|
| CAMEROON GENERAL INFORMATION |
|
|
Area: 475,442 sq km (183,569 sq miles).
Population: 16,018,000 (2003).
Population Density: 33.7 per sq km (2003).
Capital: Yaoundé (constitutional). Population: 649,000 (1987). Douala (economic). Population: 810,000 (1987).
GEOGRAPHY: Situated on the west coast of Africa, Cameroon is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Guinea, to the northwest by Nigeria, to the northeast by Chad (with Lake Chad at its northern tip), to the east by the Central African Republic and to the south by Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The far north of the country is a semi-desert broadening into the vast Maroua Plain, with game reserves and mineral deposits. This is bordered to the west by the lush Mandara Mountains. The Benue River rises here and flows westwards into the Niger. The country to the northwest is very beautiful; volcanic peaks covered by bamboo forest rise to over 2000m (6500ft), with waterfalls and villages scattered over the lower slopes. Further to the south and west are savannah uplands, while dense forest covers the east and south. The coastal strip is tropical and cultivated. Cameroon derives its name from the 15th-century Portuguese sailor Fernando Po’s description of the River Wouri: Rio dos Cameroes (‘river of shrimps’).
Government: Republic. Gained independence in 1961. Head of State: President Paul Biya since 1982; won a new seven-year term in 2004. Head of Government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany Musonge Mafani since 1996.
Language: The official languages are French and English. They are given equal importance in the Constitution but French is the more commonly spoken. Spanish is spoken in some urban centres. There are 24 major African language groups.
Religion: 53 per cent Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), 25 per cent traditional animist beliefs, 22 per cent Muslim.
Time: GMT + 1.
Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are round two-pin; bayonet light-fittings are used.
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine Franc - Currently 1 XAF = 0.0018 USD $
Climate: The climate in Cameroon varies with the terrain, from tropical along the coast to semiarid and hot in the north. Seasonally, May to November is the rainy season where things can get quite muddy, and November to February is the dry season which brings the dry, sandy winds of the harmattan from December to February. - Currently 73º, Scattered Thunderstorms. Back to top
|
|
|
|
Telephone: Telephone: IDD is available to and from Cameroon. Country code: 237. Outgoing international code: 00. International calls can be made from CAMTEL offices. Telephones can usually be found in post offices and restaurants, and there are telephone booths in the towns. Phonecards are available. The main towns in Cameroon are linked by automatic dialling, although this service is often unreliable.
Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network provides coverage mainly in Yaoundé, Douala and the southwest of the country. Network operators include Mobile Telephone Networks Cameroon (MTNC) and Orange Cameroun SA.
Fax: Available at CAMNET offices.
Internet: ISPs include Camnet (website: www.camnet.cm). Internet cafes, which are on the increase, exist in the main towns. Charges are significantly higher outside Yaoundé and Douala.
Telegram: Facilities are available at Yaoundé and Douala post offices and at larger hotels but service is slow.
Post: Stamps can only be obtained from post offices. Mail takes about a week to reach addresses in Europe. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1530.
Press: The main newspaper is the (government-controlled) Cameroon Tribune, published daily in French and English. Other English-language newspapers include the Cameroon Post (weekly), Cameroon Times (weekly) and The Herald (three times a week).
Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. Back to top
|
|
|
|
Yaounde: Although the capital of Cameroon is a modern city, many of its attractions are more rustic in nature as the city was built on seven large hills. Mont Febe is considered a vacation getaway spot and makes for a great excursion, and nearby the Musée d'Art Cameroonais, housed on the grounds of a Benedictine monastery alongside a beautiful chapel, has an excellent collection of masks, art and instruments, otherwise, you can take a day trip 25 miles away to Luna Park, a large amusement park complex.
Douala: Sitting at the foot of Mount Cameroon, Douala is a good spot to serve as a base of operations in exploring other parts of the country. While you’re here, enjoy a breakfast at the centrally located Hôtel Akwa Palace, considered one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, and then get a permit from the tourism office and hike up the mountain, which is best done in two stages – one day up and one day down, staying at a cabin two thirds of the way up.
Northlands: The northern parts of Cameroon are worth visiting by any ecotourist or safari lover. The Parc National du Waza is perfect as a safari spot, closed during the wet summer with a full range of animals like elephants, giraffes and lions sure to get the shutterbug in you active, then explore some of the smaller villages in the area, like Maroua, one of the larger villages with a bus service and markets staffed by local tribespeople, and stop and see the market in Mora, where you can stock up for any trip with gourds, donkeys, or even jewelry. Back to top
|
|
|
|
Customs: Cameroon is a more conservative nation, so respect the religion and customs of the local groups you meet, and dress on the conservative side, typically avoiding shorts and bared shoulders is fine. When taking pictures, ask permission of the locals before you click, and avoiding photographing any government or military buildings – your camera is likely to be seized.
Francs: Although credit card use is limited to most hotels and some restaurants, traveler’s checks can be cashed at almost any bank, which are open weekdays and close from 11:30 am to 2:30pm. Don’t confuse your francs – the West African francs are different and will need to be exchanged for Central African francs before you can spend them.
When To Visit: The best time to visit Cameroon is November or March, when you can miss the rain of the wet season and the winds of the dry season, however, people looking for a physical challenge should visit the country in late January, when it hosts the Mount Cameroon Race, a 17 mile run to the top of the 10,000 foot high mountain of the same name and back.
Food: Cameroon features a range of tasty dishes from salads to chicken to fish, with some of the common elements being feuille, or manioc leaves, couscous or fufu, typically made from rice, plantains or corn, and brochettes, grilled and spiced meat stuffed into bread, while the plates of fruit for dessert are fantastic.
Tipping: A 10% gratuity is normally included in your bill, however, if it hasn't add the same for good service.
Security: Be aware of your surroundings, particularly in crowded areas or at night. Avoid the border area with Congo, which may be periodically closed, and the neighborhoods of La Briquetterie and Mokolo in Yaounde. Keep your documents handy when traveling by car as there are checkpoints throughout parts of the country where ID will be checked to help prevent carjacking and theft. Back to top
|
|
|
