Bush taxis
The bush taxi (taxi-brousse) is the backbone of travel in Togo. These are shared cars — typically four-door saloons with four people squeezed in the back — that run fixed routes between towns when they are full. They leave from the gare routière (bush taxi station) in each town and depart when the last seat is sold. You pay per seat; if you want to leave immediately, you can buy the remaining seats yourself. They are cheap, often fast, and vary wildly in condition.
Minibuses
On busier routes, minibuses (called cars) operate alongside bush taxis, carrying more passengers at slightly lower prices. Expect tight seats and frequent stops. The main axis — Lomé to Kara — is served reasonably well.
Climatisé buses
A more comfortable option on the Lomé–Cinkassé corridor is the air-conditioned (climatisé) bus, which covers the full north-south route. Buy your ticket at the station at least the day before; these buses fill up. The journey from Lomé to Kara takes around six hours.
Zemidjan (moto-taxis)
In Lomé and most towns, zemidjan motorbike taxis are everywhere. They are fast, cheap, and useful for short distances. Agree on the fare before you get on. They are best avoided at night in cities.
Car hire and taxis
Metered taxis operate in Lomé. Private car hire with a driver is available through hotels and can be practical for day trips or reaching more remote areas. Driving yourself is possible but takes confidence — traffic laws are loosely enforced and road conditions vary.
Distances
Togo is a narrow country — only about 600 km from south to north. You can cover the main route from Lomé to Kara in a day, and onward to Dapaong in another half day. This makes it easy to see most of the country even on a short trip.