Travel within the country

If you are coming from the north or the south, some of this will be the same.  

Coming from the south (Lomé).  

You will need to take the road that heads north out of Lomé that is heading toward Kpalimé.  If you were to stop and ask anyone, they can get you on this road without any difficulty.  As of the writing of this document, you should plan on taking 1 ½ - 2 hours for this first part of the trip.  When you arrive into Kpalimé, it will be very evident because the road condition will abruptly change at a bridge.  On the south side of the bridge the road condition will be fine but on the north side of the bridge you will find numerous potholes.  You are now in Kpalimé.  
You need to continue on this road about approximately ¾ miles and you will come to a “Y” in the road.  This “Y” will be across from the post office (a yellow and blue building).  If you are going to the Village of Lights you must stay to your left.  You will continue for a few more miles (approximately 5 – 7 or about 8 minutes) and you will come to a wall on your left that belongs to the Village of Lights.  It is a long wall with a large gate.  Pull up to the gate and the guard will allow you in.  If you are visiting the Boutique it will be to your immediate left.  If you are unsure of where to go, ask the guard and he’ll point you in the direction you need to go.  

If you are traveling to the hospital at the “Y” you will need to stay to the right.  You will stay on this road for approximately 45 minutes or longer (due to the poor road conditions).  As you travel north on this road you will pass through various village but as you enter the village of Adéta, you will now need to be a little more alert.  When you come to the Total gas station, you will turn left on that road (now you are going in West).  There is (normally) a sign opposite this road indicating the hospital is that direction (to the West). You are almost to the hospital.  You are about 2 – 3 (3-5 minutes) miles from the hospital.  You need to continue traveling west on this road and you will pass a village called Tsiko.  When you pass through the village you are a little more than half way to the hospital.  You will continue traveling West and you will see a blue sign on the right side of the road indicating a hospital ahead.  You will first see a wall on the left side of the road as you approach the base of the mountain.  The hospital sign will be in the middle of the wall and you will notice the main entrance to the hospital at the West end of that wall.  Pull in and ask the guard for directions and they will point you in the direction you need to go.  

Coming from the North (Atakpamé)  

Traveling south to either the hospital or the Village of Lights is just about as simple as coming from the south.  After working your way through Atakpamé, you will need to take the road south to Kpalimé.  Again, as of this writing, the road is very bad in various locations and you will find that the time varies considerably but for now you should plan on 2 ½ hours from Atakpamé to Adéta and 50 minutes from Adéta to Kpalimé.  When you arrive in Adéta, you will turn right on the road across from the Total gas station and you will be heading west.  As you are traveling West and after going through the Tsiko village you will see a blue sign on the right side of the road indicating a hospital ahead.  You will see a wall on the left side of the road as you approach the base of the mountain.  The hospital sign will be in the middle of the wall and you will notice the main entrance to the hospital at the West end of that wall.  Pull in and ask the guard for directions and they will point you in the direction you need to go.  

If you are traveling to the Village of Lights, you will continue another approximately 50 minutes south until you come to Kpalimé.  As you begin to move through Kpalimé, you’ll arrive at a “round about”.  Rather then go straight, take a right (not an immediate right)so you are heading up a hill.  After about a block you’ll arrive at a stop sign.  Turn right, this will place you on the road to Kousountou.  You will continue for a few more miles (approximately 5 – 7 or about 8 minutes) and you will come to a wall on your left hand side that belongs to the Village of Lights.  It is a long wall with a large gate.  Pull up to the gate and the guard will allow you in.  If you are visiting the Boutique it will be to your immediate left.  If you are sure of where to go, ask the guard and he’ll point you in the direction you need to go.  

Here are a few telephone numbers to keep available should you need them or if you have time prior to your visit, drop them an email.  
Village of Lights (Joan Schmitz) 441-11-73
HBB 449-70-26 or 27 or the HBB Guest House 449-70-08