Class Trip to Togo – Five Days of Adventure and New Connections

From 2 to 6 November, Class 8 of the German International School Accra travelled to neighbouring Togo. Our destination was the area around Kpalimé. Waterfalls, historic sites, a hike up Togo’s highest mountain and plenty of shared experiences awaited us. As we discovered on the very first day, a trip like this also calls for patience, flexibility and teamwork.

Monday – The Journey and Settling In

Our journey took a little longer than planned. Border formalities and the need to use a different crossing cost us some time. Afterwards, our route took us along a bumpy track that gave us quite a shake!

We were all the more delighted when we finally reached our accommodation: Residence Simba, surrounded by greenery just outside Kpalimé. Mathias and his welcoming team were there to greet us.

After allocating rooms, we settled in and explored our new surroundings. This also meant getting used to a few small neighbours, including ants and mosquitoes, as well as occasional brief power cuts. There was certainly a little adjusting to do!

Our first dinner brought a culinary discovery: some students tried couscous for the very first time. We also met our tour guide Eric, nicknamed “Le Boucan”. With his cheerful personality, knowledge and understanding of the group, he quickly became part of our travelling team.

To round off the day, we had a chance to try out the pool. Afterwards, the long journey caught up with us: we slept like logs, with a heavy rain shower providing the soundtrack during the night.

Tuesday – Château Viale and the Waterfalls of Kpimé and Akakpotoe

On Tuesday morning, we could finally appreciate the surroundings of our accommodation. The pool and dining area offered lovely views of the greenery. At our first breakfast together, the homemade jam was a particular favourite.

Our first excursion took us to Château Viale. We explored the building, learned about its history and enjoyed the sweeping views across the landscape. Our guide’s stories about supposed escape tunnels leading towards Ghana were especially intriguing. We decided to use the ordinary exit, however, and returned to Residence Simba for lunch.

Unfortunately, not everyone could join the afternoon excursion. Those who needed a rest stayed at the accommodation under staff supervision. The rest of the group headed to Cascade de Kpimé, where we admired the waterfall and took photos.

We then travelled along rocky tracks to Auberge la Montagne Verte. From there, we followed narrow paths through fields and dense vegetation to the more secluded Cascade de Akakpotoe. Walking through nature and reaching the waterfall at the end was a special experience.

On our way back, we made a brief stop at the Barrage de Kpimé dam. Back at our accommodation, we reunited over dinner and shared stories of the day’s discoveries.

Wednesday – Togoville and a Boat Trip on Lake Togo

Wednesday began with a poolside yoga session led by Ms Mayoga. In the background, we could see Mont Agou – our hiking destination for the following day.

The excursion group then set off for Togoville on Lake Togo, while Ms Mayoga stayed behind to look after those remaining at the accommodation. At around four hours, the journey took considerably longer than expected. Along the way, we learned about German colonial history in Togo and the historical connections between the two countries.

Once we reached the lake, we enjoyed the packed lunch we had brought with us. Then it was time to take to the water. A short boat trip gave us a completely different perspective on the surroundings. Kekeli and Mr Mensah even had the chance to demonstrate their steering skills.

After this enjoyable outing, another long drive lay ahead. A late dinner awaited us at Residence Simba – a welcome end to an eventful day.

Thursday – Climbing Mont Agou and a Sweet Surprise

On Thursday, we were pleased to set off as a full group again. In beautiful weather, we began our roughly ten-kilometre hike up Mont Agou, Togo’s highest mountain.

Our route initially followed paved roads through the green landscape. Later, we climbed steeply uphill along narrow, rocky paths. We stopped in a village high on the mountainside to enjoy the view and gather our energy for the final stretch.

The climb to the summit took quite an effort. That made reaching the top and celebrating our shared achievement all the more rewarding. Of course, we had to take a summit photo!

There was a welcome surprise for the return journey: as a road leads all the way to the summit, our bus could collect us there. After the demanding climb, we were happy to accept the lift.

Back at our accommodation, lunch was followed by a special tasting: fresh sugar cane we had brought back from Mont Agou. Some loved it, while others felt rather as though they were chewing on a stick!

We spent the rest of the afternoon together at Residence Simba. After the hike, it felt good to rest and enjoy each other’s company.

Over our final dinner of grilled chicken, we thanked our hosts. The warm farewell showed just how much we had enjoyed our stay. In only a few days, new friendships had formed.

Friday – Au Revoir, Togo!

On Friday, it was time to pack our bags and say goodbye. Our departure from Residence Simba went smoothly. Along the way, checkpoints and border formalities required a little more patience.

When an issue needed resolving at one of the checkpoints, Mr Mensah and Ms Mayoga worked firmly on the students’ behalf. Once the situation had been clarified, we continued our journey home.

Eventually, we all arrived safely back at the German International School Accra. The joy of being reunited was clear on the faces of parents and children alike.

A Trip That Brought Us Together

Behind us lay five days of new impressions, striking landscapes and warm encounters. We had discovered waterfalls, climbed a mountain, put our French to use and learned a great deal about Ghana’s neighbour Togo and its history.

Not everything went according to plan. Those moments called for patience, consideration and teamwork. We overcame challenges together and grew closer as a group.

A class trip full of adventure, shared achievements and wonderful encounters – and a journey we will remember fondly for a long time to come!