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Often referred to as “Africa in miniature”, Cameroon has everything you would expect from the African continent in its land. Tropical rainforests and golden beaches characterize the South region. On the opposite, desert, lakes and savannah dominate the landscapes of Northern Cameroon. The West region is well indicated for hiking with lush vegetation and volcanic mountains whereas the Coastal region invites you to relax by the beach.

During our recent trip to Cameroun, we only stay 10 days, which was really short to visit each region. We have split our time between Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, and the West region. Read on to find out 10 places to visit in Cameroon following our itinerary.

The National Museum of Cameroon

Immerse yourself in Cameroon’s heritage at the National Museum located in Quartier du Lac in Yaoundé. Since its reopening in 2015, the museum has acquired several hundreds of traditional and rare items to offer Cameroonian culture a wide range of expression, exalting the grandeur of the country.

At the entrance, we were impressed by the series of bronze statues that pay tribute to the Bamoun people. Once inside, we enjoyed wandering from room to room that presents relics of an ancient lifetime, artifacts of traditional nobility, portraits of celebrities who have marked the political and cultural history of Cameroon since its Independence, and heritage clothes and costumes from the ten regions.

The guides are welcoming and will make sure you have a good time. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: starting at 4000 FCFA (6 EUR/9 CAD).

The Ethnographic Museum and History of the People of the Forest of Central Africa

The Ethnographic Museum and History of the Peoples of the Forest of Central Africa located in Quartier Elig-Essono in Yaoundé next to Le Mfoundi pharmacy is a very interesting museum with several artifacts and original tools that help you to understand the life and customs of the forest people including Beti, Fang, Punu, Pygmies, Mahongwe, and Lunda-Tsokwe.

This private museum opened in 2005 is the initiative of Dr. Fouda who has developed a passion for ethnography over the years. The collection features pictures, musical instruments, war arsenal, hunting tools, games, statues, pottery, and much more.

We truly enjoyed the set up of the museum organized in 2 main rooms and several outdoor areas that make the visit very dynamic. We had a passionate guide who took her time with us and answered all our questions. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: starting at 5000 FCFA (7.5 EUR/11 CAD).

The Blackitude Museum

The Blackitude Museum is an ethnographic institution located in downtown Yaounde behind the tribunes of Boulevard du 20 mai. It’s a place of conservation, valorization, and diffusion of arts and cultures from Cameroon.

Various forms of art are represented such as masks, royal objects, architectural elements, ritual and ceremonial sculptures, potteries, and much more. This tiny museum is a real hidden gem however it is not well labeled and without guidance or prior knowledge, it would be hard to appreciate at their real value all the pieces featured.

We had a private tour to some of the more interesting items, and stories about their ethnographic heritage. The majority of the items are originated from the grasslands of Cameroon. Moreover, there are also pieces from Congo, Nigeria and Gabon. It was a wonderful cultural experience in every way. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: starting at 2000 FCFA (3 EUR/4.5 CAD).

The Palace of the Bamoun Sultans

Constructed in the early 20^th century, the Palace of the Bamoun Sultans was built by the Sultan Njoya, who invented a script for the Bamoun language and religion that fused Christianity and Islam. The palace is located in the city of Foumban, in the West Region, close to the city market and the main mosque.

The palace has a fascinating museum providing historical insight into the region and the Bamoun dynasty. The diversity of the objects featured in the museum is remarkable; it includes among other handmade furniture, paintings, pictures, statues, manuscripts, masks, and royal clothes. We had a memorable experience visiting the palace with a senior guide who gave us so much information.

At the end of the guided tour, there is a music show with traditional instruments. The palace is open from Monday to Saturday. Admission: starting at 2000 FCFA (3 EUR/4.5 CAD).

Mount Mbapit

Close to the city of Foumbot, Mount Mbapit is a volcano that rises to almost 2 000 meters above sea level in the West Region. The main attraction of the Mount Mbapit is the Mfou Crater Lake (or Nfou) surrounded by steep cliffs. According to the legend, no one can go down there to bathe.

There are a series of steps to help you climb the steep slope that goes up to the edge of the Mfou Crater Lake. There, the view is majestic. We recommend hiking all around the lake to admire the landscape. Due to the heat, it is better to do this activity in the morning. Also, make sure to wear proper shoes because of the fresh grass and the gravel of this volcanic rock slide.

Metche Falls

Located between Bafoussam and Mbouda, in the West Region, the Metche Falls are accessible from the national road number 6 (N6). There is a sign on the road indicating the falls; once there you have to park the car on the road rest area and walk to reach the entrance.

The Metche Falls are considered as a place of sacrifice to remove the curse and lament the dead according to local beliefs. On the ground, at the entrance to the site, there is salt, coins, palm oil and even meal left there as offerings.

At the moment we were admiring the falls surrounded by lush greenery; we saw a beautiful rainbow as shown in the picture above. It truly added a little je ne sais quoi that made this visit a magic moment.

The Cave of Fovu

The Cave of Fovu is a set of natural cavities and a sacred site of purification, washes and ancestral practices in the city of Baham in the West region. It is said that the members of the Baham Royal Family come there to communicate with spirits.

The imposing grayish masses of granite, in the shape of potatoes, go up to 15 meters high. Scattered in the vegetation, the vast field of granite rocks extends over approximately 15 hectares and offers natural shelters conducive to different ritual practices. The place was very quiet when we visited so we decided to seat on one of the big rocks to do a quick meditation session. It was so powerful!

The Museum of Civilizations of Dschang

Inaugurated in 2011, the Museum of Civilizations of Dschang is located on the edge of the municipal lake of Dschang in the West region.  The museum invites you to discover the origins of the Cameroonian people and the diversity of the four major cultural areas of the country through their history, artistic productions, architectures, and societal organizations.

The first section of the museum presents the history of Cameroon including the slave trade, the triple colonization, and independence. The following sections introduce us to the peoples of the Forest (South region), the peoples of the Sea (Coast region), the Sudano-Sahelian peoples (North region), the peoples of the Grassfields (West region), and a program to visit the Cameroonian Chiefdoms.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission: 3000 FCFA (4.5 EUR/6.5 CAD).

Bandjoun Station

Bandjoun Station is a cultural center launched in 2008 in the city of Bandjoun, in the West region. It is located between Bafoussam and Bandjoun on the national road number 4 (N4).

This cultural center is made up of a library, a screening room, and two rooms dedicated for permanent and temporary art collections. Bandjoun Station presents contemporary artworks from Cameroonian and international artists.

In addition to art exhibitions, this cultural center hosts workshops for the local schoolchildren and cultivates its own coffee. Bandjoun Station is open from Tuesday to Sunday.  

The Bandjoun Chiefdom

Chiefdom is a kind of microstate, which has its own political and sociological institutions. A chief, from the local nobility, governs it. He has many powers: religious, economic, administrative and political.

To reach the Bandjoun Chiefdom, follow the signs on the N4 but if you feel lost do not hesitate to ask your way to any pedestrians, preferably in French.

As soon as you pass the massive entrance gate, there are winding paths bordered by fences enclosing banana trees leading to a succession of renovated traditional huts surrounding the habitat, the women’s huts. The large hut at the end of the path was once the residence of the Chief. Inside, there are 3 rooms and a meeting room decorated with lion skins that represent the symbol of the Chief. Today, the Chief lives in a bigger modern house close to the large hut.

The Chiefdom also contains a museum featuring accessories of the old chiefs and the heritage of the family including statues ornamented with pearls, jewelry, masks, dancing hats, paintings, furniture, and hunting trophies.

The Bandjoun Chiefdom is the largest Chiefdom of the West region and it’s truly worth a visit to understand the culture of the Bamileke people.

A trip to Cameroon is a unique experience and if you have not yet considered visiting this country, add it to your bucket list. To conclude, here are additional tips to prepare your trip to Cameroon:

• Money – the local currency is the Franc CFA (656 FCFA = 1 EUR/1.5 CAD).
• Entry requirements for tourism – Canadian and French citizens need a visa. This visa has a validity of 3 months and the cost starts at 120 CAD/115 EUR.
• Health – visit a vaccination center before your trip, the yellow fever vaccine is mandatory.
• Accommodation – we recommend booking for your hotel or rental apartment on trustable websites (ex: Hotels, TripAdvisor, Booking, etc.).
• Security – we recommend avoiding all travel to the Far North, North-West, and South-West regions due to current unpredictable security conditions. Also, it is preferable to avoid all travel at night in rural areas and particularly on the Yaounde-Douala road, where accidents are common.
• Transportation – renting a car with a driver is highly recommended for travelling outside the city instead of the bus.
• Taxi – taxis in cities operate like buses, picking up passengers while there is still room in the car. Due to reports of robberies on taxi passengers, only use trusted taxis and preferably book one from your hotel.
• Photography – it is forbidden to photograph military sites, government buildings, airports and ports. Also, communities can be sensitive to people taking photos.

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