What to see in Cameroon: 9 must-sees
Discover what to see in Cameroon: 9 must-see destinations, from Mount Cameroon to Waza National Park. Predominantly natural and national park; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
Natural(3)
Walk ash and rainforest trails on Mount Cameroon, West Africa's highest active volcano at 4,040 meters. The route crosses solidified lava flows, plantations and dense jungle home to monkeys and forest birds, before opening onto windswept moorland near the crater. On clear days the summit offers views of the Gulf of Guinea, and every year thousands of runners climb it in the famous Race of Hope.
Follow the trail down to the Lobé Falls, one of the few waterfalls in the world that drop straight into the sea. Here the Lobé River crashes over volcanic rock before merging with the Atlantic, amid palm trees and dark-sand beaches. You can ride a pirogue with local fishermen, walk the area around Kribi or try grilled fish in the huts along the coast. Southern Cameroon combines jungle, river and ocean along a single stretch of coastline.
Walk along the shores of Lake Nyos, a volcanic crater in northwest Cameroon where in 1986 a sudden release of CO2 killed 1,700 people. Today its still waters, surrounded by green hills and high-altitude pastures, hide that story beneath an apparently calm surface. A degassing pipe installed after the tragedy continues to draw gas from the lakebed. Ask local guides about the affected villages and watch the birds and vegetation that have gradually returned to the valley.
National Park(2)
Head north in Cameroon to Waza National Park, in the Far North region, where 1,700 km² of savanna shelter elephants, lions and a rich variety of birds. Explore its plains on guided safaris, hike among acacias and watch giraffes, antelopes and waterbirds at the park's ponds. The best time to visit is the dry season, when animals gather near the water and the tracks are passable.
Take in the 1,260 km² of Korup National Park, in Cameroon's South-West region, one of Africa's oldest tropical rainforests. Follow its trails among centuries-old trees as you track gorillas and chimpanzees in their habitat. Hike and birdwatch along rivers that are home to forest elephants and hundreds of butterfly species. The park preserves exceptional biodiversity, making it a benchmark for scientific research in the Gulf of Guinea.
City(2)
Get a glimpse of Yaoundé, Cameroon's capital, spread across seven hills in the Center region. Browse the Mokolo market, where stalls of wax-print fabric and tropical fruit fill the streets with color. Visit the National Museum, housed in the former presidential palace, and the Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. Walk through the administrative Quartier du Lac district and try local dishes at the street stalls on Kennedy Avenue.
Immerse yourself in Douala, Cameroon's commercial capital, where the port on the Wouri River estuary handles much of the country's trade. Browse the stalls of the Marché des Fleurs, cross the Wouri Bridge and watch ships anchored facing the Atlantic. Wander among the colonial buildings and modern towers of the Bonanjo district, try grilled fish with plantain at a local maquis, and listen to makossa in the bars of Akwa.
Beach(1)
Discover Kribi, in Cameroon's South region, where the Lobé Falls plunge straight into the Atlantic, a spectacle few coastlines in the world can offer. Walk on its fine sand, swim in the sea or try surfing its waves. Nearby beach bars serve grilled fish and prawns, fresh off the fishermen's pirogues. If you're after calm, the beaches stretch out wide to the south, with palm trees and few people on weekdays.
UNESCO Heritage(1)
Marvel at the rainforest of Dja National Park, in Cameroon's Center region, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Its 5,260 km², almost completely encircled by the Dja River, shelter lowland gorillas, chimpanzees and forest elephants amid vegetation that remains nearly untouched. You can explore the trails with local guides and sleep in camps near the Baka communities.
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