With its long rainforests stretching to the Atlantic Ocean and beaches close to the warmth of the equator, Cameroon is a charming place for eco-tourism. French colonial style architecture still stands, while traditional African art and music still fill the galleries. There are also large groups of animals coming to local watering holes, including elephants and giraffes.

Cameroon bounded by lakes, rivers and mountains and to a large extent forests offers very interesting places to tourists exploring Cameroon, especially the adventure lovers. Cameroon's culture and tradition are embedded in all the places you visit in Cameroon. A well-known tourist's destination for people visiting Africa, the places to visit in Cameroon can keep vacationers glued to the spot.

From the Waza National Park with diverse animal species like lions, elephants, giraffe, hippos, etc through the UNESCO nominated World Nature heritage site, The Dja Fauna Reserve, Cameroon has almost all. No doubt Cameroon is referred to as "all Africa in one".

Below is a shortlist of the hundreds of places to visit: Visit several online sites for a more detailed information about Holidays ideas in Cameroon. You can also contact the Ministry of Tourism.

Benedictine Museum of Mont-Febe in Yaounde

A vacationer's description: "Abbias, intricate carvings on a dried fruit shell, are the pride of this small but fascinating museum".

Attraction type: Art gallery

National Museum of Yaounde (Le Musee National de Yaounde)

Cultural and ecological treasures are housed in this former residence.

Attraction type: Museum

Down Beach Limbe

Attraction type: Beach

Limbe Botanic Garden

Location: Limbe, Cameroon

Attraction type: Garden by the Atlantic Ocean. Cameroon's "Garden of Eden". Very green, fresh and extremely beautiful. This may be exactly what you need if you're looking for a romantic beach holiday or a place where no one else matters

Mount Cameroon (Volcanic: 4100 metres high)

This is the highest mountain in West and Central Africa. It has about 1500 plant species, thus rich with flora and Fauna. An ideal idea for hikers. Every year around January, there is an International Marathon organized from the bottom to the summit. This is called "The International Race of Hope".

Korup National Park: This was established in 1986 and it was the first and foremost national park of Cameroon. Initially the Korup National Park was designated as a forest reserve. The specialty of the park lies in its capacity to hold the maximum number of plant species other than any African rainforest. Korup National Park is located in the western Cameroon and lies against the Nigerian border. The rainforest stretches to an area of about 1259 square kilometer. The area of the Korup National Park receives large amount of rainfall and receives relatively low amount of sunshine.

Korup National Park houses the unique plant species "Ancistrocladus korupensis" and this plant species is said to have the factors to fight against the life threatening HIV or AIDS. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has undertaken the project of Korup National Park and it is the largest project under WWF.

Korup National Park of Cameroon is the very part of Korup project and the project also includes three forest reserves as well as a buffer zone for agricultural purpose. Other forest reserves are namely the Nita-Ali, Ejagham and Rumpi Hills respectively. Hence the Korup National Park is not an independent body and the project developers often face frictions with the adjacent villagers.

●Musa Heritage Gallery

●Campo Ma'an National Park etc

For some, the idea of a sublime beach holiday can only be tied with ultimate luxury: wonderful beaches, air and sea combined with the highest quality in decor, great hotel services, impeccable pools, and of course, a decadent spa. If you are of this category, the black sand and Gemme beaches of Limbe and the spectacular beaches of Kribi welcome you.

For others to whom a Cameroonian beach holiday might not be their taste, there is so much plenty to do.

Islands: Of course, the little uninhabited islands a few hundred meters from the Limbe Down beach can equally be all about you need for a unique adventure with the birds and the bats. From there you can even plunge into the ocean if that is your dream. These islands are ideal for divers, fishermen and the adrenaline junkies. For bird watchers...what a place?

Family holidays have their own criteria for success. Great entertainment for the kids is provided by sightseeing that appeals to the whole family throughout Cameroon. There are plenty of wild flowers to play with and genuine tropical fruits.

Resorts, such as the ones found in Yaounde, Douala, Limbe, Kribi, Buea, Waza etc are a fantastic way of having a hassle-free beach holiday. Plenty of fun activities including excursion and all your meals are taken care of. Why would you ever want to leave?

Cameroon is where it all began: home of the famous Football legend Roger Milla, goal keeper Thomas Nkono and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o Fils. Football is religion and still, Cameroon holds the record of the only African country to have reached the semi-finals at the world cup. Maybe by chance, you might meet the legend who still holds two records with both (Guinness and FIFA) for the oldest player to have played in a World cup match and the oldest player to have scored a goal at a football World cup competition at the age of 42. .

Cameroon is famous for its very rich upland areas like several mountains e.g Mount Cameroon, Rhumsiki Mountain, Manenguba mountain, Mount Oku (3011m high), Tchabal Mbabo (2460m), Chappal Wadi (2419m), Dimlang (2042m), Mont Ngaoui (1410m) etc as well as Adamawa plateaux and plains like the Mbo and Ndop plains.

Above all it's the wildlife that attracts the safari traveler to some of Africa's best-known national parks, including the Waza, Korup, Campo Ma'an National Park etc and ofcourse the incredible Dja Faunal Reserve that is the biggest attraction for adventurers and environmentalists due to its almost 90% untouched jungle.

Timing your trip to coincide with the Limbe canoe race, or the SONARA Marathon, or the mount Cameroon race of hope, or yet the Garoua horse race will be an unforgettable experience.

Cameroon is also a country full of pleasant surprises. Where else can you find a country so diverse in culture with about 250 ethnic languages, two official languages(English and French) and even diversity in plant, animal and soil types from region to region?

So, what to expect on a Cameroonian safari holiday? Well, you'll have the choice of staying in a range of fine accommodation; anything from mobile safari tented camps to fine old lodges steeped in tradition and spanking new, state-of-the-art hotels.

As for actually seeing the country, taking a holiday to Cameroon is the best way to get a good overview of what this big, diverse country has to offer.

If you're looking for more ideas, why not combine your Cameroon trip with gorilla trekking in

The Deng Deng National Park, which covers 224 square miles (580 square kilometers), an area the size of Chicago. This park was recently created by Cameroon to protect a population of 600 gorillas, along with other threatened species such as chimpanzees, forest elephants, buffaloes, and bongo.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), a group that played an instrumental role in identifying the area for protection, welcomed Cameroon's decision.

Don't miss Cameroon's variety of beer if you are a beer drinker or a chance to visit the great Rubber, banana, cocoa, palm, tea, and coffee plantations spread across the country. Do not also miss the chance to play golf in Yaounde at the Mont Febe Golf Course, or the CDC Tiko golf course.

Cameroon is one of the older countries of Africa and therefore has a lot of cites that can claim to be labelled as World Heritage Sites. There are several rich, historical, cultural and unusual attractions in Cameroon that form part of Cameroon's heritage. The diversity of languages, about 250 spoken by about 18 million people is in itself one of Cameroon's great cultural heritages. The list below are just some of the sites we want to you discover. We also advice you to get your cameras ready for in Cameroon there is so much to see and discover.

Dja Faunal Reserve: This is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site inscribed in 1987. Covering the South Eastern part of the country, this national park is one of the largest and best protected rain forests in the country. With about 90% of the area still undisturbed and bordered naturally by the Dja River which almost completely surrounds it, the bio diversity and wide variety of primates from this reserve deserve special mention. Along with 5 threatened species, there are 107 mammal species in this reserve. There are more than 1,500 known plant species in the reserve and more than 320 bird species in the park. The Dja Faunal Reserve covers 5,260 km².

The Bafut chiefdom or Fon Palace: A requested Cultural World Heritage Site, this site is located near Bamenda. This area has about 50 buildings, most of which are terracotta structures, with tiled roofs. The central structure known as "Achum" is architecturally and religiously most important. This count among one of the oldest traditional architectures in Cameroon

Archaeological Remains of Shum Laka: This site under the shelter of a huge rock of 1200 sq m lies close to Bamenda. An archaeological heritage site has remnants of a typical forest land, where skeletal remnants of men living thousands of years ago were unearthed. Belonging to the Community of Baforchu, this site gives a view of how mankind evolved in this part of the world.

The Rupestral Engravings of Bidzar: The Bidzar petroglyphs are located near Bidzar village, on the Maroua-Garoua road toward Guider. An area of marble flagstone extending around the village circa 2.5 km from north to south, and one kilometre from east to west displays around 500 engraved figures in total. The marble is of a calcareous type called cipolin; it has an ideal composition for engraving, having low resistance to friction and breaking easily. Figures were engraved into the marble using a hammer and an engraving tool. The figures are mostly geometrical, consisting of groups of circles, some isolated and some in groups. It has been speculated that the engraving represent concepts or stories from myths, or elaborate a cosmogeny.

The age of the engravings has proven difficult to determine. Radiometric dating has produced a range of estimates, dating various carvings to between 300 and 3000 years of age. The petroglyph site was discovered in 1933 by a French researcher named Buisson.

In the twentieth and twenty first centuries, the calcareous marble on which the engravings stand has been extracted for use at nearby cement and marble factories. This activity endangers the engravings, which received provisional protection when the site was included in the Cultural category of the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, on April 18th, 2006

The Diy-Gid-Biy of the Mandara Mount: Meaning ‘Eye of the Chief at top', this archaeological site is made of dry stone. This structure indicates that area had been inhabited more than three centuries ago by some tribes other than the ones which inhabit the land today. It is an architectural heritage.

Falls of the Lobe: 310 km from Yaoundé this falls is characterized by a whole set of small arms progressing in a series of smaller falls, some as high as 15 m and as broad as 100m, directly falling into the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Along the series of falls a large number of tribal populations can be found to reside.

Korup National Park: Created in 1986, this park in located in the southern parts of the country. It is characterized by heavy rainfall. The four types of vegetation particular to this forest are - The Atlantic forest biafrèene, the marshy forest, the forest submontagnarde and the forest of piedmont. It houses 1700 species of plant, 410 species of birds representing 53 families, 480 species of butterflies, 82 reptilian species and 161 species of mammals.

Limbe Botanical and Zoological Garden: Internationally recognized as one of the most active gardens in tropical West and Central Africa, this garden as a natural gateway to the Mount Cameroon region.

Mount Cameroon: Located in Southwest Province of Cameroon, this active volcanic mountain is the highest in the West and Central Africa. Supporting Montane tropical forests and about 150,000 hectares of lowland, it is home to vast reserves of biodiversity, hosting more than 1500 different plant species as well as animal species. Its black volcanic soil makes it and the surrounding regions one of the most fertile places in Cameroon.

Babungo Museum: Once the most important iron work centres in Cameroon. It houses very well preserved objects from the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the Babungo tribe of Cameroon in the North West province. The art objects are clear indications of the various aspects of social life and the artistic heritage of the kingdom. Although a whole range of objects were not available for preservation, the remaining ones still talk of the rich tradition and heritage of the Babungos.

Musa Heritage Gallery: Named in the memory of Cameroonian artists Daniel and his son John Musa, this heritage gallery preserves works of the artists and then spread further to cover the arts and crafts of Cameroons westerns Grass fields. Over 400 diverse and varied objects are collected and preserved in the museum.

Mankon Museum: The cultural and artistic production of the Kingdom of Mankon of the high plateaux of Western Cameroon or the Grassland is preserved in this museum. The artefacts and objects demonstrated speak volumes about the culture of the kingdom and how it has contributed to the culture of the country. The objects speak a lot about their users and the usage.

Mefou National Park: Situated about an hour and a half away from the capital city, this national park covers about 1044 hectares of forest land. It houses chimps, gorillas, baboons and various other species of monkeys.

Museum of Bandjoun: Bandjoun was one of the important centres of artistic creation and tradition in the Cameroonian Grassland and the museum exhibits over a hundred important objects depicting this cultural heritage. Rare and wonderful remnants symbolizing African art can be seen in the museum.

Waza National Park: This Park is the most accessible and rewarding wildlife viewing experience of Cameroon. Large numbers of elephants, giraffes, hippos, antelopes, monkeys and abundant birdlife welcome the visitors to this natural reserve. With some luck and a very early start, one can even have the good fortune of meeting a lion within the premises of the park.

Prepare for your Cameroon trip with our practical tips. Learn about our currency, how to call home, keep safe, shop responsibly and travel in style. Then you're ready to go. All travelers to Cameroon or any country should consider health insurance. Take advantage of our many beaches but always remember to follow basic water safety regulations.

MEDICAL (VACCINATIONS)

Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry to Cameroon, and advisable for return to the Netherlands from a yellow fever zone. All other W.H.O recommended vaccinations are advisable including:

Cholera
Typhoid
Hepatitis A and B
Tetanus
Polio
Protection against malaria. In West Africa the most reliable protection is Doxycyclene. Doryx capsules cause fewer side effects, being slow release.

The public hospital system in Cameroon is modern, and there are high quality private hospitals and clinics. However, away from the main cities treatment is unreliable, and personal equipment should be taken. The public hospital system uses disposable syringes.

Suggested travel pack

Diarrhea - Lomotil is most effective there, and strongly recommended
Nausea - Maxolon works well.
Analgesics - Your preferred brand.
Broad spectrum antibiotics - for any unexpected infection. Ask your doctor
Cold and flu tablets also work well against regional fevers.

Dust and smoke is a problem in the dry season, (November - May), take asthma and sinus medication if a sufferer. This is a problem throughout Africa, where burn off is a traditional way of preparing for planting crops.

Sunscreen - Cameroon is close to the Equator, and Doxycyclene makes the skin more susceptible to sunburn.

Current and Electricity:

The electrical current in Cameroon is 220-240 volts, AC 50Hz. The Cameroon three-pin power outlet is not different from some other countries so you may or may not need an adaptor depending on your appliance. Cameroon uses the European plug. Don't forget an adapter if you have UK or Australian appliances for it is not possible to find adapters for such systems.

WATER and toiletries:

Tap water unlike other water supplies is safe to drink in many parts of Cameroon but we advise you to get a supply of readily available bottled water. This can be purchased throughout the country. Note: Supermarkets and small local stores sell the usual range of toiletries and the general goods, and are located in major centres.

For further information on any aspect of travel to Cameroon, do not hesitate to call the Consulate office.

HOW TO GET TO CAMEROON

There are several Airlines that fly from European cities to the Douala (DLA) and the Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airports. Departure cities in Europe include Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, London, Dusseldorf etc. Air France and Cameroon Airlines also fly from Brussels and Paris to Douala and Yaoundé. SN Brussels airline also flies from Brussels to Douala. Check online or consult your travel agency for more updated information of existing flights and new airlines that fly to Cameroon. Other airlines that fly to Cameroon are: AFRIQIYAH Airways from Germany, Kenyan Airways (via Nairobi), Ethiopian airways, Swisair, and Lufthansa. (Check travel agencies for updated information as this is just a summary).

CURRENCY and MONEY

Cameroon is one of a group of nations in West Africa using the CFA franc. For official purposes in Cameroon, the exchange rate is CFA 655 to the €1. The currency is usable outside the country but only in 5 other countries that with Cameroon form the CEMAC countries. Created in March, 1994, the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), previously known as UDEAC (Customs and economic Union of Central Africa), is a customs and monetary union among the former French Central African countries including: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Congo (Brazzaville), Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Along with the Western CFA Zone, it is one of the important regional groupings in Africa.

Just like the Euro zone, each country in the FCFA union prints its own notes. The Cameroon CFA is fixed to Euro through an arrangement where France originally maintained parity with the French Franc to support the CFA.

Currency, exchange and credit Cards:

In Cameroon the currency is CFA Francs. The most acceptable credit cards are: American Express, Bankcard, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa, JCB, AMEX and their affiliates. Currency exchange is available at banks, hotels and international airports. Cameroon has a cash economy. The use of credit cards is limited, and care must be taken to have adequate cash/traveller cheque resources.

There aren't many ATM's. The existing ATM's are exclusively linked to local banks. For the use of credit cards, always find out first before using a service or purchasing a product or item if the business accepts payments from credit cards or provides credit card services.

Euro travellers' cheques, from Visa/MasterCard are the most widely used and strongly recommended. Most of the main banks will exchange these. Whilst some banks are open on Saturdays, this does not include foreign exchange services. Banks close at 3:00pm Monday to Friday.

To draw cash against credit cards at banks or hotels, please first find out if that service is available at location since not all Hotels or banks accept drawing cash against credit cards.

The quickest way to transfer money in an emergency is by Western Union or Money Gram which has offices in several towns and cities.

Note: Remember to keep CFA 10,000 or€16.00 for departure tax at the airport.
Departure tax on internal flights is CFA500, or about €0.90 (cents)
Due to the exchange rate, it is cheaper to pay in CFA.

For business accounts, Standard Chartered Bank is established in Douala, and Yaounde. Minimum account balances apply (Contact Banks). In July 1998, Citibank opened in Douala, Cameroon. Another bank reliable bank is the Union bank of Cameroon.

HOTELS:

DOUALA
Douala is Cameroon's major seaport and the commercial capital. It is a city of more than 3.5 million inhabitants. There is a wide selection of hotels of varying standard.

The AKWA PALACE is right in the commercial heart of the city. The hotel has reliable quality rooms and services, and they take most credit cards and cash travelers cheques in most major currencies. Rooms run from about € 51.00 per night. This represents the best value in town. The hotel has a secluded garden area and pool at the rear. Akwa 1, the older, renovated building, and quite adequate, is €37.00 per night. .(Please confirm with Hotel for current prices).

The MERIDIEN is also very good quality, but more expensive. It has lovely grounds, and very good security. Rooms range from about €67.00 per night.

The IBIS is also a very nice secure hotel at a reasonable rate. It is a popular business hotel.

The SAWA has delightful surroundings. They do take most credit cards.

YAOUNDE

Yaoundé is 700m above sea level and therefore has a much cooler climate than Douala. Yaoundé is the capital of Cameroon, inhabited by more than 1 million people.

At the top of the range is the magnificent five star Yaounde Hilton Hotel, with the best of service. It is located in the heart of the Government district. It has excellent restaurants and bars, although quite expensive. Meals are superb. A tin drum band plays in the foyer every afternoon. The Cameroon Hilton Hotel structure is exquisitely beautiful. It is one of the tourist attractions in the capital city. Swissair and Cameroon Airlines have offices in the complex.

The hotel resort of Mont Febe Sofitel is a 15 minute drive from the heart of town, and in the Presidential Palace district. It commands magnificent views over Yaoundé, and has its own 9 hole golf course. Food and services are good, and rooms start at about €98.00.(Please confirm with Hotel for current prices). As with the Hilton, they take most credit cards. Taxis from there to the C.B.D. are expensive.

The Hotel des Deputes is in the centre of the Government District, and rear rooms have a pleasant view over a small lake, with the Prime Minister's residence, and other exclusive homes in the background. It is primarily for the use of Government Deputies when the Parliament is in Session. It is of modest standard, but has a huge lounge / bar / restaurant area, which is a popular meeting place for business people. Mini suites at about €48.00 per night are good value. (Please confirm with Hotel for current prices). Security is very high, and there is always a taxi to be had at the door. The hotel takes credit cards.

The Central Hotel: This is a 3 Star two storey Hotel with basic quality rooms, however prices are only about €23.00 to €28.00 per night for single rooms and €31.00 to €37.00 for double /Twin Bed, including continental breakfast. They also have a few good quality suites at about €41.00, which have a fridge, and separate lounge room. There is a delightful roundhouse in the yards for meals, although food is basic. It is an ideal place to stay. It has 24 hour room service, Air conditioning, Bar, Conference facilities, Mini bar in rooms, Modem point, Car parking, Restaurant, Secretary service, Phone, Satellite television etc. The Central Hotel is very close to the Hilton.

The Prestige is a basic hotel, with rooms, units, and small apartments, close to the C.B.D. It is in a noisy location, with small grounds, but boasts good security. Rooms start at a modest US$22, cash only. It is very popular with visiting businessmen, and is usually booked out.

The Royal is a basic hotel, with reasonable restaurant, located in the C.B.D, but a little too close to the massive produce markets. Taxis cruise past the door day and night. Rooms are very basic, but adequate. Rooms are from about US$26, and they do reluctantly take Visa. One interesting feature is a cluster of cabanas on the flat roof, which can be used for meetings. They have no safe deposit facilities.

Out of Town Hotels

There are several good Hotels out of the two major cities as well. They are usually clean, and with good quality food. In the major Eastern regional city of Bertoua, the Hotel Manza is another good example of a typical nice single storey hotel. Rooms average €16.50 (cash only). Bafoussam, Mbalmayo, Bamenda, Limbe, Garoua, Edea, etc have good quality hotels too. Cameroon is known for its taste and these are all reflected in services provided by the hotel industry.

Every small town and many villages have small hotels, motels or inns where rooms can be had from €4 to €10, and these are usually presentable.

Telephone:

Our country code is +237. We have services for all mobile (cell) phones. Internet access is available at many Internet cafes, accommodation and libraries. Cameroon is one of the few countries in Africa with a reasonable percentage of mobile phone users comparatively.

Shopping:

Shopping plays a large part of travelling. Whether you are shopping or sightseeing, there is always a place to shop or purchase souvenirs. In Cameroon you are covered by Cameroon consumer protection laws which require businesses to treat you fairly.

Transportation: (So how do you get around Cameroon?)

Rental cars are available if you choose to self-drive in Cameroon. Learn about insurance, Cameroon road safety and tolls before your arrival. If you need taxis there are plenty of the yellow cabs in most major cities. This is to say, the main taxi colour in Cameroon is yellow. Taxis do not have taxi meters so you have to pay a standard fare or make a proposal to the driver depending on the distance. This system varies a little depending on where you are. The biggest cities, like everywhere else in the world, turn to have a slightly different culture and practice.

Alternatively you may prefer someone else to do the navigating for you. If this sounds like your style of holiday then find out more from several online travel agencies or travel agents. Major cities in Cameroon are served by a wide variety of public transport buses.