All activities / Trekking / Hiking / Kpalime
Trekking / Hiking in Kpalime
Kpalime is a green hill town in the Plateaux region of southwestern Togo, about 120 kilometres northwest of Lome near the Ghanaian border. Ringed by coffee and cocoa plantations, forested peaks and waterfalls, it is the base for Togo's best walking, including Mount Agou, the country's highest summit.
Why here
Kpalime is the heart of Togo's small but lovely hill country, the greenest and most walkable corner of a mostly flat nation. From the town you can climb Mount Agou, at 986 metres the highest point in Togo, with views that reach across the border into Ghana, or take the forest paths around Mount Klouto, famous for its butterflies and its old German-era plantation trails. Between the peaks lie waterfalls such as Kpime and Wome, coffee and cocoa smallholdings, and villages that keep the Akpesse dance and a strong craft tradition of carving and batik. The walking ranges from a steady road-and-trail ascent of Agou to gentle forest loops around Klouto, all in a cool, misty upland that feels a world away from the coast. For a traveller it is Togo's outdoors at its best, easy to reach from Lome and rewarding on foot with a local guide who knows the plants and the paths.
Best months
The hills walk well most of the year, with the drier, clearer months running from November to February; the rains from about April to October green the forest but make trails muddy and the peaks cloudy. Mount Agou can be climbed on a paved road or on steeper local footpaths that cross streams and pass waterfalls, while the Klouto trails are gentler forest loops. Mornings are best for views before cloud builds. A guide is worth taking for the botany, the butterflies and the network of unmarked paths.
Getting there & around
Kpalime is about 120 kilometres from Lome, some two to three hours by road, and sits in the settled southwest of Togo well away from the northern advisory zones. Bush taxis run from Lome, or hire a car with a driver. Base in Kpalime for day walks up Agou and around Klouto; guides and day tours are arranged through operators and hotels in town. Bring proper footwear and rain cover for the upland weather.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate
Schools & guides (1)
Blas Tours
OutfitterBlas Tours is an IATA-accredited West Africa destination-management company, based in Accra, Ghana, that operates guided trips across neighbouring Togo. Its Kpalime programme takes in a hike up Mount Klouto, a butterfly safari on the mountain, visits to craft centres and the Akpesse traditional dance, with the option to extend to Mount Agou and Lome. Tours are customisable for small groups, and the company handles transport, guiding and logistics for the Plateaux hill country.