Kara
Kara is a city in Togo.
Get in
Buses run daily between Lome and Kara (about 7 hours). Contact Rakieta. Buses leave at 7am from each site daily.
Get around
See
The Tatas in Nadoba. About two hours north of Kara is a small village, Nadoba. Here villagers have constructed unique houses made of clay and straw. Built to fend off slave traders, the houses now serve as home to farm animals and various materials. Villagers still kill chickens on sacrificial altars outside of the houses and fill the first room with a range of fetishes. Check out the Chief Canton's Tata, but be prepared to pay a mille or two for the privilege. This is Togo's only UNESCO World Heritage Site and its best tourist attraction - though don't expect any amenities. The easiest way to get there is by rented taxi or shared taxi to Kante and then bike 25km to Nadoba.
Do
- Parc Sarakawa Wildlife resort with animals that have been almost wiped out in Togo. A guided tour on a pickup will cost you CFA 5000, no elephants, but crocodiles, antelopes, zebras and a big turtle.
Buy
Eat
At Maroc's. Owned by a German expat, the restaurant serves European and Togolese dishes at reasonable prices (~$5 per meal with a beer).
Chez Navide is also recommended if you are interested in trying the local food. Located opposite the market, dishes are served for approximately $1 per meal.
Check out the degue ladies opposite the taxi station if you want to try cold yogurt with couscous.
Drink
- 1 Chateau. Check out the back room where generations of Peace Corps volunteers have drank and played pool. The room has AC, pool table, and darts and is free to use (though you must order food).
- La Besace. A small bar that has been home to generations of Peace Corps volunteers.
Sleep
- 1 Hotel Kara. Built in 1974 and a little bit run-down, but the best place to sleep in Kara. Singles from CFA 18,500, doubles from CFA 21,500. Dinner is CFA 6000 and worth the price.
- Hotel Marie Antoinette.