Here are the 10 most beautiful places to visit in Cameroon, the epicenter of a continent as fascinating as it is mysterious.
How to sum up Cameroon? Because let’s face it, underneath its air of isolation on the world tourism scene, Cameroon is home to some incredible wonders! As you travel across this vast territory, your imagination is fired, the spectacle is endless… High peaks tickling the clouds, tropical forests overflowing with chlorophyll, volcanic massifs, isolated beaches and savannahs as far as the eye can see. In addition to these hypnotic and varied panoramas, there’s also the chance to meet a deeply moving local population.
Cameroonians are divided into several ethnic groups, each with their own unique codes and traditions. However, they all live in harmony and have one thing in common: hospitality, authenticity, warmth and kindness. This African territory has one final asset: it’s the privilege of backpackers in search of a destination that’s still relatively untouched. When you visit Cameroon, you’re far removed from the consumerist tourist, and that’s fabulous.
Mountain lovers, lush countryside, rare animals, beaches, waterfalls or vibrant cultures: there’s something for everyone in this land. To convince you: here are the 10 most beautiful places to visit in Cameroon!
1. Ekom Falls
Photo credit: Flickr – jbdodane
The two Ekom Falls drop more than eighty meters. Located in the village of Ekom-Nkam, they are the most remarkable in the country. Their names are Métché and Ekom-Nkam. These forces of nature are dear to the hearts of the local people and steeped in legend. The story goes that, in the late 1950s, colonists threw nationalist prisoners into the rainbow waters of the Métché.
It’s also said that these waterfalls set in lush vegetation inspired the landscapes in the film Tarzan. What’s more, this unspoilt setting may eventually become a theme park on the subject, so… get there now!
2. Waza National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Michal Szymanski
Cameroonians make a point of preserving their environment. That’s why the country offers a breathtaking mosaic of national parks and nature reserves. The most famous? Waza National Park.
Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, this vast 170,000-hectare expanse is home to endemic species that are the stuff of dreams for young and old alike. Among them: lions, cheetahs, antelopes, giraffes, warthogs, hyenas, ostriches and elephants. Yes, you’re watching a perpetual parade worthy of The Lion King!
3. Campo Ma’an National Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Campo Ma’an National Park
Another natural splendor to visit in Cameroon is Campo Ma’an National Park. Here, for once, wildlife lovers will discover rare and exotic species. While the park abounds in touching pachyderms, giant elands, ominous crocodiles, fascinating lions and a host of birds, it is best known for its monkeys.
Campo Ma’an is home to chimpanzees and gorillas that thrive in landscapes as diverse as they are confined. Did you know that Campo Ma’an National Park is funded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and is renowned for its timber and palm oil plantations, essential to the country’s economy?
4. Foumban, Cité des Arts
The Sultan’s Palace, Foumban – Cameroon Photo credit: Flickr – Elin B
Among Cameroon’s great places of interest, Foumban will delight art lovers. This town is the cradle of art in Cameroon. From music to architecture and sculpture, everything is still very much alive here. Another special feature of Foumban: the city is steeped in the Muslim religion. Yes, in addition to a wide range of natural and ethnic varieties, there’s also a huge variety of religions!
Oriental and Islamic influences give Foumban such a seductive face. As if in a dream at the crossroads of all the regions of Africa, the mosque, the Royal Palace and its museum are the masterpieces of this city stamped with the title of Art and History. For the record, the Palais Royal, seat of Bamoum power, also evokes medieval architecture. Its museum houses all manner of royal finery, coats of arms, musical instruments, statues, jewels, masks and richly ornamented thrones.
Want to discover even more Cameroonian art? Visit the Musée des Arts et des Traditions bamoums and its adjacent street, home to sculptors, basket-makers, weavers and embroiderers.
5. Yaoundé and the Bois Sainte Anastasie
Street in Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon Photo credit: Shutterstock – All That Malarkey
Yaoundé, the capital, is like the country itself, a cultural, economic and ethnic crossroads. As it is difficult to assimilate all of Cameroon’s history in a short stay, Yaoundé offers a summary. Take a tour of the National Museum in the city center, where you’ll review primitive art and listen to the sighs of the colonial past. Other museums are well worth a visit: the Museum of Cameroonian Art, housed in a Benedictine monastery, and the Museum of Negro Art in the lively Melen district.
The capital is also renowned for its expertise in grilled chicken. Its main avenues are littered with craft stores: perfect for a little shopping. Congolese masks, Ivorian fabrics, bronze bamoum bowls or pipes, which souvenir will sit proudly on your shelf? Finally, take a look at the Basilique Marie-Reine des Apôtres. Located on the hill of Mvolyé, this monument honors the twelve apostles and the sacraments.
Not far from Yaoundé, don’t miss the Sainte Anastasie wood. Named after President Paul Biya’s mother, this beautiful natural setting in Cameroon offers a green and relaxing break from the city. Here you’ll find locals picnicking with their families and young lovers enjoying the shade of the vegetation.
6. Kribi
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Scarabea
If you’re looking for a seaside getaway, Kribi is the place to be. Is it a secret gateway to paradise or a real natural beauty? We really don’t know. What is certain is that Kribi is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Cameroon and perhaps the world. The picture stretches along perfect white sandy beaches hemmed by a piercing blue sea.
Restaurants line the seafront, serving fish fresh from the fishing boats. Not far from the Kribi region are the Lobe Falls. The scene is breathtaking: thundering waterfalls crash into the turquoise sea.
7. Limbé and Mount Cameroon
Limbé, Cameroonian village Photo credit: Shutterstock – mbrand85
Limbé, a volcanic mountain still in activity, adjoins the memorable slopes of Mount Cameroon. Despite its volcanic origins, the region remains a fertile melting pot of plants, gardens and waterfalls. As for Mount Cameroon, the country’s highest peak at 4,000 metres or so, it’s an ideal destination for hikers. The climb takes you through thick equatorial forests and immense sub-alpine meadows.
You can make the ascent and descent in a day, or spend the night in one of the chalets set at over 2,000 meters altitude. Thermal shock is guaranteed, but so is a fantastic experience. However, the overall ascent is quite strenuous: 27 kilometers round trip. Novices will have to make do with climbing at the foot of the mountain.
8. Dja wildlife reserve
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Homo Cosmicos
Occupied by an incredibly fertile biodiversity, the Dja wildlife reserve alone preserves no less than five species of endangered mammals. But that’s not all! It’s also home to numerous primates, including gorillas and chimpanzees.
It’s also one of the largest areas of protected tropical rainforest in Africa. The reserve is bordered by the natural Dja River, which only adds to its Indiana Jones-esque atmosphere (yes, Cameroon is definitely inspiring).
9. Korup National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – antoinee
Korup National Park is one of the most accessible parks to visit in Cameroon. A favorite haunt of resident scientists, it is criss-crossed by beautiful trails leading to rare bird encounters.
Among them are hornbills and red-headed rockbirds (you may not know it, but ornithologists might kill to see them!). You won’t be surprised to learn that the park is also home to elephants and chimpanzees.
10. Ngaoundéré and the Bénoué National Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Ongola boy
Want to visit Cameroon’s Far North? Then stop off in the authentic town of Ngaoundéré. Here, you’ll discover the very heart of Cameroon. The Lamido palace is enthroned in the heart of the town, while the surrounding area rivals in beauty. Waterfalls, lakes where hippos hide and hiking trails: nature is unspoiled and unspoiled everywhere.
Sixty kilometers north of Ngaoundéré, don’t miss the Bénoué National Park. It’s one of the oldest in the country. A new chance to contemplate, in complete freedom and a world away from organized safaris, monkeys, warthogs, hundreds of birds and hippos.
Map of hotels and accommodation – Cameroon