Cameroon

Outside the swelling and modernised cities of Cameroon (Cameroun), rainforests stretch from the Atlantic Ocean, giving way to savannah and semi-desert in the north. Elephants and antelope congregate by the hundreds in some of Africa's best wildlife parks, and beachcombers laze on long, isolated beaches.

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The north has a single wet season from April/May to September/October. The hottest months here are March to May, when temperatures can soar to 40°C (104°F), although it's a dry (and therefore generally bearable) heat. The south has a humid, equatorial climate, with rain scattered throughout the year and almost continual high humidity.

The main wet season here is June to October, when secondary roads often become impassable. From March to June are the light rains.

Throughout Cameroon, November to February are the driest months, though dust from harmattan winds greatly restricts visibility. These are the best months to visit, although you'll have harmattan haze during much of this time (which is not good for photography). The worst months are between July and October, when it's raining almost everywhere and many roads are impassable.

Transport

Getting around

The best way of making short trips is by bush taxi or minivan. They're cheap, fast (sometimes a bit too fast) and easy to find. Buses, however, are better for getting between Yaoundé and Douala.

If you're travelling to northern Cameroon take the train. It's cheap, much faster than driving and fairly comfortable. The Gazelle du Nord runs once a day between Yaoundé and N'Gaoundéré. There's also a leg between the capital and Douala. Cameroun Airlines flies between Douala and Yaoundé several times a day and has flights to Maroua, Garoua, N'Gaoundéré and several other cities. Flying is by far the most expensive way of getting around. There's a nominal departure tax on domestic flights.

If the teeth-clenching, knuckle-whitening speed of bush taxis turns your stomach, car rental is an option. Petrol is cheap but rental fees are quite high. Agencies can be found in Yaoundé, Douala and a few other large cities. You can drive with a valid licence from your home country but it's always best to get an International Driver's Licence. Driving is on the right.

Getting there and away

Europe has the best air connections to Cameroon with international airports in both Yaoundé and Douala. Travellers from North America will have to connect in Europe or an African hub such as Dakar (Senegal) or Lagos (Nigeria). There's a departure tax on international flights of around 10000.00.

The most popular border crossing point between Cameroon and CAR is at Garoua-Boulai. To get there from Yaoundé, take the train northeast to N'Gaoundal then catch a minibus to the border.

Bush taxis and minibuses are the most common way of arriving by land. The most common border crossings for vehicles are Kousséri from Chad, Mamfé from Nigeria, and Amban from Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Douala is a popular port with European freighters, and there are ferries making twice-weekly runs between Calabar in Nigeria and Limbe in Cameroon.

Health & Legal Requirements

Visas overview

All visitors need visas to enter Cameroon.