Kara (city) - Kara (città)

Kara (former Lama-Kara) is a city of Northern Togo.

To know

Former Togolese president Etienne Eyadéma was born near the city and during his presidency transformed it from a simple village to an industrial and commercial city of considerable importance. Kara today is the second largest city in the Togo.

Historically known as the "Country of the Tamberma", this area, inhabited by the Batammariba, has been officially called "Koutammakou"since she was enrolled in 2004 as one of the World Heritage Sites in Togo.

Geographical notes

The Kara River flows through the city and is its main water source.

Background

In 1902, i Germans they built a bridge over the Kara River, which marks the beginning of the city. Under the presidency of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in the 1970s, the city developed in particular due to its role in holding political events.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By plane

The international airport of Niamtougou it is located 40 kilometers north of Kara.

By car

Kara is 413 km north of the capital Lome

By bus

The city is served by various bus lines for Lome is Ouagadougou, including Etrab, LK, Adji and Rakieta.

There are daily buses between Lomé and Kara which take approximately 7 hours. Buses depart daily at 7:00 am from both cities.

How to get around

What see

• Congress Hall. Architecturally interesting building. 

Events and parties

• Wrestling tournament (In and around Kara). In July. Traditional tournament. It is the first step in Kabiye's male initiation rite into adulthood. The tournaments are organized by district, village and canton. The Head of State participates in the tournament. 

What to do

• Parc Sarakawa. Guided tour on pick-up: 5,000 CFA. Wildlife resort with animals that were almost wiped out in Togo. There are no elephants here, but on the other hand you can see crocodiles, antelopes, zebras and a large tortoise. 

Shopping

How to have fun

Night clubs

• 9.5468021.1924041 Chateau. Discover the back room where generations of Peace Corps volunteers drank and played pool. The room has air conditioning, a pool table and darts and is free (although the drink is compulsory). 
• La Besace. A small bar that has hosted generations of Peace Corps volunteers. 

Where to eat

Moderate prices

In front of the taxi rank there are some ladies selling degué, a cold yogurt with couscous.

Average prices

• Maroc. USD 5 per meal and beer. Owned by an expatriate German, the restaurant serves dishes Europeans and Togolese at reasonable prices. 
• Chez Navide (In front of the market). Dish: USD 1. Recommended if you are interested in trying local food. 

Where stay

Average prices

• 9.5497781.1827471 Kara Hotel. Single from 18,500 CFA, double from 21,500 CFA. Dinner 6,000 CFA. Built in 1974 and a bit run down, but the best place to sleep in Kara. Offers a decent dinner. 
• Marie Antoinette Hotel. 
• Auberge Tiyita. 

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

• Nanny of Nadoba - About two hours north of Kara there is a small village, Nadoba. Here the villagers have built unique houses made of clay and straw. Built to repel slave traders, the houses now serve as homes for farm animals and miscellaneous materials. Villagers still kill chickens on sacrificial altars outside their homes and fill the first room with a series of fetishes. See the main canton's Tata, but be prepared to pay a CFA 1,000 / 2,000 for the privilege. This is the only one of the World Heritage Sites in Togo and its best tourist attraction, however no services should be expected. The easiest way to get there is with a hired taxi or a shared taxi for Kandé and then by bike for 25 km to Nadoba.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Kara (city)
• Commons contains images or other files on Kara (city)

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