Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

Cameroon’s national airline is Cameroon Airlines (UY). The first direct commercial flight from the UK to Douala for more than five years was recently launched: Arkh-View African Airlines (website: www.avairlines.com).

International Airports

Aeroports de Cameroon SA (ADC) oversees the seven airports, including Douala International, Garoua International and Yaoude Nsimalen International.

Douala (DLA) is situated 10km (6 miles) southeast of the city. To/from the airport: Taxis to the city are available at a cost of approximately CFAfr3000. Facilities: Duty free shop, bar, post office, bank, shops and buffet/restaurant.

Yaounde Nsimalen International (NSI) airport is situated 25km (15.5 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: Taxis to the city are available at a cost of approximately CFAfr3000 (travel time – 20 minutes).

SEA

The Main ports: Cargo boats from Douala to Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) sometimes accept passengers. Speedboats and cargo boats ply the coastal route between Idendao (northern Cameroon) and Oron (Nigeria). However, these services are not regulated.

RIVER

There are ferry services across the Ntem River, on the border with Gabon. Pirogues also operate across this river to Equatorial Guinea.

RAIL

There is a rail route running from Douala to Nkongsamba, with a branch line leading off from Mbanga to Kumba. The Trans-Cameroon railway runs from Douala to Ngaoudere, with a branch line from Ngoumen to Mbalmayo. There are plans to extend the rail network from Mbalmayo to Bangui in the Central African Republic.

ROAD

There are road connections to Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria. Travel on these routes is rough, and should not be attempted in the rainy season. 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended. Drivers should avoid travelling at night. Problems might be experienced at the borders with Gabon and the Central African Republic. Armed robberies have been reported in the three provinces of Adamaoua, the north and the far north (bordering Chad). Gendarmerie detachments are posted along the road between Maroua and Chad. The Trans-Africa Highway from Kenya to Nigeria is still under construction; the border area with Nigeria, neighbouring the Bakassi peninsula, should be avoided. The border with the Republic of Congo has been closed.

Bus: Minibuses and bush taxis run from Yaoundé and Douala to all neighbouring countries (except where borders are closed). It may be necessary to change at the border.

Travel - Internal

AIR

This is the most efficient means of national transport. There are daily flights between Douala and Yaoundé; less regular flights to other interior towns, served by Unitair.

RAIL

Cameroon Railways (CAMRAIL) is the national service provider. Services are good, if relatively slow, and it is much quicker to go by train than by bus. There are daily services from Yaoundé to Ngaoundéré on the ‘Gazelle du Nord’, that runs from Douala to Ngaoundéré via Yaoundé and Belabo. Daily trains also run from Yaoundé to Douala, with onward connections to Nkongsamba. Couchettes are available, as are first- and second-class seats. Trains usually have a restaurant car. Tickets must be booked on the day of travel.

ROAD

There are paved roads from Douala to Yaoundé, Limbé, Buéa, Bafoussam and Bamenda and between main centres. Other roads are generally poorly maintained and become almost impassable during the rainy season. Many vehicles are poorly lit and badly driven. Traffic drives on the right. Night driving is not recommended. Car hijackings and violent muggings are increasingly common, particularly in the three provinces of Adamaoua, the North and the far North, so sensible precautions should be taken. Driving on the Yaoundé/Douala trunk road should be avoided, since accidents are common there. Roadside assistance is non-existent. Travellers should consult official government advice services for further information about security while driving

Bus: Modern coach services are available between Yaoundé and Douala, Bafoussam and Bamenda, Foumban and Dschanga. Bus services also exist between other main centres and more rural areas but tend to be unreliable and are often suspended during the rainy season. Bus services also have a reputation for being dangerous, as road safety is not a priority for Cameroon drivers and accidents are common.

Car hire: This is limited and expensive and is available in Douala, Yaoundé and Limbé, with or without a driver.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not a legal requirement but recommended, especially for those hiring a car. By law, a driving licence must be carried when driving; a Cameroonian licence can be obtained within 24 hours for a small fee.

URBAN

Taxis and share-taxis are available at reasonable fixed rates (none are metered). A 10 per cent tip is optional. City taxis do not generally comply with basic security norms and seatbelts are often absent. Violent assaults on taxi passengers are not uncommon, so the choice of taxi must be considered carefully. However, they are cheap and fast.

Resorts & Excursions

The Centre & East

Yaoundé, the capital city, stands on seven hills. There are 13 modern hotels and many markets, shops and cinemas. Museums include the Musée des Bénédictins, a collection of traditional arts and crafts housed in a Benedictine Monastery on Mont Fébé, and the newer Yaoundé National Museum. To the northwest, jungle-clad mountains rise to an altitude of 1000m (3280ft). Mont Fébé, which overlooks the city, has been developed as a resort, with a luxury hotel, nightclub, casino, gardens and golf course. Its high altitude ensures a pleasant climate.

Luna Park, a permanent fun-fair and weekend holiday resort 40km (25 miles) north of the capital, can be found on the road to Obala. Further on, one can view the Nachtigal Falls on the River Sanga and continue to Bertoua, Yokadouma and Moloundou with its abundant wildlife, most notably a small population of lowland gorillas.

The West

Douala, Cameroon's economic capital, is 24km (15 miles) from the sea, on the left bank of the Wouri and dominated by Mount Cameroon. The cathedral, the shopping avenues, the Artisanat National (a craft/souvenir market), Deido market, the harbour, the museum, Wouri Bridge and the electric coffee-grading plant are worth visiting.

Buéa is a charming town situated on the slopes of Mount Cameroon (4095m/14,435ft), West Africa's highest mountain and the highest active volcano in Africa. For those interested in climbing the mountain, which is relatively easy, a permit from the local tourist office is necessary (these are not issued during the rainy season from March to November).

Limbé (formerly Victoria) is a pleasant port with a botanical garden and 'jungle village'. There are beautiful white sandy beaches a short drive out of town. The tourist season runs between November and February.

Dschang is a mountain resort at an altitude of 1400m (4600ft) where the temperature is pleasantly cool. The road southwards to Nkongsamba and Douala passes through some splendid scenery - spectacular valleys and waterfalls.

Bamenda, in the highlands north of Dschang, has a museum and a craft market.

Foumban, northeast of Dschang, has many traditional buildings dating from its period of German colonisation, including Fon's Palace which includes a craft centre. There is also the Musée du Palais, whose collection includes bejewelled thrones, armaments, musical instruments and dancing masks, the Musée des Arts et des traditions Bamoun, and a market. The town serves as an excellent base for experiencing the Bamileke region's colourful Bamoun festivals and feast days.

Kribi, a small port and beach resort south of Douala, has perhaps the finest beach in Cameroon, Londji Beach. It is also a convenient starting point for tours to local villages and the Campo Game Reserve region. Buffaloes, lions and elephants roam the virgin forests inland.

The North

North Cameroon presents unexpected natural landscapes, with an average altitude of 1500m (4900ft) and plains, reaching an altitude of 300m (1000ft), covered by savannah.

Maroua is located in the foothills of the Mandara Mountains, along the Mayo River. Places worth visiting include the market, the Diamare Museum (mainly an ethnographic museum where local craftwares are on sale: jewellery, tooled leather articles, etc), the various African quarters and the banks of the Mayo Kaliao. There is a National Park nearby (see below).

Mokolo is a picturesque town in a rugged rocky landscape. Approximately 55km (34 miles) away is the village of Rhumsiki, which features a maze of paths linking the small farms known as the Kapsiki; the Kirdi live here, whose customs and folklore have changed little for centuries.

Going further north, there is a very typical village called Koza located at an altitude of 1100m (3600ft). From here the road continues to the village of Mabas which gives a panoramic view on the large Bornou plain of Nigeria and where one can still see primitive blast furnaces.

National Parks

The Kalamaloué Reserve is small but offers opportunities for viewing several species of antelopes, monkeys and warthogs; some elephants cross the reserve. Waza National Park covers 170,000 hectares. There is a forest area (open from November to March) and a vast expanse of grassy and wet plains, called Yaeres (open from February to June). Elephants, giraffes, antelopes, hartebeest, cobs, lions, cheetahs and warthogs are numerous. There is also a rich variety of birds: eagles, crested cranes, maribous, pelicans, ducks, geese and numerous guinea-fowl. Accommodation and other facilities are available. There are no vehicles for hire at the park, but buses run from Maroua.

The Bénoué National Park, situated just off the Ngaoundere-Garoua main road, has buffalo, hippopotami, crocodiles, hyena, giraffes, panthers, lions and a variety of primates, and can be visited all year round.

Korup National Park is Cameroon's newest national park, home to Africa's oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest. Accessible by bush taxi, it is located in the westernmost corner of the country, along the Nigerian border near the town of Mundemba, which is about 150km (93miles) north-west of Douala. A wide variety of primates, birds, trees and other plants, including dozens of recently discovered species are there. Travellers should dress to cope with the 100 per cent humidity and the fording of waist-high pools.

The Boubandjidah National Park is on the banks of Mayo Lidi River in the very far north of the country; its wildlife includes elan and buffalo, rhinoceri, elephants and lions. There are several other parks and reserves which are not open to the public.