Cameroon Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. In the north, where the population is largely Muslim, Islamic traditions should be respected. Visitors should never step inside a Muslim prayer circle of rocks. In other rural areas, where traditional beliefs predominate, it is essential to use tact.

Photography: Cameras should be used with discretion, particularly in rural areas. Always ask permission before taking a photograph. Do not photograph airports, military establishments, official buildings, or military personnel in uniform.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
The national airline is Cameroon Airlines (UY). Arkh-View African Airlines (website: www.avairlines.com) operates commercial flights from the UK to Douala.

Departure Tax
XAF10,000 (children included in parent’s passports are exempt).

Main Airports
Douala (DLA) is situated 10km (6 miles) southeast of the city. To/from the airport: Taxis to the city are available. Facilities: Duty-free shop, bar, post office, bank, shops and buffet/restaurant.

Yaoundé Nsimalen International (NSI) airport is situated 25km (15.5 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: Taxis to the city are available (journey time – 20 minutes).

Getting There by Water
Main ports: Cargo boats from Douala to Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) sometimes accept passengers. Speedboats and cargo boats ply the coastal route between Idendao (northern Cameroon) and Oron (Nigeria). However, these services are not regulated.

There are ferry services across the Ntem River, on the border with Gabon. Pirogues also operate across this river to Equatorial Guinea.

Getting There by Rail
Crossing from Cameroon to any of its neighbors by rail is difficult due to the different line gauges. However, there are plans to extend the rail network from Mbalmayo to Bangui in the Central African Republic.

Getting There by Road
There are road connections to Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria. Travel on these routes is rough, and should not be attempted in the rainy season. 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended. Drivers should avoid traveling at night. Problems might be experienced at the borders with Gabon and the Central African Republic. Armed robberies have been reported in the three provinces of Adamaoua, the North and the Far North (bordering Chad). Gendarmerie detachments are posted along the road between Maroua and Chad.

The Trans-Africa Highway from Kenya to Nigeria is still under construction; the border area with Nigeria, neighboring the Bakassi peninsula, should be avoided. The border with the Republic of Congo is closed. 

Minibuses and bush taxis run from Yaoundé and Douala to all neighboring countries (except where borders are closed). It may be necessary to change at the border.

Overview
The following goods may be imported into Cameroon without incurring customs duty:

• 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or five packets of tobacco.
• One bottle of alcoholic beverage.
• Five bottles of perfume.

Sporting guns require a license.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
This is the most efficient means of national transport. There are daily flights between Douala and Yaoundé and less regular flights to other interior towns, served by Unitair.

Getting Around by Rail
Cameroon Railways (CAMRAIL) is the national service provider. Services are good, if relatively slow, but it is still much quicker to go by train than by bus. There are daily services from Yaoundé to Ngaoundéré on the ‘Gazelle du Nord’, which runs along the Trans-Cameroon railway from Douala to Ngaoundéré via Yaoundé and Belabo, with a branch line from Ngoumen to Mbalmayo. There is a rail route running from Douala to Nkongsamba, with a branch line leading off from Mbanga to Kumba. Daily trains also run from Yaoundé to Douala, with onward connections to Nkongsamba. Couchettes are available, as are first- and second-class seats. Trains usually have a restaurant car. Tickets must be booked on the day of travel.

Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. There are paved roads from Douala to Yaoundé, Limbé, Buéa, Bafoussam and Bamenda and between main centers. Other roads are generally poorly maintained and become almost impassable during the rainy season. Many vehicles are poorly lit and badly driven. Night driving is not recommended. Car hijackings and violent muggings are increasingly common, particularly in the three most northern provinces. Driving on the Yaoundé/Douala trunk road should be avoided; accidents happen frequently.

Bus: Modern coach services are available between Yaoundé and Douala. Bus services also exist between other main centers and more rural areas but some tend to be unreliable and are often suspended during the rainy season. Bus services also have a reputation for being dangerous; road safety is not a priority and accidents are common.

Car hire: This is expensive and limited to Douala, Yaoundé and Limbé. Cars are available with or without a driver. Roadside assistance is non-existent.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not a legal requirement but recommended, especially for those hiring a car. By law, a driving license must be carried when driving; a Cameroonian license can be obtained within 24 hours for a small fee.

Getting Around Towns and Cities
Taxis and share-taxis are available at reasonable fixed rates (none are metered). A 10% tip is optional. City taxis do not generally comply with basic security norms and seat belts are often absent. Violent assaults on taxi passengers are not uncommon, so the choice of taxi must be considered carefully. However, they are cheap and fast.

Note: Petty theft is common on trains, coaches and bush-taxis, and visitors to Cameroon who rely on public transport are urged to remain vigilant.

Journey Times
The following gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Yaoundé.

	Air	Road	Rail
Douala	0.30	3.00	4.00
Garoua	2.30	18.00	-
Kribi	0.45	-	-
Maroua	3.45	24.00	-
Ngaoundéré	2.40	12.00	10.00

Next Page »

Related Cameroon Content