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First inhabited by the mysterious Pygmies, and then the Bantu and Sudanic peoples, Cameroon would eventually became an infamous source of slaves for Muslim and European traders.
Misssionaries arrived in the mid-19th century, and the land was subsequently colonized by Germany. In the early 1900's (during World War I), it was invaded by both Britain and France, and later divided between those two countries.
Cameroon first flirted with independence in 1960, but then a long series of internal political jugglings between north and south, and the bloody coups of the 1980's delayed that process until the 1990's.
The country is ethnically diverse with over 225 individual groups. The local economy is driven by foreign aid, a wide variety of agricultural ventures and oil and timber production.
Tourism is limited, but those who venture here enjoy the beach areas near Kribi, the interesting capital city of Yaoundé, and the abundant wildlife of the national parks, especially the elephants found in Waza National Park.
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- Official Name Republic of Cameroon
- Population 18,897,957
- Capital City Yaoundé (1.4 million)
- Largest Cities Douala, Yaoundé, Garoua, Kousséri
- Currency CFA Franc
- Currency Converter
- Languages French (official), English (official), and other African dialects
- National Day 20 May, Republic Day
- Religions Christian, Muslim, traditional beliefs
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- Land Area 465,400 sq km (179,691 sq miles)
- Highest Point Mt. Cameroon, 13,353 ft. (4,070 m)
- Lowest Point Atlantic Ocean, 0 ft. (0 m)
- Land Divisions 10 provinces, including: Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud and Sud-Ouest.
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From the low and marshy coastal area, the land rises into a rain forest plateau. From there the land moves higher into the central Adamawa Plateau, where some elevations reach over 4,000 ft. To the north of Benoue National Park, the land slopes into a savanna plain that extends to the shores of Lake Chad.
In the far southwest Cameroon is mountainous. Mt Cameroon (an active volcano), sits on the edge of the Gulf of Guinea, and is the highest point in West Africa. Significant rivers include the Dja, Nyong and Sanaga. |
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- Latitude/Longitude 3° 87' N, 11° 52' E
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Yaoundé is home to most of Cameroon's museums and national monuments. The Western highlands offer picturesque mountain scenery, waterfalls and lakes.
Cameroon's northern region is the country's major tourism draw as it features numerous wildlife reserves, including Waza National Park and its cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and hippos.
Travel Recommendations Before finalizing and/or making your travel plans to any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate and research all of the important details regarding applicable health, passport and visa requirements.
If you require additional assistance, the experienced professionals at Travel Visa Pro can answer all of your questions!
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The tropical coastal areas of Cameroon receive copious amounts of rain, in some years the rain has exceeded 30 feet. In the northern areas, yearly precipitation amounts are much lower, averaging near 30 inches. Drought is a way of life in the far north.
Daily highs in the mid-80's are commonplace, and overall, mean temperatures average in the high 70's; slightly warmer in the south, and a bit cooler in the western mountains.
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Portrait of a Cameroon woman...
A crater lake, Cameroon...
Fishing boats, Cameroon...
A rural village in Cameroon... |
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