Free Savanes Region Travel Guide & Mobile App

Explore Savanes Region with free travel guides. Discover regional history, expert tips, proposed trips, and audio guides on web or mobile app.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play Download the Free PDF guide
Savanes Region
Savanes Region photo 2
Savanes Region photo 3
All photos

Explore Togo’s Savanes Region for Dapaong’s culture, northern rock shelters, open savanna, wildlife areas and Oti valley landscapes.

Savanes Region occupies Togo’s far north, a broad inland territory stretching from the Burkina Faso frontier towards the valleys of the Oti and its tributaries. Its landscapes are markedly different from the humid coast around Lomé: dry-season grasses turn gold beneath wide skies, shea trees and baobabs punctuate the cultivated plains, and rocky outcrops rise around Dapaong and the surrounding settlements. The regional capital, Dapaong, is the principal base for exploring northern Togo, with markets, small museums and everyday scenes shaped by Moba, Gourma, Mossi and other communities.
Read more about Savanes Region
The region’s attraction lies less in monumental architecture than in its combination of archaeological traces, rural landscapes and living cultural traditions. Around Dapaong and Nano, rock shelters and caves preserve evidence of earlier habitation, while the Musée régional des Savanes provides useful context for the area’s peoples, crafts and material culture. Traditional compounds, granaries, fields of millet and sorghum, and the seasonal rhythms of harvesting remain important features of the countryside, although visitors should approach villages with respect and arrange local guidance before photographing people or entering private areas.
Wildlife and wetlands become more prominent towards the east and south-east. The Fosse aux Lions National Park, in the northern part of the region, protects a dry savanna environment where visitors may encounter plains wildlife, birds and distinctive plant life, though facilities and sightings are less predictable than in better-developed safari destinations. The Oti basin and the flood-prone landscapes around Mandouri have particular ecological importance, with seasonal water supporting birds, fishing and agriculture. Distances are considerable, roads can deteriorate during the rains, and organised local transport or a four-wheel-drive vehicle may be needed beyond Dapaong.
Savanes is also a region of borders and movement. Cinkassé, close to Burkina Faso, is a significant crossing and trading centre, while northern towns connect Togo with neighbouring Ghana and Burkina Faso through commerce, family networks and seasonal travel. Food is based on grains, beans, leafy sauces, groundnuts and locally available meat, with shea products and millet-based drinks reflecting the region’s agricultural economy. Travel requires more planning than a short coastal itinerary, particularly because security conditions in parts of northern Togo can change; visitors should check current official advice, use experienced local guides and keep plans flexible.

When is the best time to visit Savanes Region?

Best: December–February · 30–34°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January (best)322
February (best)344
March3540
April3660
May3380
June31100
July30120
August29140
September31110
October3270
November3330
December (best)3010

Getting to and around Savanes Region

How to get there

Most visitors reach Savanes by road from southern Togo, with Dapaong serving as the principal regional gateway. Long-distance buses and shared vehicles connect the town with Lomé and other major centres, although journeys are lengthy. Niamtougou Airport, in neighbouring Kara Region, is the nearest domestic airport commonly associated with northern travel, but onward road transport is still required and services can be limited. Burkina Faso and Ghana are neighbouring access routes, yet border procedures and security conditions can change, so confirm current crossing arrangements before travelling.

Transportation

Dapaong has the best choice of taxis, motorbike taxis and shared vehicles, while travel between smaller towns generally relies on shared cars, motorcycles or hired vehicles. Public transport becomes thinner away from the main roads, and many rural attractions require a local guide and a robust vehicle, particularly after heavy rain. A private car with an experienced driver is useful for combining Dapaong, Nano and protected landscapes. Avoid driving after dark, allow generous time for road conditions and agree fares before using informal transport.

Destinations in Savanes Region

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Savanes Region

Savanes offers a quieter, more exploratory style of travel centred on landscape, archaeology and cultural interpretation rather than a dense concentration of formal tourist facilities. Dapaong is the natural starting point, with the Musée régional des Savanes and access to local guides who can explain the region’s communities, crafts and agricultural life. Around Nano, caves and rock shelters provide an insight into earlier settlement and the practical use of the northern escarpment. The Fosse aux Lions National Park introduces visitors to dry savanna habitats, birds and plains wildlife, although sightings, roads and visitor services are seasonal and should not be treated like those of a fully developed safari park. Towards the Oti basin and Mandouri, seasonal wetlands, open plains and village landscapes create opportunities for birdwatching, photography and understanding local farming and fishing economies. Markets in Dapaong and Cinkassé are also attractions in their own right, revealing the region’s role in cross-border exchange. Visits are more rewarding with local assistance, and current security advice should be checked before travelling towards frontier districts or isolated protected areas.

Show more attractions

Best landmarks in Savanes Region

Dapaong’s regional museum is an important cultural landmark because it brings together objects and interpretation connected with the peoples, crafts and history of northern Togo. The rock shelters and cave sites around Nano are more understated but significant physical reminders of earlier settlement, linking the present landscape with long archaeological time. In the countryside, traditional earthen compounds, granaries and clustered settlements form a characteristic architectural vocabulary, although many are private homes and should be viewed only with permission. The broad savanna around the Fosse aux Lions National Park is a natural landmark as much as a protected area, distinguished by open grassland, dry woodland and seasonal watercourses. The Oti basin and the wetlands around Mandouri provide another defining landscape, changing substantially between the dry and rainy seasons. Cinkassé’s frontier setting is also a landmark of geography and commerce, but visitors should follow official instructions and avoid photographing security infrastructure or border operations.

Show more landmarks

Explore Savanes Region on the map

Plan your trip on one map. See where the top cities, national parks and sights are, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Savanes Region

Dining in Savanes is closely linked to household cooking, markets and the agricultural calendar. Restaurants and cafés in Dapaong provide the widest choice, while smaller towns and roadside stops tend to offer straightforward regional and Togolese meals based on maize, millet, sorghum, rice, beans and sauces made with leafy vegetables, tomatoes, groundnuts or okra. Grilled chicken, goat and other meats are common, and fish may appear more often near the Oti waterways. Shea products are important in the local economy, while millet-based drinks and other grain beverages are part of northern food culture. Market stalls can be useful for fruit, roasted groundnuts, fried snacks and simple meals, but hygiene standards vary, so choose busy vendors with good turnover and carry drinking water. International-style dining is limited outside the regional capital; the most distinctive meals are generally found in modest eateries, family-run kitchens and food markets rather than formal restaurants.

Show more restaurants

Best bars in Savanes Region

Evenings in Savanes are generally low-key and social, with Dapaong providing the broadest choice of casual bars, beer gardens, cafés and eateries. Music may be played in local venues, and football, conversation and shared meals are often more central to the evening than a large nightclub scene. Smaller towns rely on roadside bars, modest drinking places and occasional music events, while rural settlements become quiet after dark. Beer and soft drinks are widely available, but visitors should drink moderately, use trusted transport and avoid walking long distances at night. Nightlife near border areas or in remote districts should be approached cautiously, especially when local security advice recommends early return. The region’s evening character is better understood through food, conversation and community spaces than through a dedicated entertainment district.

Show more bars

Best nightclubs in Savanes Region

Evenings in Savanes are generally low-key and social, with Dapaong providing the broadest choice of casual bars, beer gardens, cafés and eateries. Music may be played in local venues, and football, conversation and shared meals are often more central to the evening than a large nightclub scene. Smaller towns rely on roadside bars, modest drinking places and occasional music events, while rural settlements become quiet after dark. Beer and soft drinks are widely available, but visitors should drink moderately, use trusted transport and avoid walking long distances at night. Nightlife near border areas or in remote districts should be approached cautiously, especially when local security advice recommends early return. The region’s evening character is better understood through food, conversation and community spaces than through a dedicated entertainment district.

Show more nightclubs

Best shops in Savanes Region

Shopping in Savanes is concentrated in Dapaong’s markets and high streets, with smaller market centres in towns such as Cinkassé supplying everyday goods and agricultural produce. Visitors may find woven items, baskets, leatherwork, carved objects, locally made textiles, shea-based products and practical household crafts, although quality and availability vary by season. Grain, groundnuts, dried foods and other farm products reflect the region’s trading economy and can make useful edible souvenirs when packed and transported appropriately. Bargaining is customary in many informal markets, but it should be friendly and proportionate. Independent traders and craft workers provide a more locally grounded shopping experience than imported souvenir stalls, while rural purchases should be made through agreed channels so that visitors do not disrupt household supplies. Ask about customs and airline restrictions before carrying food, plant products or animal-derived items across borders.

Show more shops

Get your free copy of our complete guide to Savanes Region, delivered straight to you.

Everything on this page, from attractions and restaurants to essentials and local phrases, in one PDF you can read offline, print or share.

Already have an account? Sign in

By clicking Create account, you accept the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Savanes Region essentials

Currency and Payment
Savanes uses the West African CFA franc, coded XOF, like the rest of Togo. Larger hotels, formal businesses and some urban establishments may accept bank cards, but cash is the dependable option for markets, transport, guides and rural services. Carry clean, smaller-denomination CFA notes and do not assume that a cash machine will be available outside Dapaong. Exchange facilities and connectivity are more limited near remote settlements and frontier areas.
Safety
Visitors should take current security advice seriously because parts of northern Togo, especially areas near the Burkina Faso frontier, can be affected by insecurity and restrictions. Check official travel guidance and local conditions before setting out, avoid unnecessary movement near borders and use reputable transport and guides. Ordinary precautions remain sensible in towns: protect valuables, take care on motorcycles and keep drinking water available. In the countryside, heat, dehydration, poor roads and limited medical access are more realistic hazards than petty crime.
Emergency Situations
For police assistance in Togo, dial 117; the fire service is reached on 118. Medical provision is more limited outside Dapaong, so serious illness or injury may require transfer to a larger centre and any journey can take time. Emergency arrangements for rural parks and archaeological sites are not comparable with those in heavily developed tourist regions. Carry identification, essential medication, travel insurance details and charged communication devices, and obtain the contact details of a local guide or accommodation before travelling into remote areas.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly in villages and around religious or traditional settings, greet people respectfully and ask before taking photographs. Do not enter compounds, sacred spaces, archaeological shelters or protected areas without permission and local guidance. Bargaining is normal in markets but should remain courteous. Avoid photographing border installations, officials or military activity. When visiting rural communities, buy locally where possible, keep to agreed paths and treat local ceremonies as community events rather than spectacles for visitors.
Local Tips
Dapaong is most useful for arranging guides, transport, provisions and cultural visits before heading into the countryside. The northern landscape is seasonally transformed: dust and dry grass dominate late in the dry season, while rains can make tracks difficult but revive wetlands and vegetation. Ask locally about road conditions before visiting Fosse aux Lions or the Oti-side districts. If crossing from another country, keep your itinerary flexible, as border queues, documentation checks and security measures can change without much notice.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloBonjour[bɔ̃ʒuʁ]
GoodbyeAu revoir[o ʁəvwaʁ]
YesOui[wi]
NoNon[nɔ̃]
Please/You're welcomeS'il vous plaît[sil vu ple]
Thank youMerci[mɛʁsi]
Excuse me/SorryExcusez-moi[ɛkskyze mwa]
How are you?Comment ça va?[kɔmɑ̃ sa va]
Fine. And you?Bien. Et vous?[bjɛ̃. e vu]
Do you speak English?Parlez-vous anglais?[paʁle vu ɑ̃ɡlɛ]
I don't understandJe ne comprends pas[ʒə nə kɔ̃pʁɑ̃ pa]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseJe voudrais voir le menu, s'il vous plaît[ʒə vudʁɛ vwaʁ lə məny, sil vu ple]
I don't eat meatJe ne mange pas de viande[ʒə nə mɑ̃ʒ pa də vjɑ̃d]
Cheers!Santé![sɑ̃te]
I would like to pay, pleaseJe voudrais payer, s'il vous plaît[ʒə vudʁɛ peje, sil vu ple]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Au secours![o səkuʁ]
Go away!Allez-vous-en![ale vu zɑ̃]
Call the Police!Appelez la police![apəle la pɔlis]
Call a doctor!Appelez un médecin![apəle ɛ̃ mɛdəsɛ̃]
I'm lostJe suis perdu[ʒə sɥi pɛʁdy]
I'm illJe suis malade[ʒə sɥi malad]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Je voudrais acheter...[ʒə vudʁɛ aʃəte]
I'm just lookingJe regarde juste[ʒə ʁəɡaʁd ʒyst]
How much is it?C'est combien?[sɛ kɔ̃bjen]
That's too expensiveC'est trop cher[sɛ tʁo ʃɛʁ]
Can you lower the price?Pouvez-vous baisser le prix?[puve vu bɛse lə pʁi]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Quelle heure est-il?[kɛl œʁ ɛ til]
It's one o'clockIl est une heure[il ɛ yn œʁ]
Half past (10)Dix heures et demie[di zœʁ e dəmi]
MorningMatin[matɛ̃]
AfternoonAprès-midi[apʁɛ midi]
EveningSoir[swaʁ]
YesterdayHier[jɛʁ]
TodayAujourd'hui[oʊʒuʁdɥi]
TomorrowDemain[dəmɛ̃]
1Un[ɛ̃]
2Deux[dø]
3Trois[tʁwa]
4Quatre[katʁ]
5Cinq[sɛ̃k]
6Six[sis]
7Sept[sɛt]
8Huit[ɥit]
9Neuf[nœf]
10Dix[di]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Où est le/la...?[u ɛ lə/la]
What's the address?Quelle est l'adresse?[kɛl ɛ l'adʁɛs]
Can you show me (on the map)?Pouvez-vous me montrer (sur la carte)?[puve vu mə mɔ̃tʁe (syʁ la kaʁt)]
When's the next (bus)?Quand est le prochain (bus)?[kɑ̃ ɛ lə pʁɔʃɛ̃ (bys)]
A ticket (to ....)Un billet (pour....)[ɛ̃ bijɛ (puʁ....)]

History of Savanes Region

Early settlement and northern rock shelters

The area around present-day Dapaong contains rock shelters, caves and other archaeological traces associated with successive communities in northern Togo. Sites around Nano are particularly important for understanding how people used naturally protected spaces, stored food and adapted to a dry savanna environment. Material remains and local traditions point to long histories of farming, exchange and settlement rather than an empty frontier. Much of the region’s early past is best understood through a combination of archaeology, oral history and the continuing use of the landscape.

Moba and Gourma societies

Before the creation of modern national borders, northern Togo was home to interconnected communities whose political and cultural networks extended across what are now Togo, Burkina Faso and Ghana. Moba-speaking societies became especially associated with the Dapaong area, while Gourma and other communities shaped the eastern and northern districts. Authority was exercised through local leaders, extended families and settlements, with farming, livestock keeping and regional exchange providing the economic foundation. These cultural continuities remain visible despite later colonial boundaries.

Regional trade and long-distance routes

Savanes developed through trade routes linking the interior of West Africa with markets farther south. Grain, livestock, shea products, leather, textiles and other goods moved between settlements, while seasonal migration and family connections linked northern Togo with Burkina Faso and Ghana. Cinkassé’s position near the Burkina Faso frontier reflects this older geography of movement. Trade was not always peaceful or equal, however, and the wider region was also affected by raiding, enslavement and political competition before colonial rule.

Colonial incorporation and new borders

German colonial rule brought the northern territories of present-day Togo into a new administrative system during the late nineteenth century, although its authority was uneven and contested. After the First World War, the former German colony was divided into mandates administered by France and Britain, with the territory that became Togo administered by France. Colonial officials introduced new taxation, labour demands, roads and administrative boundaries. These borders divided older cross-border networks without eliminating them, and their legacy remains tangible in the region’s trading towns.

Independence and northern development

Togo became independent in 1960, after which Savanes remained one of the country’s most predominantly rural regions. Public investment expanded roads, schools, health services and administrative centres, with Dapaong becoming the main regional hub. Agriculture continued to centre on millet, sorghum, maize, beans, cotton in suitable areas and livestock, while shea collection and informal trade remained important. Development has also been shaped by recurrent drought, pressure on land and the practical difficulty of serving dispersed settlements.

Conservation and contemporary border pressures

Protected landscapes such as the Fosse aux Lions and wetland areas associated with the Oti reflect modern efforts to conserve northern savanna ecosystems. At the same time, the region faces pressure from population growth, farming expansion, climate variability and the movement of people and goods across several international frontiers. In recent years, security concerns affecting parts of the wider northern border zone have become an important consideration for visitors and local communities. Travel planning must therefore combine cultural interest with current local guidance.

Savanes Region in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

0 / 0

Neighbouring regions of Savanes Region

The closest regions to Savanes Region, if you have time for more than one.

Explore more

Togo
More of the region

Explore more of Togo

Discover Togo, a hidden gem in West Africa, offering vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, rich history, and diverse wildlife for an unforgettable travel experience.

Explore Togo
The Evendo app on two phones

Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Savanes Region, Togo

Discover the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, and experiences in Savanes Region with Evendo, a 100% free travel guide app.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, and experiences
  • Rich set of information including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
More about the Evendo app

Explore Savanes Region like never before with Evendo—your all-in-one, free travel guide app. Find attractions, book experiences, and navigate the region effortlessly.

  • History of Savanes Region and travel essentials
  • Curated local tips to experience the region like a local
  • Easy navigation through the app and the region
  • 'Near me' feature to find nearby attractions
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases or additional costs

Planning a trip to the beautiful Savanes Region in Togo? Look no further than Evendo, your ultimate travel companion. This 100% free app offers detailed information on the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, and experiences, making it easier than ever to plan your perfect getaway.

Imagine exploring the stunning Kéran National Park, visiting the historic Tamberma Valley, or enjoying an authentic meal at local restaurants like Restaurant La Marmite. Evendo provides rich descriptions, images, local tips, maps, and contact details for these and many more attractions, ensuring you have all the information you need at your fingertips.

No more scouring multiple sources to find what to see, what to do, and how to get there. With Evendo, you can book hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences directly through the app. Features like the 'Near me' functionality make it easy to discover nearby attractions, while curated local tips help you experience Savanes Region like a local.

Don't miss out on must-see landmarks like the Fosse aux Lions National Park or the captivating cliffs of Dapaong. With Evendo, your journey through Savanes Region is seamless and unforgettable.

Get the latest from Evendo

Hand-picked travel deals, new destination guides and trip ideas, straight to your inbox.