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Middle Africa

CameroonTravel guide

Explore Cameroon visa rulesCommon scams in Cameroon

Cameroon is a country in Central Africa. Its capital is Yaoundé, and it is known for its varied landscapes, languages, art and cultures.

Why go

  1. Landscapes range from tropical coast to hot, partly dry areas in the north.

  2. French and English are official languages, alongside many local languages.

  3. Attractions include gardens, museums and Kribi.

  4. Summer brings frequent rain, and mountain nights can be cold.

Getting there

By air

  • The main international airports are Douala International Airport (DLA) and Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport (NSI).
  • The source lists flights from Paris, Brussels, Lagos and Nairobi.
  • It also lists flights from Amsterdam, Casablanca, Addis Ababa and Istanbul.

By sea

  • Boat travel from Bioko island in Equatorial Guinea may be possible, but the source does not confirm it.

Getting around

  • Domestic flights

    Camair-Co operates domestic flights.

  • Train

    Camrail connects Yaoundé with Douala and Ngaoundéré. The overnight train is described as the best ground transport option to the north. Buses to Douala are quicker and more reliable than trains.

  • Bus and bush taxi

    Major cities have modern buses, sometimes with air conditioning. Buses usually leave when full, so waits can last hours and departure is not guaranteed. If a bus does not fill, the operator may offer a bush taxi instead; a refund may be possible if you insist. Bush taxis are shared minivans that can carry 20 people or more, with luggage on the roof. Poor roads, tired or impaired drivers, and badly maintained vehicles can make travel dangerous.

  • Car and hired driver

    Rental cars are available but very expensive. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is needed for travel in eastern or central Cameroon. A private driver costs around US$60 per day, plus fuel, food and accommodation; you can bargain. People drive on the right.

What to see and do

  • Limbe Botanic Garden

    A garden listed among the country's visitor attractions.

  • Benedictine Museum of Mont Febe

    One of the museums listed as a visitor attraction.

  • National Museum of Yaoundé

    A museum listed among the country's visitor attractions.

  • Kribi

    Listed as a place to visit.

  • Shop for local handicrafts

    Marché de Fleurs in Douala's Bonapriso quarter sells local handicrafts.

  • Visit Youppe village early

    The village near Douala is a place to buy fresh fish and prawns in the early morning.

Food and drink

  • Ndole

    Slightly bitter vegetables with peanuts and fish, prawns or beef; often considered the national dish.

  • Poulet DG

    Chicken with sauce, shown with fried potatoes.

  • Poisson brézè

    Barbecued fish.

  • Sauce arachide

    Peanut sauce served with rice and meat.

  • Brochettes and kilichi

    Brochettes are barbecued skewers; kilichi is dried beef.

  • Nkui

    A brown vegetable sauce eaten with corn couscous.

Money

Central African CFA franc (XAF), also written FCFA.

  • Most hotels do not accept credit cards.
  • Bargain outside stores and restaurants; the source suggests offering 20–50% of the first asking price.
  • The currency has a fixed exchange rate of 655.957 CFA francs to one euro.

Tipping: Give a small tip when hotel staff bring hot water in buckets.

Typical costs

  • Comfortable rural accommodation can cost FCFA 4,000–5,000 per night, though prices vary widely.
  • Hotels in major cities range from FCFA 7,500 to FCFA 50,000.
  • A private driver costs around US$60 per day, plus fuel, food and accommodation.

Language

  • French is an official language and is understood by about 80% of the population.
  • English is an official language and is spoken near the Nigerian border.
  • German speakers may be found in Yaoundé.
  • Many local languages are spoken across the country.

Staying safe

  • The source's warning, updated on 11 October 2026, describes the Northwest Highlands as unstable because of civil war.
  • Many governments advise against all travel within 30 km of the borders with Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic.
  • Avoid isolated areas and travelling alone at night.
  • Keep cameras, phones, laptops and other valuables out of sight.
1 common scams in Cameroon, and how to avoid them

Local customs

Do

  • Greet people around you, including people you have not met.
  • Ask about someone's health or family as part of a greeting.
  • Respond warmly to greetings; they are a common way to get to know people.

Staying healthy

  • Health facilities are limited, and communication may be difficult if you do not speak French.
  • Yellow fever is present, and vaccination is required before travel.
  • Malaria is present; use insect repellent regularly and consider sleeping under a mosquito net.
  • Drink bottled water and avoid tap water, even in restaurants.

Phone and internet

  • Buy a prepaid SIM card for local and international calls; MTN and Orange are two major phone companies.
  • Check that your phone supports the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard used in Africa and Europe.
  • Embedded SIM cards, called eSIMs, are available for data from companies including Airalo and Ubigi.
  • Local networks offer fourth-generation mobile data, called 4G, but connections can be slow and unstable.

Where to stay

  • Rural accommodation prices vary widely with demand and the local economy.
  • Major-city hotels range from FCFA 7,500 to FCFA 50,000; the source says Western standards are generally limited to luxury hotels.
  • Most hotels do not accept credit cards.
  • Hotels below four stars may lack working hot water; staff may bring hot water in buckets for a small tip.

Outdoor adventures in Cameroon

Cameroon offers rainforest wildlife watching, mountain climbing and black-sand beaches. Summer brings frequent rain, and mountain nights can be cold. The Northwest Highlands have a volatile security situation, and many governments advise against travel within 30 km of the borders with Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic.

  • Mount Cameroon

    Climbing

    Climbing routes and trip arrangements are not specified.

    • Mountain nights can be cold.
    • Expect frequent rain in summer.

  • Waza National Park

    WildlifeFar North

    The park is in the Lake Chad basin. Access and tour arrangements are not specified.

    • The eastern grasslands flood during the rainy season.
    • Many governments advise against travel within 30 km of the borders with Nigeria and Chad.

  • Korup National Park

    Wildlifenear Mundemba

    Reach the rainforest through Mundemba. Arrange trips at the tourist information office there.

    • The road between Kumba and Mundemba is rough.

  • Dja Faunal Reserve

    Wildlife

    Access and trip arrangements are not specified.

  • Bénoué National Park

    Wildlife

    November to May, when wildlife gathers at waterholes during the dry season.

    Access and tour arrangements are not specified.

  • Campo Ma'an National Park

    WildlifeAtlantic coast near the border with Equatorial Guineanear Kribi

    Reach the park from Kribi along 150 km of bad roads. Guides are available, but quoted prices can vary widely.

    • Cost: Listed park fee: CFA 5,000 per person plus CFA 2,000 per vehicle. The stated guide price is CFA 10,000, but guides may quote several hundred dollars.
    • Access roads are in poor condition.
    • Tourism facilities were reported as lacking in 2017.

  • Limbe black-sand beaches

    BeacheAtlantic coastnear Limbe

    Visit the Atlantic beaches at Limbe. Specific beach access points are not specified.

Airports, metros and trains in Cameroon

Airports with scheduled flights

  • DLADouala International AirportDoualaMain international airport
  • GOUGaroua International AirportGarouaMain international airport
  • NSIYaoundé Nsimalen International AirportYaoundéMain international airport

Trains

Rail network
977 km

People and safety in Cameroon

Religion

Most people are Christian. Mixed.

  • Christian60%
  • Muslim20%
  • No religion5%
  • Folk religions3%
  • Other3%

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex relationships are illegal

  • The law allows up to 5 years in prison.

Check your own government's travel advice before you go, and be careful with public displays of affection and dating apps.

Women travellers

Ranked #171 of 181 countries for women's safety, inclusion and justice.

41% of women say they feel safe walking alone at night where they live.

Who can visit without a visa

Travellers from 6 of 198 countries can visit Cameroon easily: no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Visa not required6
  • eVisa188
  • Visa required4

Who can visit easily, by part of the world

For each part of the world: how many countries' travellers can come easily. Easy means no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Africa6 of 53 countries
  • Asia0 of 50 countries
  • Europe0 of 46 countries
  • Americas0 of 35 countries
  • Oceania0 of 14 countries

Questions

Which airport can I fly into?

The main international airports are Douala International Airport and Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport.

Can I get by with English?

English is spoken near the Nigerian border, but French is more widely understood across the country.

Can I pay for hotels by credit card?

Most hotels do not accept credit cards.

Do buses leave at fixed times?

Usually they leave when full. You may wait for hours, and some buses never depart.

Is tap water safe to drink?

The source advises drinking bottled water and avoiding tap water, even in restaurants.

What weather should I pack for?

The coast is tropical, while the north is hot and partly dry. Expect frequent summer rain and potentially cold mountain nights.

Which areas have serious security warnings?

The source warns about the Northwest Highlands and says many governments advise against travel within 30 km of the Nigerian, Chadian and Central African Republic borders.

What local food can I try?

Try ndole, made with bitter vegetables and peanuts, or barbecued fish called poisson brézè. Plantains and cassava dishes are common sides.

Will mobile internet be reliable?

Mobile data can be slow and unstable. Internet access in western Cameroon is intermittent and can be disrupted.

Is it normal for strangers to greet me?

Yes. Greetings and questions about health or family are common ways for people to get to know each other.

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