TOGO & BENIN information

stay: (TOGO) 2004/Jul/11..2004/Jul/15, (BENIN) 2004/Jul/15..2004/Jul/20

general view **********************************************

I got a '5 countries visa' at Accra (GHANA) (Côte d'Ivoire embassy at Bamako. In MALI is also possible.) / CFA25,000. (refer to 'Ghana.doc')

1euro=CFA655.9570 (fixed exchange rate system) Don't confuse the CFA in central Africa. This is the CFA in west Africa.

There is a group of tricking changer. You never exchange here because there are only them. They try to roll and wrap the money with paper. On that time they pull out some money from it.

(street changer); $1=N130, CFA1,000=N250..255 (in front of 'Pharmacie Jonguet')(N06°21'30.4" E002°25'53.9") by hearsay they are tricking changers.

(bank); US$100T/C=US$84cash (2004/Jul/16), they don't exchange CFA to N. (BANK OF AFRICA)

'Chez Alice' (refer to 'accommodation') is the cheapest place to stay among these countries. This is the best place to adjust your schedule, I think.

petrol; 350/L, beer; (hotel) 600, Internet; 250/h (slow), stand; 250

petrol; 375/L, beer; 425..450, Internet; 500/h (so so), stand; 200

accommodation **********************************************

They have enough parking space as long as there's no note in the followings. But the security is your own responsibility.

Chez Alice (13km east of central Lome) (N06°10'04.8" E001°20'25.5")

tent750 / shared toilet&shower(bucket), bar&restaurant, show

good impression and cheap. Overlanders are visiting. This is a better place to adjust your travelling date because hotels in GHANA and TOGO are more expensive. Never miss the folk dance and music stage. You can enjoy it every Wednesday night with no charge.

CAMPING MA CAMPAGNE(?) (14km west of Cotonou) (N06°22'57.9" E002°20'12.8")

room4000 / fan, duty, it seems to be used for prostitution every night.

tent3000 (you may discount) / you use toilet and shower in the unoccupied room.

There's no sign of the hotel. I'm not sure this is 'Camping ma Campagne' really, though they say so. Mr. Togowan, who is a Christian may call on you in the camp. He invites you to his home. The staying charge is free but every time he makes me pay things for him in the town.

Brown Card (West Africa car insurance card): (250cc) CFA14,714/1month, CFA18,480/2months, CFA20,303/3months, There are some insurance companies. You'd better compare with their prices. He required tip, though I rejected.

TONI-TOGO (motorcycle shop): (N06°07'42.8" E001°14'21.7") KTM dealer shop. The owner is a white. Especially the black workers break down your vehicle and lost parts. The owner requires unacceptable price. / METZELER 'ENDURO 3 SAHARA'; CFA6,900

'Royal Palace'(museum) (130km toward Bohikon from Cotonoue camp site) (N07°11'08.3" E001°59'39.3")

CFA2,500 for admission. The appearance is uninteresting. I didn't enter and went back soon.

This is the port town to Ganvie. (8km toward Bohikon from Cotonoue camp site)(N06°26'50.5" E002°21'36.1")

No money is required. There are many guides for passing the border but you don't need to hire them. Be careful about the tricking changers (refer to 'money').

? (the southern border, less than 1h from Lome) (leaving for BENIN);

? (the southern border, 100km and a little before Cotonou) (entry from TOGO);

No money is required. My motorcycle and hotel names and so on are checked (by chance?).

? (the southern border, 40..50km after Cotonou) (leaving for NIGERIA);

The last 4km to Abomey is muddy road. There might be a tollgate before the border to NIGERIA.