25 essential tips for traveling to Cameroon: everything you need to know
Are you programs go to Cameroon in not long? And don't you know what to expect? So read this post until the end and discovers 25 things to know before traveling Cameroon 🙂
I was born and I grew up in Cameroon, before leaving to come and settle in Germany. Even if Cameroon is not one of the top 10 tourist destinations to go absolutely, I find that going and visiting it really worth it. Cameroon has so much to offer
During my last trip to Cameroon last December, I wanted to do like that by chance some small online searches just to see what I could as information on tourism in Cameroon!
I was amazed to see how there was no; At least very little tourist information on Cameroon online. I told myself that I had to do something.
I imagine myself a little how it can be stressful for a abroad or simply a Cameroonian national who has long put out of the country who could want to go to visit Cameroon and not know what to expect concretely. Where did the idea of writing this mini series of posts on tourism in Cameroon
From food, to culture passing through geography, and languages everything is diversified. You can find everything you would like to discover in Africa in Cameroon …. In short, nothing that is said that Cameroon is Africa in miniature 😉
The Cameroonians are very welcoming and hospital in nature! I am sure that by reading this post until the end, it will help you have a very good time in Cameroon 🙂
Prepare your trip….
1. If you are not Cameroonian, you will need a visa
Cameroon does not accept dual nationality. So here I speak to all those who no longer have the Cameroonian passport and foreigners. You absolutely have to apply for a visa before going to Cameroon. Provide enough time to do this task because Cameroonian Embassies abroad are not the most effective 😅 So find out about the procedure and the documents to provide
2. Find out about the vaccines to take
To enter Cameroon, you have to show a yellow fever vaccine . The vaccination book is sometimes controlled at the airport as soon as you arrive in Cameroon. Also inquire about other vaccines that could be useful. You will also have to buy a preventive tablet against malaria
3. Use tips to pay your plane ticket
Going to Africa is not the door next door is far 😅 The flight lasts at least 6 hours if you leave France! I advise you to use all the tips and advice that you can find online to pay a cheap plane ticket. I use, for example, the flight comparison sites and I try to be as flexible as possible in my dates, because prices also sometimes depend on days as you choose on travel
4. When to go to Cameroon?
It's better to program your trip during the big dry season . So going to Cameroon between November and March would be ideal . It will be hot, a lot of sun and almost no rain. From August to November, it's great rain!
5. Getting out of the airport takes time
Upon leaving the plane, there are a lot of controls that are made and sometimes find your luggage is not at all obvious things . It may happen that your suitcases have not arrived at the same time as you, which also very often happens with several other companies. But in Cameroon there is not an ordered service that will help you find your suitcases . You will just have to come back to the airport on the day after to find out
6. At Nsimalen (Yaoundé) airport people do not enter!
I do not know how it is in Douala, but in Yaoundé the access has been prohibited for the family or visitors inside the airport for a few years already. I don't know why it's like that. So if your family comes to welcome you, they will simply be outside.
7. At the airport, we will invade you with the services that you did not necessarily ask
It is sometimes embarrassing but it is reality. As soon as you go from the airport, some people will rush to you to want to carry your luggage for example 😅
In short offer you the services that you haven't even had time to realize that you need it , in return for money. So don't be surprised! And you shouldn't get angry too because everyone is doing, everyone is looking for themselves as they often say in the country.
Arrive in Cameroon ...
8. The Cameroonians are very kind and very welcoming
Sometimes I often even have the impression that foreigners are even more welcome and better treated by other Cameroonians and even the authorities than Cameroonians who live on the spot. Several foreign nationals live in Cameroon without problem!
9. Payment with cards are very rare
In Cameroon, we most often work with cash. Payments with the cards are very rare, even almost non -existent in everyday life.
At Cameroon airport there are money exchange services. If you may know someone you can send him money and withdraw in francs once you are on site.
10. But there is Orange Money
Orange Money or MTN Money is the equivalent of Paypal in Cameroon. The transfer of money via orange/MTN mobile fleas is therefore instantaneous and Cameroonians use it very frequently in daily life to pay services or products. You will just need to have a chip and create an orange money account to be able to transfer them. But it is very advantageous since the small currency is rare. Which brings me to the 11 point 😅
11. The parts and the small currency are very very rare in Cameroon
Arriving in Cameroon, you have to think twice before paying something with your small currency like the parts, or the 500 Frs, or even 1000 FRS tickets. Because you may regret it sooner or later when you are in need ... ical
In my last VLOG video in Cameroon , I was stuck in town because I had no small currency on me to take a taxi. And I can't even count the number of times, that I felt obliged to buy only a few things in order to make me the little currency . And it doesn't always work 😂
12. Life is dear to Cameroon
Cameroon currency is the CFA franc. Suddenly people tend to believe, that as the currency is smaller than the euro, they will have a very great advantage. It's not true. With the inflation that has occurred, prices have also radically changed. Life became dear to the country, I was surprised . It's no longer like before 😅
And in addition the budget that you will have to set yourself will also depend on how you plan to spend your stay in Cameroon. If you always want to live as in Europe, go that in the big restaurants of Bastos for example, not eat local and do your shopping in supermarkets. Set yourself a real realistic budget!
13. Housing: Hotel or furnished apartment?
It's up to you! If you don't have a family on site, it's better to rent a small furnished apartment to spend your stay. You can find them online or check popular sites like Booking.com to see accommodation. Furnished apartments are sometimes cheaper and much more spacious than good hotels
14. You have to haggle for everything in Cameroon
merchants are always increasing the price of a service or a product x 3 😂 So either always ready to negotiate the price until the last minute. Everyone is negotiating, it's normal to do so.
And if we realize that in addition you are a tourist, your price will be multiplied even by 5. So is not ashamed to discuss. lol
15. How to have the Internet in Cameroon?
As soon as you arrive in Cameroon, you will have to buy a chip if you want to have the net out of the house (well it's clear!). I advise you to buy either Orange or MTN, their network is more stable than that of the Camtel chip.
On the other hand, you can only pay a chip if and only if you have a Cameroonian identity card . The identification process has become stricter than before. With the chip, you can choose which internet package you would like to subscribe. The choice is vast and varies according to the prices
You can also buy a camtel router to have wifi at home. The Camtel router is much better than with the Camtel chip
Food and restaurant in the country ...
16. If you want to eat local, forget Google!
Food and small restaurants in Cameroon, there are almost everywhere. You can't miss or what to eat if you walk in the streets of Yaoundé.
Except that all these addresses are not always available, or found online. So if you want to eat local: you can either ask the right addresses to those who live there; Or just walk around and if you see a restaurant where the menu speaks to you, well you're going. This is how I was doing to eat local. The big chic restaurants of neighborhoods like bastos are however found online or on Instagram without problem
17. The Cameroonian street food was the best.
As I said above, you can't walk in the streets of Yaoundé or Douala and miss what to eat. Street Food is an integral part of African culture and therefore in Cameroon of course.
The choice is so large, that I have made a small selection of the most popular Cameroonian street food that you should try absolutely if you go to the country. 🙂
18. drinks mineral water when you arrive in the country
I who grew up in Cameroon, when I go back I only drink mineral water. Maybe my body has changed over time. I don't know! So for you who is a tourist does not even try to drink tap water.
For those who love natural juices like me, rest assured because I know that most natural juice sellers generally do so with mineral water. But remember to ask the question before buying.
19. Cameroonians love to drink beer
Even the least beautiful bar, still has customers. Lol all that to say that Cameroonians love to meet whatever the place to drink beer. Suddenly you risk noticing that the atmosphere is therefore always there, especially in the evenings if you walk a little in the streets of Yaounde
Move in Cameroon ...
If you read this is that you are a tourist, and here are still other little tips that will be useful to you 😉
20. To move to Cameroon, you can use Google Maps
To sail in Cameroon, Google Maps works too, especially if you are in a big city. I tried once to navigate with Google Maps in Cameroon, and it still helped me. But you can always ask your way on the way if you are not sure, which is certain that we will answer you!
21. Look everywhere before crossing the road
Even if there are sometimes fires on the road, Cameroonian drivers do not really respect the highway code. Sometimes the cars do not bother to stop to let you cross the road, and the Motoboys tend to arise from nowhere.
be sure to always look in both directions and everywhere before crossing the road (yes, even on a pedestrian crossing! ).
22. We move on a motorcycle or taxi
There is no metro which connect the districts of Yaoundé and the buses are very rare. The Cameroonians therefore most often move on a motorcycle or in a taxi. Motorcycle drivers still called Motoboys or Benskineurs are very appreciated by Cameroonians.
Motoboys are fast and tend to accept more easily to transport a customer than taximen. But unfortunately they are not very cautious. It does not respect the highway code because their objectives is to be as fast as possible. So taking the motorcycle is super practical especially during peak hours or traffic is dense, but it's dangerous!
23. Keep an eye on your things when you walk!
Watch out for pickpockets, you can never say it enough! In crowded places like the city center of Yaoundé, or in markets like Mokolo or avenue Kennedy it is very common to be torn off are bags, or even your phone.
It can even happen that the Motoboys, driving, tearing your phone just like that, in a few seconds if you hold it by the roadside.
Show common sense, as you would in any other city in the world.
24. Rent a car or use Yango | a racing taxi
There are also a lot of alternatives to taxi and motorcycle. If you can drive, hearing a car to move you may be the best option, especially if you are a tourist. This will save you the inconvenience and expectations in the process of stopping a taxi.
You can also use Yango . Yango is an application where you can order a taxi anywhere or you find. The nearest driver will arrive in a few minutes and you will be alone in the taxi. I found Yango really super practical, and fast.
You can also stop a racing taxi. In this case, you must pay more and the taxi will no longer have the right to wear other passengers.
Do not forget to relax….
25. Or have a good stay in Cameroon?
Cameroon is a very beautiful country and as I said above, it is Africa in miniature. Each region of Cameroon is unique and very different. It is easy to rush and go to Yaoundé or Douala.
But there are also many other incredible destinations to visit. You can go to Limbe or Kribi if want to relax and relax by the beach by eating the freshly fished braised fish
You can go to the West region, to enjoy the extraordinary geography (the highlands, the mountains) or simply if you want to cut yourself off from the city.
Or visit North Cameroon , the north of the country has nothing to do with Yaounde. there the culture is completely different, even culinary side it is something else
That's it I arrive at the end of this little guide on things to know before going to Cameroon. I hope this information will be useful to you. And this is the first article on a mini series on tourism in Cameroon
Have you ever been in Cameroon? If so, you may have other things to add or share?
If you have a question about Cameroon, or if you want to add something. S En you free to write to me in the comments . I would be very delighted to answer you 🙂
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