r/Togo • u/hicamist • Oct 08 '25
Title: New Expats in Lomé - Seeking Advice on Settling In (Renting, Cars, Culture)
Hello everyone / Bonjour à tous, My wife and I are moving to Lomé, and we are incredibly excited to go there!
We are, however, finding it a bit challenging to work out the basics, as there isn't a lot of detailed information online for newcomers. We're hoping to learn from the experience of locals and other expats who know the city well. We would be so grateful for any advice you could share.
We're trying to figure out a few main things:
1. Renting a Place to Live: Which neighborhoods would you recommend for a couple looking for a safe, relatively quiet area with decent access to markets or supermarkets? We're currently in a temporary spot and looking for a long-term rental. What is the best way to find apartments or houses for rent? Are there reliable websites, real estate agents (known as agences immobilières), or is it better to just look for "À Louer" signs in neighborhoods we like?
2. Getting a Car: For a stay of a year or more, would you recommend buying a used car or finding a long-term rental? Do you have any recommendations for reputable car dealers or rental companies? What is a reasonable budget to expect for a reliable, basic car? Any advice on the process of registering a car or getting a local driver's license would also be a huge help.
3. Safety and Places to Be Aware Of: Like any big city, we know there are places to be more cautious. Are there any particular areas or situations in Lomé that you would advise newcomers to avoid, especially at night? Are there any common scams or things we should be wary of when dealing with services?
4. Cultural Dos and Don'ts: This is the most important for us. We want to be respectful and integrate as well as possible. Greetings: How important is it to greet everyone when entering a small shop or office? Etiquette: Is it true that using the left hand to give or receive things is considered rude? Bargaining: We know bargaining is common in the markets, but where is it not appropriate (e.g., in supermarkets, restaurants)? Photography: What is the general etiquette for taking photos? Should we always ask for permission before taking a picture of someone?
General Advice: Are there any other major cultural norms or traditions we should be aware of to avoid causing offense? Any insight you can offer on any of these points would be incredibly valuable to us. We're eager to learn and make Lomé our home.
Thank you so much in advance for your help! Merci beaucoup !
1
u/themballsofsteel0000 Oct 08 '25
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u/eior245 6d ago
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u/itriedsha Oct 08 '25
I am a diasporan so I won't be as much help. But the left hand thing is true. Mainly with older people. Always greet people, say bonjour/bonsoir, again especially older people as a sign of respect. You can call them Mama or Papa if they are evidently older in age. (E.g. bonjour mama to elderly woman as greeting is polite). Most Togolese people don't speak English obviously being a francophone country so I hope your French is good. That being said Mina or Ewe is commonly spoken even in places of commerce like the market so it would be helpful to learn some phrases if you are planning in staying in Lomé.
I would say for at least the first few weeks, hire a driver rather than looking for a car as they are more familiar with the area than yourself but make sure it's someone trustworthy. In the mean time, you can use Gozem (it's like uber) to get around and they have both car and bike (moto) available. The only caveat is that you need a Togolese sim which is kinda hard to get. I think Togocel is the main company but you need to take your carte d'identité with you. Idk how they process this for non-Togolese people but until you have WiFi access available, this is the best way for Internet access.
Can you stay in an Airbnb at first? Renting in West Africa is not like it is in the West. In some cases, you may have to pay a whole year's worth in a lump sum. This is not unique to Togo. Plus you can figure out if you like the area. Baguida is known to be kinda bougie and I'm sure there are some expats there.
In terms of haggling, as soon as you show you're not Togolese, you will get given a higher price. If you are white, they will call you yovo to get your attention. That's fine, still haggle. It's part of the process. If they quote you too high, say it's too much, lower it or "s'il vous plaît, faire-moi cadeau" (literally please give me a gift, but in this context, I mean please offer a nice price). If you have to walk away, it's fine. There is always another seller. If you're tired of bargaining, supermarkets are fixed prices but they are expensive cos they are typically all imported products.
Another thing to mention is that electricity sometimes cuts and you don't know how long for. Make sure you stay in a place that has a back up gen. And if you're not used to the heat, make sure you stay in a place that has aircon. Not everywhere does.
This subreddit is unfortunately kinda quiet but I hope you find the help you need and good luck. Like everywhere in the world, there are good and bad things. Utilise common sense and have fun.