Centrale Region: Tem Horse-Riding Tradition and Nature

Horse-riding traditions and landscapes offer two different perspectives on the Centrale Region: Tem chiefly culture is present in Sokodé, while Fazao-Malfakassa National Park offers diverse landscapes in the wider region.

Sokodé: Garden City and Tem Horse-Riding Tradition

Sokodé is considered a garden city; mango trees and flame trees shape its character. The city also has a horse-riding tradition passed down by influential Tem chiefs. The Chefferie de Kparatao is one of the oldest Tem chiefdoms in the Centrale Region and has preserved this tradition. Sokodé and Kparatao are therefore two specific points of reference if you are interested in Tem equestrian culture.

On request, you can experience parades of richly decorated horses in Sokodé, accompanied by rhythmic tam-tam sounds. Since visits are by request, confirm the current arrangements before travelling. In the broader travel destination of Togo, horse parades and knife dances are recommended as cultural experiences.

Weaving is also among Sokodé’s cultural pursuits: the Centre National de Tissage de Sokodé (CENATIS) is developing the craft further. The traditional horse-riding heritage and the development of weaving thus represent different aspects of cultural life in Sokodé.

Landscapes and guided tours in the wider area

In the wider region, Fazao-Malfakassa National Park features wooded savannas, dense forests, rocky cliffs, and clear rivers. Its varied landscapes give nature a distinctive character compared with the cultural experiences in Sokodé.

With local guides, you can explore mountains, waterfalls, and lush forests on foot on hikes and treks. Confirm the current arrangements before your trip. This gives you two distinct areas of focus for planning: Tem horse-riding traditions and weaving in Sokodé, as well as landscapes and guided nature experiences in the wider area.

Other cultural connections in Togo

In the wider travel destination of Togo, Tchamba has its own connection to craftsmanship: the town specializes in pyrography on gourds and calabashes. In Kara, theater, music, and dance performances take place in event halls and leisure venues. These examples add other cultural themes to your travel plans without associating them with Sokodé.

The UNESCO-listed cultural landscape of Koutammakou in northeastern Togo includes farmland and forest. Gadao is a festival at which people give thanks to their ancestors for abundant harvests. Adossa is an initiation festival whose origins are traced to the Sémassi warriors, who demonstrated their strength and bravery in feats of strength. The descriptions of the two festivals reflect different cultural meanings in the wider travel destination.

The Centrale Region on a trip through Togo

For travel planning in Togo, the Centrale Region is an important stop before crossing the Togo Mountains toward the north. Sokodé, the national park in the wider region, and the other connections to Togo each appeal to different interests. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, these different areas of focus can help you choose your destination.

Discover more destinations: Tchaudjo, Maritime, Kara, Plateaux

Go to the main travel overview: Togo.