togo
Why Film in togo?
Togo is a narrow, easy-to-travel country running from Atlantic beaches through green mountains to northern savanna, with striking UNESCO fortress architecture, voodoo culture and waterfalls – vivid, under-filmed West African material.
- The UNESCO Batammariba fortress houses of Koutammakou
- Lomé’s beaches and the extraordinary fetish market
- The mountains and waterfalls of Kpalimé
- Voodoo culture and lakeside Togoville
- Compact and easy to travel end to end
- Colonial German heritage
- Coffee, cocoa and butterfly forests
- Rich, colourful living traditions
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Capital City
Lomé
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Main Cities
Lomé, Sokodé, Kara and Kpalimé
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Main Languages
French (official); Ewe, Kabiye and others
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Currency
West African CFA Franc (XOF)
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Weather
The ideal time to film in Togo is during the two dry seasons: from August to early September and from November to April. These periods provide clear skies and minimal rainfall, ensuring favorable filming conditions. It is best to avoid the rainy seasons, from May to July and late September to October, as heavy rain can cause disruptions. With warm temperatures averaging 33°C year-round, and a comfortable 26°C for swimming, Togo offers an excellent climate for outdoor productions.
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Climate
Tropical in the south, savanna in the north, with a dry season November to February
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Best Time To Shoot
November to February (dry season)
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Main Production Hubs
Lomé
Production Services
Our Togo production services include:
- Local Producers
- Film Fixers
- Production Management
- Film, Video & Stills Crew
- Camera Equipment
- Lighting & Grip
- Drone Operators
- Location Scouting
- Film Permits
- Casting
- Transport & Logistics
- Crew & Cast Accommodation
- Security
- Catering
Crew & Equipment
Togo suits documentary, cultural, travel and music productions, with local fixers coordinating permits and logistics, centred on Lomé.
A local base of fixers, drivers and production assistants supports on the ground, with senior technical crew and specialist gear brought in from the region.
Productions plan to import or regionally source camera, drone and specialist packages, aided by the compact geography.
Top Filming Locations
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Koutammakou (UNESCO)
Batammariba fortress-tower houses.
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Lomé beaches & the corniche
Palm-fringed Atlantic coast.
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Lake Togo & Togoville
A voodoo heartland by the water.
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Kpalimé mountains & waterfalls
Green highland scenery.
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Aného
The atmospheric old colonial capital.
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Grand Marché, Lomé
The city's central market.
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Akodessewa Fetish Market
The world's largest voodoo market.
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Womé & Kpimé Falls
Cascades near Kpalimé.
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Mount Agou
Togo's highest peak.
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Tamberma valley
Fortress dwellings and terraces.
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Fazao-Malfakassa National Park
Forested hills and wildlife.
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Atakora hills
Northern uplands.
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Coffee & cocoa plantations
Highland cultivation.
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Butterfly forests, Kpalimé
Rich insect life.
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Colonial German architecture
Early-20th-century buildings.
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Voodoo shrines & ceremonies
Living spiritual culture.
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Palm coast & fishing villages
Coastal working life.
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Kara & the northern savanna
Open dry-country plains.
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Traditional villages
Rural Togolese life.
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Markets & West African culture
Colour and commerce.
Hotel Options
Togo’s Lomé hotels and highland guesthouses serve as bases for productions. Access for filming is subject to approval and availability.
- Radisson Blu 2 Février, Lomé – Landmark seafront tower hotel.
- Onomo Hotel Lomé – Modern beachfront hotel.
- Hôtel Sarakawa, Lomé – Established resort hotel.
- Kpalimé mountain hotels – Highland bases.
- Koutammakou-area guesthouses – Northern location bases.
- Aného & lakeside guesthouses – Heritage-coast bases.
Crew & Cast Accommodation
Cast and crew accommodation is concentrated in Lomé, with mountain hotels at Kpalimé and guesthouses in the north. We arrange group bookings, transfers and logistics.
- Luxury (talent, directors, key clients)
Radisson Blu 2 Février / Onomo, Lomé – Premium city bases for talent and clients. - Mid-range (main crew, production team)
Lomé: Sarakawa and business hotels – Reliable city bases.
Kpalimé: mountain hotels – Comfortable highland bases. - Budget & serviced options (extended crew, longer shoots)
Lomé guesthouses – Value options for larger crews.
Highland and northern guesthouses – Practical bases near locations.
Accommodation availability and rates vary by season and should be booked well in advance. African Fixer manages crew and cast bookings, transfers and per-location logistics as part of production support.
Best Time To Shoot
- November to February – The main dry season, best for most locations.
- December to January – Cooler, clearer conditions.
- The Kpalimé highlands are green and misty much of the year.
- The far north is best in the dry season for roads and savanna.
Visa Requirements
International cast and crew should confirm visa and work permission requirements before travelling. Typical documents may include a valid passport, flight details, accommodation details, invitation letter, crew list and equipment list.
International Crew Accreditation
International productions may require local coordination, film permissions and supporting letters depending on the production type, locations and crew nationality, and should work with an in-country fixer or service company.
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Required Documentation
Application for filming authorization Project summary or script Estimated budget Supporting documents from involved film companies
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Timings
Processing time is 10 to 15 days.
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Cost
Accreditation fee: $750.
General Film Permit
Filming permits are arranged through the relevant authorities, with heritage permissions for Koutammakou and respectful protocols for voodoo sites. Work through a local fixer and allow lead time.
Drone Permit
Drone filming requires authorisation from the civil aviation authority, with restrictions near sensitive sites. Permissions should be arranged in advance.
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Drone Importation Regulations
All drones must be declared at the airport upon arrival, alongside the filming authorization.
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Permit Issuance
The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) is responsible for drone permits.
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Required Information
Official request to ANAC detailing: Type of operation, Geographical filming area, Duration of drone use.
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Timings
Approval process: 4 to 6 weeks.
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Cost
Varies depending on the flying area and duration.
Equipment Customs Clearance
Is Togo a Carnet Country?
Yes, Togo is a Carnet country.
Safety and Security
Togo is generally safe and welcoming, and easy to travel end to end, with standard urban precautions in Lomé. The far-northern border area near the Sahel warrants current advice, and malaria precautions are advised, but the main locations are accessible.
Rebates & Incentives
Togo does not currently operate a formal national film cash rebate for international productions, so budgets should not rely on a rebate.
African Fixer will confirm the latest position on permit fees and any incentives during planning, and manage the permissions and logistics that make Togo’s locations accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Permits are arranged through the relevant authorities, with additional permissions for protected and heritage areas. Work through a local fixer and allow lead time.
Togo has local fixers and a modest crew base; senior technical crew and equipment are brought in from the region.
The Koutammakou fortress houses, the Akodessewa fetish market, the Kpalimé mountains and Lomé's beaches.
City hotels in Lomé, mountain hotels at Kpalimé and guesthouses in the north.
Yes, with the correct customs paperwork; an ATA Carnet may be used. Plan to import camera, drone and specialist packages.
Yes. Drone filming requires civil-aviation authorisation, with restrictions near sensitive sites and protected areas.
No. Togo does not currently offer a film rebate. We confirm permit fees before you budget.
Yes, especially for documentary, cultural and travel work needing striking architecture, voodoo culture and mountains.
Yes. We provide full production support from planning through to wrap, including permits and logistics.
Did You know?
The Batammariba of Koutammakou build extraordinary fortified tower-houses of clay called takienta, so architecturally remarkable that the whole cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site – often described as some of the finest indigenous architecture in Africa.
PRO TIP:
Use Togo’s narrow shape to travel from the beaches of Lomé to the Kpalimé mountains and the northern fortress houses in one route; shoot the dry November-to-February season and check current advice for the far north.
