Travelling

flag Cameroon Cameroon: Travelling

In this page: Entry Requirements | Organising Your Trip | Visiting | Living Conditions | Eating | Paying | Speaking | Useful Resources

 

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service
Visa requirements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
List of  the Cameroon embassies abroad
For Further Information
 
Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.
 

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Organising Your Trip


Transportation From Airport to City Centre:


Airport

Distance

Taxi

Bus

Train

Car Rental
Douala Intl (DLA) 5 km / 3 miles USD 6 - - -

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services
Camrail: The Cameroonian Railways

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Major airlines

Name Type Domestic Flights International Flights
Air France Major none Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical
An absolute must-visit place is the monument of reunification found at Yaounde, as well as the cathedral. But you will discover the history of Cameroon not by visiting monuments, but by talking and exchanging with Cameroonians, because in Cameroon as in the whole of black Africa, the history is oral and non-material.
Cultural
15 million inhabitants divided into 280 ethnicities and more than 200 languages. The cultural richness of Cameroon is as much due to its diversity as due to its complexity. However, we can distinguish 5 big ethnic groups : the Bamilekes and the Bamoums to the west, the Foulanis and the Kirdis to the north and the Ewondos around Yaounde. The Bamilekes are concentrated especially in the western mountainous regions and are the most important community of Douala, where they control the economic activity. 

In the rural zones, they dominate around 80 political units, placed under the aegis of a fiercely defended leadership. Each one contains secret societies responsible for overlooking the observance of rites. The Bamoums, on the other hand, have a unique chief, the sultan. Cameroonians are very hospitable, but they can sometimes be suspicious of the arrival of strangers, especially in places less visited by tourists. When you arrive in the rural zones, it is best to find the chief of the village and inform him of your presence in order to obtain his authorization to cross the tribal lands.

Nature
The natural environment is magnificent in Cameroon, as proven by the natural caves at Akok-Bekoe or the natural reserves at Wasa,Dja and Benoue. Moreover, tourists are also recommended to see the impressive waterfalls at Lobe, Mvigligui, Edea or Lagbo.
Religious
Cameroon is a non-religious state. Thus, tourists need not have any worry regarding their religion, without evidently being ostentatious.
Thermal
none
Beach
The beaches at Kribi and Limbe are splendid and attract many tourists.
Winter Sports
Impossible
Outdoor Activities
You can savor walks in the jungle or in the villages located in rural zones. In addition, you can also swim in the splendid Cameroonian beaches.
Shopping
The city of Yaounde has many shopping malls and markets for tourists such as the covered market of Mokolo. The cottage industry is predominant but the city also has many modern structures.
Top Highlights in the Main Cities
Yaounde by night
The Prime Minister's office
View of Yaounde
Top Highlights of the Country
Mount Cameroon
Cameroonian beach

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Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions
A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for all travelers aged more than one year. The risk of malaria, principally under the malignant form of P. falciparum exists throughout the year in the country. It is resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxinepyrimethamine. Preventive medicine recommended: MEF.
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions
Specialized website on health, city by city, for travelers.
For Further Information on Safety Conditions
Recommendations from the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Canada
 

Emergency Numbers

Police 117
Police Station 113
Fire Brigade 118
Emergency hospitalization 119
 

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Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference
It is %T:%M %A In Yaounde (GMT+1)
Summer Time Period
There is a 1 hour time-lag in summer. No time-lag in winter.
 

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate
Sahelian in the North while it is tropical and humid in the South, thus a lot of climatic differences depending on the region. Frequent rains in the South (except in December - March and June - August) which are rarer as one travels northwards. January - February is a good period to visit. Take light clothes and something to protect from the rain in the rainy season. It is advised to wear a woolens at high altitude places.
Hotel reservation websites
National Meteorology of Cameroon
 

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

 

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Eating

Food Specialties
For some people, the Cameroonian food is a mixture of the French and Lebanese cuisine.
Restaurants are usually quite expensive, even exorbitant. Most of the Cameroonian dishes contain fruits and salty ingredients. Cameroon produces lots of avocados, pineapples, mangoes and a lots of citrus fruits.
Drinks
Water, juice, fizzy drinks and beer is mainly consumed. There also exists a palm-based alcohol that is quite strong. At the beginning of 2008, the price of fizzy drinks and beer increased significantly on the decision of the national company: the brasseries of Cameroon.
Dietary Restrictions
Food restrictions vary according to each one's religion, but they are mostly present in the northern part of the country.

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Paying

Domestic Currency
CFA Franc BEAC
ISO Code
XAF
To Obtain Domestic Currency
The currency is the CFA franc.
Possible Means of Payment
Liquid cash is mainly evident in its usage. Checks issued by a western bank are not always accepted. The network for VISA credit cards or Master Cards is well installed.

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Speaking

Official Language
French and English are the official languages of Cameroon.
Other Languages Spoken
There are close to 200 African dialects.
Business Language
In the business environment, French is more frequently used, although English is also used.

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Useful Resources

To Find a Job
Indeed.fr, jobs in Central Africa (in French)

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Latest Update: April 2024