I have always loved to explore - trying out different ways to get the same results. This was why, in 2019, I opted to take a road trip from Lagos, Nigeria to Lome, Togo as opposed to taking a flight which is usually faster and more convenient. I had lived in Togo for almost a year in 2012 as a student and the trip was prompted mostly by nostalgia and also, the need to finally get all my documents from the time I had spent there. I eventually found the opportunity and decided to make it into my own little adventure.
There is just a country - Benin Republic – between the two countries. I was not in a hurry and I really wanted to have that experience – to see the landmarks, cross the borders on foot and observe the landscape from the moving car. Besides, it was cheaper. I was to make the trip alone and I was caught between being excited and terrified.
It was a 3-day trip. I planned to get into the town, check in and visit all my favorite places, eat some street food and head back to Nigeria in record time. From a novice standpoint, it looked like a solid plan. However, the reality was different.
On my departure day, we left the park at least 6 hours behind schedule. There were numerous checkpoints on the road right before the Seme border because the cases recorded for smuggling contraband goods into and out of the country were quite high. When I got to the border between Nigeria and Benin Republic, I was already feeling hassled. There were numerous points where I had to pay for passage even though I had all the right documents. It was a discovery to me, an unpleasant one nonetheless. The officials were rude and entitled. Our late departure from the park was an added disadvantage. I grudgingly made the payments and we went off towards our destination.
At Conge (the border between Benin and Togo), things went smoother. It was already dark and my French-speaking skills came in handy. I had no reason to pay for passage. I ended up getting into Lome around 9:30 pm. That was one day gone out of my three.
In my quest for an adventure, I did not book a hotel beforehand. I decided to wing the entire trip – I mean, what fun would it have been to have the same ol’ routine of flying in on a pre-booked flight to a pre-arranged hotel room? The irregularities I faced made it interesting. I simply asked the locals and I got numerous recommendations. With this, I got to know that Hotel Palm Beach had switched management and barely in operation; it was more of a landmark in Lome - information I added to the Google Maps.
The hotel I got to stay in was decent. Its rates were great, within my fairly modest budget and it was close to the beachfront. The central market was not far off either. My plans in Togo included visiting the Université de Lomé, the Cour d’Appel, the beach and finally, the Assigame market. My mode of transport in the city was commercial motorcycles. They were everywhere and affordable. Once again, I spoke French fluently and blended in easily as a local. The next day, I visited my former campus, went to my favorite restaurant _Campus Plage - as a student and ate a huge plate of spaghetti au poulet. The recipe was still the same after all those years and it felt amazing.
I did all the formal business I had for my documents and off to the market, I went. I had some fresh yoghurt by the roadside – a delicacy served with ice cubes and sugar. The street food in Lome range from iced lemonade to boiled eggs, hawked with its special pepper sauce.
Refreshed, I visited the stores that sold pieces of jewelry and fashion accessories. I made inquiries about the trip back to Nigeria and confirmed the fare.
Finally, I spent the rest of my evening watching the waves chase and crash on the beach. My second day in Lome was filled with going to the places and doing things I had reminisced about for a while. I had the double burger with extra cheese in a shop beside my hotel, I drank the Youki drink and I tried to pick new street lingo.
It was interesting because I let go of everything I was used to, I made the trip even with the fear I felt, I had great conversations with strangers because we spoke the same language and finally, I got to cross the border on foot even though the process was tasking. I know I can give firsthand advice to potential tourists who might want to go on a road trip.
The trip back to Nigeria was easier; maybe because I was more prepared.
Lome has great sites and traditional festivals around the year which showcase their culture. I am glad I was able to make a positive impact in my own ways, giving feedback about the places I visited. In this part of the world, we barely give reviews on anything, except it is negative.
It has given a strange sense of fulfillment to have my contributions viewed and helpful to other people online. This is the most interesting thing I have done as a Local Guide.