Travel Tips & Advice

Prepare for your Cameroon trip with a few 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.

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.

Protection against malaria.

The public hospital system in Cameroon is modern, and there are high quality private hospitals and clinics.

Sunscreen – Cameroon is close to the Equator, therefore for those who might need it, it is advisable to travel with sunscreen.

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 might be difficult to find adapters for such systems.

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, Istanbul etc. The Embassy advices potential travellers to make enquiries from Airline companies or check online or or consult your travel agency as this information changes frequently.

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.

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. This information is not static, therefore the tax might change without an update on this website. You are therefore adviced to enquire at every airport in Cameroon.

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 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 for example: The AKWA PALACE; The MERIDIEN; IBIS; The SAWA etc etc. 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 which is one of the tourist attractions in the capital city. There is also the hotel resort of Mont Febe Sofitel, a 15 minute drive from the heart of city. The Hotel des Deputes is in the centre of the Government District. It is primarily for the use of Government Deputies when the Parliament is in Session. There are plenty of beautiful Hotels in the Capital and around the country. Please contact your Travel Agent for more information about Cameroon Hotels.

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 which city you are in. 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.