Cameroon Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

Bafoussam

It's a pity that most people visit this city of 130,000 only as a stopover on their way to Foumban. Bafoussam, a center of the Bamileke people, has its own attractions—notably its colorful markets offering beautiful Bamileke wood carvings.The nearby ...

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Bali, CM

Categories: Bali CM

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Bamenda

This town (pop. 63,000) in the country's English-speaking region is a center for arts and crafts and has several handicraft shops. The surrounding area offers good mountain hikes, which are best undertaken during the dry season, when there is less ch...

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Bangem

Nestled among mountainous coffee plantations, near the town of Melong, Bangem is the jumping-off point for hikes to Mt. Manengouba. This extinct volcano has beautiful twin lakes in its crater that are referred to by the local Bakossi people as Man La...

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Buea

Set amid pine groves at an elevation of 3,165 ft/965 m, Buea is a resort town whose main attractions are its scenic backdrop, Mt. Cameroon (the tallest mountain in West Africa), and its cool climate, a relief from the heat and humidity below. Plan to...

Categories: Buea

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Douala

Doualal is the largest city in Cameroon and the most important port - mainly exporting coffee and cocoa. Many come to Douala as a starting point to explore the vast jungles in Cameroon. Here in Douala, take some time to explore the open-air markets ...

Categories: Douala

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Dschang

This sleepy Bamileke village is set among some lovely mountains. Dschang has a market where a few interesting statuettes, copper masks and other locally produced items are for sale, but there's better shopping elsewhere. There's really not much reaso...

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Foumban

This town is a center of the Bamoun people. Visit the impressive Palace of the Bamoun Sultans and the Museum of Bamoun Arts and Traditions. Foumban is an excellent place to buy indigenous crafts such as embroidered cloth, masks, baskets, pottery and ...

Categories: Foumban

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Game Reserves, Cameroon

While the game parks in Cameroon don't really compare with the best that eastern and southern Africa have to offer, they're well managed and quite good for western Africa. We recommend that travelers stay in Maroua and take day trips to the various r...

Categories: Game Reserves Cameroon

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Koutaba

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Kribi

Set on the Atlantic coast, Kribi (pop. 10,000) has excellent white-sand beaches with good restaurants overlooking the sea. The area isn't very crowded, so it's a good place to spend a couple of relaxing nights. 70 mi/115 km south of Douala.

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Limbé

This ocean-side resort has wide, flat, black-sand beaches, botanical gardens and pleasant accommodations. Take a look at the old Limbe zoo, now a primate rescue center. In the evening, taste the barbecued mackerel and bass that are sold at stands alo...

Categories: Limbé

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Mandara Mountains

This fascinating region of highlands and hills is best appreciated if it's explored slowly. A good base in the highlands is the city of Maroua, which has interesting weaving and leather tanning centers and a nice market (we found some good buys on le...

Categories: Mandara Mountains

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N'Gaoundere

N'gaoundere (pop.60,000) is the northernmost stop on the train from Yaounde. It's not worth trying to visit, but many people find themselves there at one point or another. It has a pleasant market and is the home of the lamido (sultan) of the Benoue ...

Categories: N'Gaoundere

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Yaounde

Plan at least two nights in Yaounde. Built on seven hills, this lovely capital city (pop. 800,000) lies in the midst of a tropical rain forest. It has tree-lined avenues, fairly modern buildings and a progressive atmosphere. Visit the small (but outs...

Categories: Yaounde

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Forming a bridge between western and central Africa sits Cameroon. The country has four very distinct topographical regions, from a coastal plain of dense equatorial forest, to savanna in the north, marshland surrounding Lake Chad and volcanic, forested mountains in the west. The rainforests are home to a very diverse group of wildlife including such as numerous species of birds and snakes, monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas, antelope, lions and elephants. The capital of Cameroon is Yaounde and Douala is the largest city.

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Cameroon

Cameroon is often referred to as "Africa in miniature" because in many ways it is a microcosm of the continent: It has mountains, volcanic highlands, coastal plains, jungle rivers, rain forest and savanna. Its jagged boundaries, drawn up arbitrarily by German colonizers during the 19th century, enclose more than 150 different ethnic groups, scattered around five distinct geographical regions. In recent years, corruption and poverty have prevented the country from taking advantage of its natural resources. Yet while Cameroon reflects much of what Africa has to offer, it's a bit too rough around the edges to be a good introduction to the continent. For adventurous, experienced African travelers, however, it offers a remarkable range of attractions.

Geography

Cameroon is bordered by Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Gulf of Guinea. The terrain of the country is reminiscent of many other parts of Africa. Its mountains are similar to those of Rwanda, the grasslands in the northern part of the country evoke the savannas in Tanzania, its southern rain forests and jungles are somewhat like the Congo's, its volcanic highlands are akin to those surrounding the Great Rift Valley, and its beaches are reminiscent of those of the Seychelles. Especially in the mountainous north, the land is visually stunning.

History

Cameroon had a difficult coming of age. After the Germans were defeated in World War I, the colony was divided between the British and the French. Both colonies achieved independence in 1960. A year later, they formed a loose federation, with capitals in Yaounde and Buea. The federation proved difficult to manage, however, and in 1972 the two Cameroons were finally united as a republic.

In its first years as a new nation, Cameroon appeared to be a model for developing African countries: a stable, multicultural society, with a well-maintained infrastructure and a high standard of living. The only thing lacking was democracy—the country had always been under strict one-party rule, and in the years after independence, tensions slowly developed. The ruling party, headed by Paul Biya, finally agreed to hold democratic elections in 1992, and although the opposition was heavily intimidated—six members were shot and its rallies were dispersed by riot police—Cameroonians for the first time were allowed to choose who would run their country.

The ruling party's victory did little to ease the pressures building in the country, however. Despite its rich resources, Cameroon began to languish economically and had to be rescued by the International Monetary Fund. Biya was re-elected again in 1997 and 2004.

Snapshot

Game parks, spectacular jungle scenery, mountain resorts, friendly people, coffee plantations, African art and local handicrafts are among the chief attractions of Cameroon.

Cameroon will appeal to experienced, adventurous travelers who love African history, culture and game parks and who don't mind the risks associated with political instability. Though some modern services are available, expect the delays and inconveniences that typically occur in developing countries.

Potpourri

Cameroon has an extra currency: beer-bottle caps. When cash is in short supply, people pay for taxis and food with bottle caps. The catch is that the bottle tops have to be special tops—developed as a promotion by local beer companies—that can be exchanged for a free beer.

The Indomitable Lions (Cameroon's soccer team) are a source of great national pride.

Among the Bamileke people of western Cameroon, a shaved head traditionally indicates a recent death in the family.

Mt. Cameroon is an active volcano. It has erupted twice since 1999.

Georges Collinet, longtime host of the popular (U.S.) National Public Radio program AfroPop Worldwide, is from Bitye, Cameroon.

You'll hear modern African pop music in discos, cafes and bars. At the Hotel Meridien in Douala and in other discos, this music takes over very late at night after a round of more traditional European music. Only then do the local African nightclub-goers arrive and liven up the scene. Consult the hotel concierge for these hours.

Some 1,700 people were killed in 1986 when an enormous cloud of carbon dioxide wafted out of Lake Nyos in northwest Cameroon. Scientists believe carbon dioxide is seeping into and becoming trapped within Lake Nyos from underground springs. Area residents have always believed the crater lake to be inhabited by spirits.

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