Togo
Travel Destination – Togo
Togo runs from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel, with a mix of coastal, forest and savannah landscapes. Lomé offers lively markets and Atlantic beaches, while the Koutammakou cultural landscape showcases the distinctive tower-houses of the Batammariba people. Inland, Kpalimé provides access to waterfalls and mountain trails, while Fazao-Malfakassa National Park offers wildlife and forested scenery.
Healthcare is available in Lomé but becomes limited outside the capital. Good preparation before departure is essential for all travellers.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
The starting point for any Australian travelling to Togo is a visit to a travel doctor, booked ideally six to eight weeks before departure. At this appointment your doctor will assess your vaccination history, identify any immunisations that are due, and prescribe malaria prevention medication tailored to your specific itinerary. Whether you are spending time in Lomé, venturing north to Koutammakou, or exploring national parks and rural highland areas, the health considerations will differ, and your doctor will account for this.
If the trip is coming up sooner, an appointment should still be made without delay. Malaria tablets need to be obtained in Australia before you leave, as they cannot reliably be sourced in Togo. Medical care outside Lomé is limited in capacity and availability, and comprehensive travel insurance covering emergency medical evacuation is important for all travellers, particularly those spending time in remote areas away from the capital.
Insect avoidance
Togo has year-round malaria risk throughout the country. Malaria is a potentially serious parasitic infection spread mainly by Anopheles mosquitoes, which bite from dusk to dawn; P. falciparum predominates and antimalarial medication is recommended for travellers.
Dengue and yellow fever are viral infections spread by daytime-biting Aedes mosquitoes; dengue commonly causes fever and severe aches with occasional cases requiring hospitalisation for complications, while yellow fever can cause fever, jaundice and severe illness.
African tick bite fever is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks, typically causing fever, headache and a dark sore at the bite site.
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection spread by infected sandflies and can cause skin ulcers or, less commonly, disease affecting internal organs.
Use DEET or picaridin on exposed skin throughout the day and evening, reapplying after swimming or heavy sweating. Wear long sleeves, trousers and closed footwear, particularly from dusk onwards, and check for ticks after time in grass or forest. Stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodation where possible and use a permethrin-treated bed net where insect protection is inadequate. Treating outer clothing with permethrin before departure provides additional protection for rural or extended outdoor activities.
Food and water hygiene
Togolese cuisine is built on maize-based fufu, grilled fish, spiced sauces, and fresh Atlantic seafood along the coast, drawing on both African culinary traditions and French colonial influence. Preventing gastroenteritis while enjoying the local cuisine requires straightforward precautions throughout the trip.
Tap water is not safe to drink in Togo. Bottled water from sealed containers should be used for drinking and brushing teeth for the duration of the visit. Ice in drinks should be treated with caution unless its source from purified water can be confirmed.
Before eating, washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser when that is not available, significantly reduces the chance of picking up a stomach illness. Food that has been recently prepared and served hot is the safest choice. Anything raw, cold, or sitting out at room temperature should be approached with care, and fruit should be peeled yourself before eating.
Rabies prevention
Avoid contact with animals while in Togo, including stray dogs, bats and wildlife. Do not approach bats found in accommodation, caves or forested areas, even if they appear healthy.
Rabies is a viral disease of the nervous system, transmitted when the saliva of an infected mammal enters the body through a bite, scratch or broken skin. It occurs in Togo and, once symptoms develop, is almost invariably fatal. Access to appropriate post-exposure treatment may also be limited, particularly outside major centres.
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination should be considered for travellers with greater exposure risk, including those spending longer periods in Togo, visiting rural communities, travelling with children, or undertaking activities such as hiking, cycling or caving.
After any bite, scratch or contact between animal saliva and broken skin, wash the wound immediately with soap and running water and seek urgent medical assessment. This remains necessary even after pre-exposure vaccination, as additional treatment may still be required.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Togo?
Yellow Fever
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A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all travellers aged nine months and over entering Togo. Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness that can cause fever, jaundice, and in serious cases haemorrhage and organ failure.
Both the entry requirement and the risk of yellow fever transmission within Togo make vaccination important for personal protection as well as for compliance at the border. The vaccine must be received at a registered yellow fever vaccination centre at least ten days before arriving in Togo, and documentation must be carried throughout the trip.
Note that travellers arriving in Australia within six days of departing Togo must carry a valid vaccination certificate. A health assessment from a doctor before receiving the vaccine is important, as it is not suitable for everyone.
Meningococcal disease
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Togo falls within the African meningitis belt, and vaccination against meningococcal disease is recommended for travellers planning to visit the northern regions of the country during the dry season between December and June, when dusty harmattan conditions and crowded indoor environments facilitate spread.
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord that can cause death or permanent disability without rapid treatment. The MenACWY quadrivalent vaccine covers the strains prevalent in this region, and a travel doctor can advise on timing and schedule based on individual vaccination history and planned itinerary.
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection picked up through food or water contaminated with the virus, with illness ranging from a brief episode of fatigue and nausea to several weeks of jaundice and significant ill health. Vaccination is recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers. Given how variable food and water safety standards are throughout the country, including in Lomé, exposure is a real possibility across all settings. Two doses provide long-lasting protection, and many Australians have not yet completed the course.
Typhoid
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Typhoid fever is a bacterial illness caused by Salmonella Typhi, usually acquired by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacteria. It can cause prolonged fever, headache, tiredness and abdominal discomfort, and may lead to serious complications if untreated.
Vaccination is recommended for most travellers to Togo, particularly those staying outside well-controlled tourist settings, eating at local markets, or spending time in rural communities. Vaccination provides useful but incomplete protection against typhoid fever, so careful food and water hygiene is still important throughout the trip.
Rabies
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Pre-exposure rabies vaccination should be considered for travellers with greater exposure risk, including those spending longer periods in Togo, visiting rural communities, travelling with children, or undertaking activities such as hiking, cycling or caving.
Rabies is a viral disease of the nervous system, usually transmitted when the saliva of an infected mammal enters the body through a bite, scratch or broken skin. It occurs in Togo and, once symptoms develop, is almost invariably fatal. Access to appropriate post-exposure treatment may also be limited, particularly outside major centres.
Avoid contact with animals while in Togo, including stray dogs, bats and wildlife. Do not handle bats found in accommodation, caves or forested areas, even if they appear healthy.
After any bite, scratch or contact between animal saliva and broken skin, wash the wound immediately with soap and running water and seek prompt medical assessment. This remains necessary even after pre-exposure vaccination, as additional treatment is generally still required.
Measles
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Measles travels through the air and can persist in a closed room for an extended period after an infected person has left. It causes fever, cough, and a distinctive spreading rash, and can lead to serious complications in some individuals.
Outbreaks of measles continue to occur in many countries globally, and all Australian travellers born during or since 1966 should have two documented MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) doses before departure.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B spreads through contact with blood and other bodily fluids, including through unprotected sexual contact, non-sterile medical or dental instruments, and tattooing or piercing with contaminated equipment.
Vaccination for Hepatitis B is recommended for travellers to Togo, and is particularly important for anyone who may require medical or dental care during their visit, given that the capacity of local healthcare to guarantee sterile equipment in all settings cannot be assumed. Many Australians received this vaccine through childhood programs, but adults who are uncertain of their status should confirm it with a travel doctor.
Routine vaccinations
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Before travelling to Togo, make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date. Travel can increase exposure to infections through airports, crowded transport, accommodation and close contact with local communities, while access to medical care may be less predictable than at home. Reviewing your vaccination history also helps identify any boosters or catch-up doses that may have been missed.
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination is particularly important because measles spreads extremely easily and outbreaks continue to occur internationally. Tetanus is caused by bacteria entering cuts or wounds and can cause severe muscle spasms and life-threatening illness. This is worth considering before outdoor activities such as hiking or cycling, where minor injuries may be more likely. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can cause serious throat and airway disease, while pertussis (whooping cough) causes prolonged coughing and remains highly contagious. Ensuring protection against hepatitis B, and polio is also important.
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for travellers aged six months and over, as influenza circulates internationally and can spread easily during long-distance travel and in crowded settings. COVID-19 vaccination should also be kept current in accordance with Australian health recommendations, particularly for older travellers and those with relevant underlying health conditions.
A travel doctor can review your immunisation record and arrange any required boosters or catch-up vaccinations before departure.
Togo
Other health risks in Togo
Malaria
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Malaria is a potentially life-threatening infection caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes, which are most active from dusk to dawn. The parasite infects red blood cells and can cause fever, chills, headache, nausea and muscle aches, with severe illness developing rapidly in some cases.
Malaria occurs year-round throughout Togo, predominantly due to P. falciparum. Antimalarial chemoprophylaxis may include atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine, with the choice tailored by a travel doctor to your health history and itinerary.
Obtain your full malaria medication supply before leaving Australia and take it exactly as prescribed, including any doses that need to be started before departure. Any fever during travel or within four weeks of returning should be assessed urgently, with your recent travel to Togo clearly disclosed to the treating doctor.
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis is common among travellers to Togo and is usually caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites acquired through contaminated food or water. Symptoms typically appear within one to three days and may include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting. Most episodes are self-limiting and improve within several days, but significant fluid loss can lead to dehydration, particularly in hot conditions.
For mild illness, maintaining hydration is the priority. Oral rehydration solutions help replace the water and electrolytes lost through diarrhoea and vomiting and should be included in a travel medical kit. Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe, persistent or atypical. Access to healthcare may be more limited outside Lomé, making careful food and water practices important throughout the trip.
Use bottled, boiled or appropriately treated water for drinking and brushing teeth, and avoid ice from uncertain sources. Wash hands regularly with soap or use alcohol-based sanitiser when necessary. Choose food that is freshly prepared and served hot, avoid raw or undercooked foods and food that has been sitting at room temperature, and peel fruit yourself before eating.
Lassa fever
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Lassa fever is a viral infection that can cause severe illness and, in some cases, bleeding and organ complications. It is mainly spread to people through contact with urine or faeces from infected rats, which can contaminate food, surfaces and household environments. Person-to-person transmission can also occur through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, particularly in healthcare settings.
Lassa fever occurs in parts of West Africa, including Togo. Travellers should avoid contact with rodents, their droppings and urine, and keep food securely stored. Avoid contact with the blood or bodily fluids of anyone who is unwell, particularly in healthcare environments. There is currently no widely available vaccine, so avoiding exposure is the main preventive measure.
Anyone who develops fever or unexplained illness during or after travel to Togo, particularly after potential rodent or healthcare exposure, should seek prompt medical assessment and disclose their travel history.
Schistosomiasis
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Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) is a parasitic infection acquired when larvae released by infected freshwater snails penetrate intact skin during contact with contaminated water.
Freshwater bodies including rivers, lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams throughout Togo carry this risk. Wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in these water sources should be avoided entirely during the visit.
There is no preventive vaccine or medication available. Seawater and adequately chlorinated pools are safe alternatives. Any traveller with potential freshwater exposure in Togo should arrange testing on returning to Australia, where effective treatment is accessible before the infection causes long-term organ damage.
Tuberculosis
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Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne bacterial infection spread when a person with active disease coughs or speaks in a shared space, primarily affecting the lungs and causing a persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and gradual weight loss over weeks.
The risk to most short-stay tourists with limited close community contact is relatively low. Travellers spending extended time in Togo, working in healthcare or community settings, or in prolonged close contact with local populations face a more meaningful level of exposure. TB screening before departure and after returning home is advisable for higher-risk travellers. An unexplained cough persisting after travel to Togo should be assessed by a general practitioner with full travel history provided.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Travellers to Togo should remain aware of crime, civil unrest and regional security differences. Petty theft, robbery and other violent crime can occur, particularly in crowded markets, beaches and urban areas. Demonstrations may become unpredictable and should be avoided. Security concerns are greater in northern Togo, particularly near the Burkina Faso border, where terrorism and kidnapping present additional risks. Travellers should check current local advice before visiting remote or northern areas and follow instructions from local authorities.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Road conditions and driving standards vary across Togo, with greater risks on rural and northern routes and during the rainy season. Motorcycle taxis and poorly maintained public transport carry increased injury risk, while night driving outside Lomé should be avoided where possible. Use reputable, pre-arranged transport and experienced local guides for travel to remote areas and national parks.
Ocean conditions along the coast can include strong and unpredictable currents, so swim only where conditions are considered safe and avoid unmonitored beaches.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg. Long flights from Australia to Togo often involve multiple connections and prolonged periods of sitting, which can increase this risk.
Move around the cabin regularly, perform ankle rotations and calf raises while seated, and maintain adequate hydration. Travellers with risk factors such as previous clots, recent surgery, pregnancy, hormonal contraception or significant overweight should discuss below-knee compression stockings with a travel doctor before departure.