Cameroon

Highlights

• Yaoundé: the capital city of Cameroon straddles seven hills. The Benedictine Monastery’s Museum of Art, the Mont Fébé which houses a great collection of native arts and crafts, and the National Museum of Yaoundé can all be found here.
• Limbé (formerly Victoria): Limbe is a port with beautiful white beaches, a botanical garden and a jungle village.
• Rhumsiki: this village features a maze of paths linking small farms (kapsiki) to one another. Get the lowdown on the local ethnic Kirdi group whose customs and folklores include crab sorcery and other interesting concepts. The village is bordered by the high Kapsiki Mountains.
• Bénoué National Park: covering about 180,000 hectares, the buffalos, hyenas, hippopotamuses, lions, giraffes, panthers, crocodiles and primates here are sure to be a highlight.
• Waza National Park: this part features a wide variety of birds such as eagles, maribous, crested cranes, pelicans, geese, ducks and guinea-fowls as well as larger friends such as elephants, antelopes, giraffes, lions, hartebeest, cheetahs and warthogs.

The best time to go to Cameroon is between the months of December and March when it is in its driest weather and most of the games, events, and activities are open. Rainy months run from April to November, with August and September having the heaviest downpours.

• Cultural exploration: learn about the fascinating culture and traditions of Cameroon such as the Baka pygmies, traditional medicines, rituals and dances, and hunting methods by going on an expedition of the southeast region. Watch you don’t overdose on crab sorcery.
• Nso Cultural Week: watch horseracing in the streets of Kumbo, West Cameroon during the Nso Cultural Week conducted every November.
• Mountain climbing: climb the highest peak in the country, Mount Cameroon, which is actually an active volcano. Climbing it usually takes three to four days, and all being you aren’t lava-blasted back down, descending will take a similar amount of time.
• Road tripping: drive along the roads leading to Nkongsamba and Douala and pass by some breathtaking sceneries such as waterfalls and valleys.

Cameroon’s main international airport is located in Douala, while secondary airports can be found at Yaoundé and Garoua. Cameroon Airlines, jointly owned by Air France and the government, provides international and domestic flights. Getting around the country by road is difficult because 87 percent of the roads are unpaved, making them inaccessible in some seasons. When they are open, they are filled with crazy, tired and drunk drivers and vehicles that may collapse at any moment. Not to mention your luggage will likely be unsafely strapped to the roof as you navigate these roller-coaster routes. The inadequacy of the roads is complemented by a limited rail network.

The most common complaint of tourists in Cameroon is diarrhea. Eat well-cooked and well-prepared food, drink bottled or filtered water and avoid tap water at all costs. The risk of getting malaria is high, as is the risk of hepatitis A and B, polio, yellow fever, typhoid, rabies and meningococcal diseases. Regular outbreaks of cholera, particularly between the months of December and June, are also common. Bird flu has been detected in Cameroon; however, there are still no reports about human infections. HIV/AIDS is also prevalent in the country, so observe proper safety measures. In short, if you want to catch a disease, Cameroon is a good place to come.