Experience Cameroon: Tips for travelers

I am planning on going back to Cameroon early in December this year (2006). If you choose to go a vacation, get involved as a volunteer, or both, below is some information that may be helpful. I encourage everyone to do your own research and choose what is right for you. The information given below worked for me. If you find some real good deals, please let me know.
Following the information arranged in table format is a compilation of information on Cameroon send to us by Anicestus. He can be hired as driver. Contact him by e-mail at anicestus@yahoo.com  Tel. in Cameroon 237-936-47-53
 

Vaccinations 

Check with the Center of Disease Control web site or the embassy web sites.
 
Hepatitis A
three injections.
Hepatitis B
Two injections.
Passport Health
Barbara Wong, RN
1100 Bedford Street
Stamford, CT 06905
(203) 406-9655
www.passporthealthusa.com
 
Oral Typhoid US$ 70
Yellow Fever US$ 90
Visit with counseling US$ 35
Visit without counseling US$ 20
Prices as of Sept. 2005

Malaria Prophylaxis 

Lariam: once a week. Get one pill and take it. You will either like it or you don’t. There are plenty of horror stories on the web, but if you go for 3 month as I did, it’s worth to try. I had absolutely no side effects, nothing.
Malarone: one a day, cheaper, less effective than Lariam, but widely taken.
 
Source: I got a prescription from my doctor and fax it to Canada: 1-866-732-0306, call 1-866-732-0305 www.DoctorSolve.com
20 x 250 mg $87.93 (remember I went 3 month, you can get smaller packs. Also, you need 6 more pills than weeks in Africa. You need to take 2 weeks in advance and 4 weeks upon return to the US. Do not skip any – especially not the 4 weeks at home afterwards).

Health precautions

People get very sick if they get malaria. Do not go without prophylaxis. Follow the Center of Disease Control's advice.
Bring mosquito net. I did not get a chemically treated one. I did not want to breathe chemicals all night. I did not use deed. But it is recommended and may be appropriate for some people.
Boil and filter all water. If you want to be safe drink only from bottles that you open yourself, sodas and fabulous German beer is available everywhere. The good thing is the doctors in Cameroon know more about tropical medicine than you family doctor. They also have the right pills for you – and they are much cheaper than at home. I was on Metronidazole twice. It cost me $2 each time. We even ate lettuce and tossed salads in selected restaurants without problems.

Entry Requirements

Passport that is valid for at least an 6 month
Yellow fever and immunization records
Visa, get it before leaving home country
Getting a visa on arrival is impossible!!!!
Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon
2349 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 265-8790
Cost $50-100 depending an duration and number of entries into the country incase you plan to travel outside Cameroon while here.

Airplane Ticket

Anywhere between US$1200 and 1500.

What to bring

Be prepared to bring stuff that you can leave behind. You will want to buy as much local as you can. Everything is available and Cameroonians need people to come and spend money.
Bring note books, pens, for children school supplies are welcome, crayons and spiral books. Do not bring news magazines.
People don’t beg, but you will be asked to pay twice as much since you are white. Just tell them your price and turn away if they do not agree at first. Keep in mind that the average income is US$ 300 a year. Giving ridiculous tips creates disrespect. Don’t give children money, tell them they need to go to school and study.

What not to bring

No candy for children.  No offensive material.
No shorts or short skirts.

Electronics

Africa runs on European metrics and voltage. If you bring electrical equipment, radio shack adapters are great. I brought my lab top, digital camera, and toothbrush. Hand cranked flashlight.

Weather

It is hot. Rainy season is May to August. Mt. Cameroon can be hiked Jan and Feb. At other times it is either in cloud or in dust. People with allergies do not like the high summer because the dust gets to them. Douala and towns towards the ocean are unbearable humid. But I am heat sensitive, so you may like it. I got a great tan. Bring sun lotion.

Safety

It is not safe to travel after dark. Cameroon is 12 hours light and 12 hours dark. It never changes. By 7 PM it is pitch dark. The good news is they are mostly robberies. People generally are not killed or kidnapped. I have not been robbed in 3 month, but the bus I took got robbed two nights after I traveled….
 
Do not ever drink, touch, swim, or step your toes into river or lake water. They have a parasite that causes river blindness and worse. And if you know me, I am usually faster in water than you can take your shoes off. Not in Africa!

Sightseeing

Cameroon is tropical.
You can climb Mt. Cameroon (Jan-Feb)
Limbe is on the ocean where people do swim in. Limbe also has a botanical garden with all the tropical plants you want to see. There is a animal safari park in the north. That is also where the Fulani tribes live with their cows.
Town and village markets are a must see.
Arts and crafts is available and not yet mass produced. Cameroonians know how to party, dance, eat and drink. Polygamy is legal and many men are not shy to ask for sex. However, I got the feeling they are just kidding and are not expecting a yes. A nice ”no” will do, however, it helped me to wear a wedding ring since I traveled unaccompanied.

Alternative traveling

Servas is an international peace organization with consultative status at the United Nations, DPI/NGO and ECOSOC. Servas connects hosts with travelers (visitors). Servas requires membership. Travelers are interviewed and are in the possession of a stamped Letter of Introduction (LOI) which they pay for. There is one Servas hosts in Cameroon as far as I know but a good number of hospitality club members. Take into account that Camerooninas do not access the internet as frequently as some of us.
 
The Hospitality Club is an internet based off spring with many contacts in Africa including Cameroon. No fees and no screening of travelers takes place.

WELCOME TO CAMEROON

Anicestus Takwe
Cell. +237.936.47.53
anicestus@yahoo.com

Please contact Anicestus, he will take care of you. He did it for me.
with love
Rolande

Thank you for taking interest in this booklet we welcome the opportunity to introduce you to tourism in Cameroon and hope it will encourage you to undertake an expedition.

Cameroon by virtue of its geographical position in Africa, disposes considerable tourist potentials, which make her an African in miniature. Cameroon possesses impressive tourist resources, her relief climate, fauna or flora as well as people and traditions. There are over three hundred (300) tourist sites in Cameroon and its 258 ethnic groups offer equally as many traditions as cultural diversities.

GENERAL PRESENTATION

Profile

Surface Area: 475 442km²                                         
Official Languages: English and French
Currency: CFA Francs (CFA~US$1)
Political Capital: Yaoundé
Flag: Green – Red – Yellow, with a Golden star on the red strip.
Motto: Peace – Work – Fatherland
Major Religion: Christianity and Islam
Internet domain: CA
International dialling code: +237

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Cameroon is situated at the end of the Gulf of Guinea. It stretches from lake Chad between the 2nd and 3rd northern parallels. It is bounded by the following countries: Nigeria to the North and Northwest, Chad to the North and North-East, Central African Republic to the East, the Republic of Congo to the South-East, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to the South.
Cameroon is a hospitable and tolerant land where numerous classical religions co-exist with various religious sects as well as traditional beliefs; all theses with neither clashes nor excesses. It is also a hospitable place where foreigners are welcomed.
Relief
It is composed principally of highlands which form the Cameroon’s range; it is a chain of mountains orientated Southwest – North having massifs such as Mount Cameroon (4 100m), Mount Manengouba (2 050m), the Bamboutos (2 740m), and the Mandara mountains situated to the north of the Benue Basin and to the West of the Chadian plain. The low lands found at the Coast (coastal plains) and at the interior.
Climate
The climate of Cameroon is a conflicting diversity grouped under two (2) types:
The Tropical Climate is characterized by less abundant precipitations, which reduces considerably from South to North (1500mm to less than 650mm). On the contrary, temperatures increase as one moves towards the north ranging from 08.3°c – 39.8°c during the hottest months (January, February, and March) to 14.8°c – 31.6°c during the coldest months (July, August, and September).
The Equatorial Climate dominates the South Cameroonian Plateau, the High Plateau of the West and the Coastal Plains. This climate is characterized by regular and abundant rains, high and constant temperatures (>26°c), low thermal amplitudes. Debunscha in the Southwest of Cameroon has the second heaviest rainfall in the world with about 10 000mm of rainfall annually.
However, Cameroon is visited throughout the seasons; be it in the Dry Season (November to May), or the Rainy Season (June to October). Those who wish to obtain the tour can choose the dry season. During this time, the temperature is highest (and average of 29°c) while fresh air and greenery amateurs will prefer the rainy season (average temperature of 22°c).

Vegetation

The vegetation is subdivided into two large zones, and the passage from one to another is gradual. These zones are:
The Dense Equatorial Forest strikes a traveler from the aero plane as he/she enters Douala. It is made up of several variants:

Soils

It is lateritic in the highlands and alluvial in the low lands. Dark volcanic soils surround the volcanic massifs. In the equatorial zones, they are deep and washed out. In the tropical zones, the one shallow and less washed lateritic plates crop out at certain areas.

Hydrography

Large portion of streams in Cameroon have as source the Adamawa Plateau, a region considered as being the main ‘Water Tower’ of the country. The other descendants from the Western and Eastern Plates of the South are in most cases interrupted by Waterfalls and Rapids. The hydrographic network is divided into four (4) basins namely:

Lakes

Cameroon is equally endowed with numerous lakes of varied shapes and sizes classified into 4 groups namely:
Lastly, there exist lagoons formed by accumulation of sand found on the Wouri and Ndian Basins and on the vast plains of the North washed by the Lagoon. Also, are the municipal lakes of Yaounde and Dschang that have been created to decorate the towns.

Population

The population of Cameroon is presently estimated at 15 million (15 000 000) inhabitants. Composed of mosaic ethnic groups, the population is separated into two groups occupying respectively the north and the south of the country.
The population of the North: It is constituted of three (3) groups, which are
The name ‘Kirdi’ is given to those inhabitants of the region who are still wild and reject Islamism
The Foulbes, indigenes of West Africa, brought in Islam and created empires whose reminiscence found today incarnated by organized and structured Lamidas. Their habitats vary from one place to another – for example, on Mt. Mandara, the inhabitants are regrouped in hamlets with thatched huts. Each hamlet is surrounded by a wall built of fixed large stones using earth, but on the contrary in puss, huts are built solely with dried mud and they are missile-like.
The population of the South: Two large groups are distinguished. Those of the Forest, and those of the Western High Plateau. The people of the forest are the Pygmies and the Bantus.
The pygmies are the first occupants of the forest zone and live in isolated camps. They live in symbiosis with the forest, which they understand and protect better than anyone else. This mastery of the natural environment permits some of them to become scholars in traditional pharmacopoeia. More and more intermixing with the Bantus occurred thus diluting even the homogeneity of the different groups. Pygmies are no longer the wild people today. They progressively adapt to the modern ways of life with the help of some public authorities and NGOs.
The people of the high plateau of the West have suffered a strong Sudanese influence, which brought them to an eventual cultural hybrid. They are made up of three (3) sub groups: the Bamileke, the Bamoun and the Tikar.
The Bamileke are good craftsmen and good farmers who exploit the least available piece of land. Agriculture has worked out the landscapes, and the separation of different concessions is done by quickest hedges. Traditional habitat is built using local materials such as: sun baked soil bricks. Traditional architecture is exceptional in structure and solidity. The huts with comical roofs found in the Chief’s palace are a good example of this.

PECULIAR TOURIST ASPECT OF CAMEROON

Cameroon overflows with enormous tourist riches, various natural geographic curiosities, historic vestiges living testimonies of what had existed in the country, a cultural heritage, traditional characteristics of every people that she represent, exhibitions and other folkloric events as varied as theses people of 258 ethnic groups and a lot of other attractions.

CULTURAL ASPECT

Cameroonian art and craft is exhibited through sculptures, the fabrication of copper or bronze masks, embroidering, painting, pottery, carving, basketry, etc. This art and craftwork vary with respect to the region in question.
Essentially based on traditional rhythms, Cameroonian music is heard during ceremonies such as marriages, funerals, birth etc. With the advent of western music, it became modernized. Despite all these, it still conserves its influence and values.
Cameroonian literature on the contrary, is pluralistic. It is developing bit by bit and tends to create its own international readership.

AGRICULTURAL ASPECTS

In the domain of agro tourism, the diversity of agriculture is found through plantations and agro industrial units. The Cameroon Development Corporation (C.D.C) is the largest agro industrial unit in Cameroon with impressive Banana, Tea, and Palm Oil Plantations. You could visit the Tea plantation in Buea, Djuititsa, Ndu; Banana plantation in Njombe, Delmonte in Tiko, Paw-Paw and Sugar cane plantations in Mungo and Mbaoundfock respectively as well as Rubber in Nyete. They are magnificent vast greeneries and exploitation of high revenue to the economy of the country.
Still in this domain, you will discover the beautiful Palm trees of SAFACAM or that of C.D.C below Mt. Cameroon. The Coffee trees of Santchou and the Cocoa trees of the Centre and South West provinces, striking in their sizes, their cherries, their shapes and in their alignment. The Bandjoure Rice fields and the Enterprise for Modernization and expansion of Rice culture in Yagoua are to be discovered.
You could equally appreciate the diversity in Cameroon agriculture in the Noun region. It is a good opportunity finger plants giving Irish potatoes, beans, maize, cabbage, pepper, green pepper, tomatoes, cassava, okra, onion etc. Peasant plantations on the slopes of the high plateaus of the volcanic range cultivated in curved layers, they are artistic works almost decorative to the landscape of the altitudes.

SEA SITE ASPECT

Open to the Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon offers to beach and sea amateurs a 400km coast. Colorful bays, natural beaches with gold colored sand in Limbe, mangroves, waterfalls and cascades emptying directly into the sea. That makes a very pleasing program for a tourist stay.
Also, within the country, the enormous lakes reflecting the colors of the sky one more spot for (sun bathing), water bathing and diverse distractions. Cameroon disposes more than 24 beaches in different town and provinces.

ECO-TOURISM

In order to better observe the diversity of an environment, plant and animal species constituting nature; Cameroon possesses specialized Natural parks, Forest and Fauna reserves, Botanic Gardens, and sanctuaries. In Mt Cameroon, there exist flora dating a quaternary; there are sites in Mayo Rey still bearing prints and fossils of dinosaurs.

SAFARI AND DISCOVERY

The exceptional geographical situation of Cameroon has gratified it with the richest fauna and flora in Africa. Amateurs of safari-photos can consider themselves lucky in the grand-north with its six National parks, a place of providence for animals living freely in their natural environment. A veritable piece of luck to visit, observe and film.

HIKING AND DISCOVERY

If on the contrary you opt for trekking, you will not be disappointed by immensity, the pure air of the South forests, the High provinces, the High Panoramic landscapes of the West and the outstretched and wonderful lands of the North. Excursions and picnics in the forest around the multiple falls, lakes, and camping, walks on bends in the scenery of the highlands tour across the cliffs with their luxurious vegetation covered with fog will be very profitable to you. Other places where you can wonder are the multiple lakes and falls all over the country.

MOUNTAIN AND CURE TOURISM

The Cameroon line describes the chain of mountains stretching from the Southwest coast to the Mandarra Mountains of the Far North. A true place for purification, retreat, camping, trekking and discoveries. The multiple mountains making up this chain are ideal for avoiding the pollution and noise of our towns.

TOURIST POTENTIALS OF VARIOUS REGIONS IN CAMEROON

ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION

Cameroon is a unitary and decentralized state. It is made up of circumscriptions and decentralized territorial grouping.
As for the circumscriptions, Cameroon has ten (10) provinces, which are further divided into divisions, sub-divisions and districts.
The tourist potentials of the region will be given following the 10 provinces.

** NORTH WEST PROVINCE

Capital – Bamenda with 9 hotels, 7 restaurants and 2 night clubs of international standard.
Climate
There are two seasons as in other zones of Cameroon:
Relief
Bamenda is surrounded by several mountainous ranges and deep valleys. The valleys are generally covered by raphia and eucalyptus. Raphia is a basic raw material for the fabrication of art objects. It is also used in the production of raphia wine appreciated by visitors of the region.
Tourist Sites

Bamenda region:
Ndop region:
The Boyo region:
The Momo region:
The Menchum Region
Kumbo region:
Nkambe region:

** SOUTH WEST PROVINCE

The capital Buea is a port city, constructed on the slopes of Mt. Cameroon. It was the Capital of the country in 1909 under the German colonization. The population lives around and on the mountain slopes. Their culture is rich especially referred ‘Fufu’. The ‘Maleh Dance’ is the most popular in the region as the men express their masculinity through it. Traditional articles such as woven caps, sweaters, chairs, cupboards and tables justify their attachment to the practice of art.
Tourist Sites
Limbe Town

LITTORAL PROVINCE.

Capital – Douala with 11 hotels and 12 nightclubs of international standards.
Climate
Douala is a zone of equatorial climate, warm and humid. It is characterized by two seasons namely:
Tourist Sites
Douala:
Mungo:
Edea:
Yabassi:

**CENTRE PROVINCE

Capital – Yaounde with nineteen (19) hotels
Historical Brief
Climate
It has a guinea type of climate characterized by four seasons: two rainy seasons and two dry seasons distributed as follows
Tourist Site
Yaounde:
Mbalmayo:
Ayos:
Mfon:

ADAMAWA PROVINCE

Capital – Ngoundere with four (4) hotels
Historical Brief
Ngoundere was founded around 1830 by the Foulbe conquerors on the Mboum village area called Delbe. Ngoundere is the headquarters of the great foulbe lamidat that bears its name. This lamidat was founded in 1835 by Ardo Ndjobdi.
Population And Culture
The town is mostly occupied by the Foulbes, Muslims, and the Mboums. The urban area has kept the aspect of a large village. Their habitats are organized into family compounds enclosed by clay walls. The populations are breeders, farmers, merchants etc.
Relief
The town has a fresh and agreeable climate. It has the Sudanese type of tropical climate. There is abundant rainfall from April to October with maximum in August. The dry season has 5 months from December to March.
Tourist Sites
Ngoundere:
Ngoundere market, Lamidat, Tyson lake, Walewa ranch, Ngoundere ranch with its crater lakes, the Vina falls, the Tell Fallsand the Mbaleng lake.
Tibati:
Dam and fishermen village, hosseve caves, th Ngoundal mountain, Mbella Assom lakes, buttuflies reserves of san Balabo, lamidat of Banyo, Mayo Darle cliff, Somie lake, Mape dam and its fishermen village.
Tignere:
Caves of Nyem Nyem, Thermal spring of Woulbe, Lancremonm falls, rondini falls, the spring of Derem, the Kondini falls and the caves of Mboula.

EASTERN PROVINCE

Capital: Bertoua with 6 hotels of international standards.
Climate
Bertoua is situated as the Northeast of South Cameroon. It is hot and humid.
Tourist Sites
Bertoua region:
Abong Mbang region:

THE FAR NORTH PROVINCE

Capital: Maroua with 7 hotels of international standards.
Climate
Maroua is characterized by a long dry season that lasts for seven months (from November to May) and a short rainy season (from June to September). From December to January, the temperature undergoes a certain drop due to the arrival of the cold and dry winds (Harmattan). Maroua presents an alternation of low plains and highlands.
Tourist Sites
Maroua:
Yagoua:
Kaele:
Mokolo:
Waza:
Kousseri:
Mora:

THE NORTH PROVINCE

Capital – Garoua with three (3) hotels and restaurants of international standards.
Climate
Garoua has two (2) seasons of equal lengths in the year. The Dry season and the Rainy season. The most agreeable months runs from November to January and corresponds to the dry and cold season. The temperature varies from 21°c to 40°c.
Tourist Sites
Garoua:
Lagdo:
The Lagdo Dam with large quantities of fishes frequently visited by birds. Duck hunting is allowed
A mountain range superimposed rocks at an altitude of 1 200m.
The fishmen’s village inhabited by Cameroonians and Nigerians.
Guider:

WESTERN PROVINCE

Capital – Baffoussam
Baffoussam town is cut through the valleys, surrounded by hills covered with grass savannah. While the depth below is occupied by raphia palms.
The aim is constantly fresh and humid with moderate temperatures and rainfalls. It is characterised by a long dry season from October to May and a rainy season, which runs from July to September. The town has 8 hotels, 10 restaurants and cabarets and 2 nightclubs of international standards.
Tourist Sites
Baffoussam:
Mbonda:
Mounts Bamboutos and its Bororo camps. The impressive chain of Mt Bamboutos is a dream place for horse ridding. Let the wind blow your ears and hair while your beasts covers the upwards and downwards slopes.
Nde:
Haut Nkam:
Dschang:
Dschang town is situated at the summit of a plateau, surrounded by hills covered with herbs and shrubs and by valleys with low lands occupied by palm trees.
The vegetation is composed mainly of eucalyptus trees.
It is one of the attractions of the province, the air is soft and fresh almost throught the year. It has 4 hotels and a restaurant of international level.
Tourist Sites of Dschang
Foumban
Foumban has three (3) hotels of international standards.
Tourist Sites
Foumban is made up mostly of craftsmen; therefore the twon remains a tourist site and offers several attractions to tourists.

SOUTH PROVINCE

Capital – Ebolowa. It is a cocoa producing town and cocoa brings 80% of the peasants’ revenue. It has 2 hotels of international standards.
Tourist Sites
Kribi Town
Kribi is a colonial town, which had its economic expansion when the Germans came to Cameroon. The country exported ivory and rubber through Kribi. Kribi is a water town. In the area, there is a water legend, which establishes a relationship between water and people. The ‘Mami-water’, also called Dfendou, is believed to be water divinities made up of fish body and the head of a woman or the mermaid.
Tourist Sites
Kribi is a very attractive bathing station on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean with 20 hotels, 6 restaurants, and 2 nightclubs of international standards.
Nice beaches with soft and golden sand close to coconut trees.
The Wolf rock. It is a rock with the looks of a wolf, which stretches out from the ocean to the continent.
Nkolan, also called the ‘Dark Mountain’, is one of the highest mountains of the region. It is a place, which is always dark.
Bipindi Village
Characterized by a good number of pygmies. They excel in hunting, traditional art and have a good reputation on traditional medicine.
Lobe Town
Lobe remains a large area of beaches whose peculiarity is its position at the entrance of the river and the important fall, which bears the name of the town. It is an ideal place for tourism and possesses a lot of assets: beaches with soft golden sand, an exceptional sun, huts built by young villagers roasting fresh shrimps, small luxurious hotel stretched out on the coast.
Campo Town
Campo has the best levelling of the country. The length and height of the greatest flush is about 300m and 12m respectively. The beach is relatively large and lengthens infinitely from the North to the South. Many fragments of the seashells are found in the sand, which gives it a dark color.