Cameroon Travel Guide

Cameroon — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Central Africa.
Language: The official languages are French and English. They are given equal importance in the constitution, but French is the more commonly spoken. Pidgin English is widely spoken, particularly in coastal areas, and Spanish is spoken in some urban centres. Over 200 different African languages are also in circulation.
Area: 465,458 sq km (179,714 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 1.
Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used.
Population: 18.9 million (2009).
Population Density: 40.3 per sq km.
Capital City: Yaoundé (constitutional). Population: 1.4 million (2005). Douala (economic). Population: 2 million (2005).
Government: Republic. Gained independence in 1961.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni since 2004.
Head of State: President Paul Biya since 1982.
Religion: The majority of the population hold Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) or traditional animist beliefs. The sizeable remainder are followers of Islam.

Recent History

The most recent presidential poll, in 2004, saw Biya secure another seven-year term in office with 70% of the votes. International observers claim the poll was fair and transparent, but opposition parties made allegations of widespread fraud; attempts to expose and tackle corruption remain central to political discussion.

Cameroon joined the UN Security Council in 2002, and, as a result, found itself subject to serious pressure over the Iraq issue during early 2003. In 2006, a group of major lending nations agreed to cancel almost all of Cameroon's debt; in August that year Nigeria finally handed over sovereignty of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +237. 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 phone service is often unreliable.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with a number of international mobile phone companies. Coverage is patchy but better in the south.

Internet

Main towns will have Internet cafés. Charges are significantly higher outside Yaoundé and Douala. The service is often slow and unreliable.

Media

Media is highly government controlled. However, a general liberalization of media in 2000 led to Cameroon's first private TV station, TV Max, being launched in 2001, with a spate of others quick to follow.

Nevertheless, libel laws inhibit journalists and some have even been jailed in the past. This is regarded as a genuine problem by the international community, who believe that Cameroon is becoming one of the most repressive countries worldwide in regards to freedom of expression.

Post

Stamps can only be obtained from post offices. Mail usually takes at least a week to reach Europe.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 Post (weekly) and The Herald (three times a week).
Privately-run French-language papers include Le Massager, Mutations (daily) and La Nouvelle Expression.

Radio

Cameroon Radio Television also operates state-run radio stations.
Radio Reine is a Catholic-owned station.
Radio Siantou is a private broadcaster.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
11 Feb Youth Day
11 Mar Eid Milad Nabi (Prophet’s Anniversary)
21 Apr - 24 Apr Easter
1 May Labor Day
20 May National Day
21 May Sheep Festival
28 Jun Ascension of the Prophet
15 Aug Assumption
30 Aug - 31 Aug Djoulde Soumae (End of Ramadan)
1 Oct Unification Day
6 Nov - 7 Nov Eid Al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)
26 Nov Hijra (Islamic New Year)
25 Dec Christmas

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Eid Milad Nabi (Prophet’s Anniversary)
11 Feb Youth Day
6 Apr - 9 Apr Easter
1 May Labor Day
17 May Ascension
20 May National Day
21 May Sheep Festival
17 Jun Ascension of the Prophet
15 Aug Assumption
19 Aug Djoulde Soumae (End of Ramadan)
1 Oct Unification Day
25 Oct Eid Al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)
15 Nov Hijra (Islamic New Year)
25 Dec Christmas
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that ends with Djoulde Soumae (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Djoulde Soumae itself. Djoulde Soumae may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information

Ministère du Tourisme

Boulevard Rudolf Manga Bell (BP 266) Yaoundé, Cameroon
Tel: 2223 29 36.

Cameroon High Commission in the UK

84 Holland Park, London W11 3SB, UK
Tel: (020) 7727 0771.
Website: www.cameroonhighcommission.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1600; 0930-1230 (visa applications).