Cameroon travel guide
Cameroon has it all - climb mountains, trek with gorillas, laze on beaches and meet local herdsmen in intriguing West Africa
Cameroon is the quintessentially African country – it offers everything from rainforest around Réserve du Dja to the desert Sahel zone near Maroua. It is also home to West Africa’s highest peak, volcano Mt Cameroon, as well as the beautiful Mandara Mountains in the north, with bustling cities like Yaoundé and Kumbo in between and inviting beaches to the west around the city of Douala. Home to Pygmies and Fulani herdsmen, Muslims and Christians as well as followers of indigenous religions, Cameroon has a plethora of languages and traditions.
Boasting diverse landscapes, there are many national parks throughout the country worth exploring, as they all differ in scenery and fauna, although reserves in the south of the country such as Réserve de Boumba-Bek are not easily accessible. The main attractions are the numerous mountains and ranges.
Wanderlust recommends
- Swim, relax and rub shoulders with the locals in laid-back beach town Kribi while enjoying fresh seafood, or head towards the Chutes de la Lobé waterfalls just outside of town
- Explore the markets and hone your bargaining skills in bustling market town Ebolowa
- Travel along the Ring Road that loops around Mt Oku, to experience traditional kingdoms and poisonous Lake Nyos which mysteriously leaks toxic gas
- Join in the celebrations of major Islamic holidays which are blended with traditional Bamoun ceremonies at Foumban
- Join the locals at any bar or nightclub and dance the night away to Makossa and Bikutsi music
- Head towards the only remaining coastal lowland rainforest at Bimbia, an hour south of Limbe, and walk along the mangrove trail, a bird watcher’s heaven
Wanderlust tips
Wildlife enthusiasts should head to Parc National de Waza in Cameroon’s far north for a chance of seeing elephants, hippos, giraffes, birds and even a few lions.
The jungles in the south, from Parc National Campo Ma’an in the west to Parc National de la Lobéké in the east are home to populations of gorillas, chimpanzees and drills.
Several mountains, including Mt Cameroon, the country’s highest peak at 4095m, Mt Oku (3011m) and the stunning Mandara Mountains, all offer treks varying in length and difficulty.