are two small islands belonging to Equatorial Guinea.

São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe (officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe) is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea that became independent from Portugal in 1975. It is located off the western equatorial coast of Africa and consists of two islands, São Tomé and Príncipe. They are located about 140 kilometres (87 mi) apart and about 250 and 225 kilometres (155 and 140 mi), respectively, off the northwestern coast of Gabon.

Both islands are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range. São Tomé, the sizeable southern island, is situated just north of the Equator.

SAO TOME & PRINCIPE: Sao Tome Tropical Island Paradise

A very special "secret" African travel destination is the still undiscovered pearl São Tomé, with excellent beaches, lush volcanic rainforest and farms, warm Portuguese architecture, Creole culture and African hospitality.
Fond of tropical beaches, exotic surroundings, a welcoming local community and not too many tourists wandering around? Then you might ask yourself why you have not discovered the island of São Tomé before; and you will want to visit it before the rest of the world inevitably discovers it.

São Tomé hosts the capital with the same name of Africa's smallest state São Tomé and Príncipe, consisting of only two volcanic islands in the Gulf of Guinea just north of the equator. A former Portuguese colony transferred into a developing democracy, the country with a GDP smaller than many companies is too tiny to hit world media, or even to market its great tourism potentials.

While Príncipe is mountainous and very sparsely populated, São Tomé island has its non-active volcano providing it with a spectacular landscape, tropical rainforests and cocoa plantations making it an evergreen, and just enough inhabitants to provide some urban feeling and services without making it crowded or stressed.

And then there are the beaches, of course, some of which have beautiful black volcanic sands. You don't even have to leave the capital to swim in the inner African corner of the Atlantic. São Tomé city has a charming colonial, somewhat run-down beach promenade, with rocks, palms and majestic trees providing shadow to the city beach.

Leaving the capital, you will find the best beaches just a few kilometres to the north at Praia das Conchas. The white sands, perfectly clear waters, coconut palms and occasional fisherman in their dugout canoes amount to a tropical paradise postcard dream come true.

But there are also a number of superb beaches to the south of São Tomé, many more easily reached than Praia da Conchas. And a beach hopping excursion to the south is a good way to learn to know the island and escape from the very few tourists you meet in the capital.

On an afternoon off the beach, the charming town of São Tomé is well worth walking around. Among friendly, helpful and welcoming São Toméans, there is never a long way to a refreshment and even the Creole cuisine has its delights, especially when it comes to seafood. You can choose between standard restaurants, delicious street food or buying and preparing your own fresh fish.

Walking in São Tomé, you will be delighted by the robust, warm and colourful colonial architecture along with wooden houses, all supervised by the old Portuguese fortress and the magnificent cathedral. A rather sleepy atmosphere secures the right holiday modus.

Culturally, the island is very homogenous to be an African state. Portuguese from 1493 to 1975, and with a population mostly being descendent of sugar and cocoa plantation slaves brought from the African mainland, a Portuguese-African Creole culture developed over the centuries. In fact, it is a beautiful and pleasant cultural mix with a Latin African flavour.

São Tomé, which soon hopes to become an oil producing nation, is still a poor and agriculturally based society. Infrastructure, also for tourists, is poor, also meaning you should be careful regarding Fresh fish offered on the beach of São Tomé

But if you like the genuine and rural touch to your tropical paradise, São Tomé still provides this. And if you can be persuaded to leave the wonderful beaches, the wonderful green landscapes leading up to Pico de São Tomé (2024 metres) a well worth one or several trips.

What looks like dense jungle from below, is to a large degree farmlands with cocoa and coffee production, including small scale farms and large estates. There are some few trekking routes, including one to the panoramic Casa de Repouso some 15 kilometres outside the capital.

You can also find guides taking you into the real rainforests of the more remote interior of the island, giving you the real expedition feeling. Here, along with native wildlife, you come across spectacular waterfalls, dramatic views and the occasional bushmeat hunter.

And after an expedition into the mountain jungle, maybe the surprising nightlife of São Tomé may be a good conclusion of your trip? São Toméans know how to party till late in the Cocoa harvest in São Tomé's apparent rainforest, which turn out to be farmlands.

Have you decided to give São Tomé a try? Usually, the easiest way to reach the island state is from Portugal, where there mostly are direct flights. Also, there tend to be flights from Douala (Cameroon), Libreville (Gabon), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) and some other African capitals.

And before you book a flight, consider the climatic variations in São Tomé. The price for a rainforest is much rain - which is however bearable in this warm climate. The heaviest rains are from June to September, but there are occasional rains all year round.