Kribi Lighthouse Kapsiki peak, Mandara mountains Cameroon Country information The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central Africa. It borders Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Gulf of Guinea. The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroons merged in 1961 to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon which in 1972 was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon; since 1984 the country is known as the Republic of Cameroon or République du Cameroun. Its official languages are English and French. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy. Yaoundé is the capital, and Douala is the largest city and main port. ATTRACTIONS White sand beaches make Kribi Cameroon's best seaside resort. Kribi is a popular seaside resort with palm fringed beaches, good hotels and colourful local markets. The Chutes de la Lobé, 8km south of town, are an impressive set of waterfalls that empty into a pool by the sea. In the Far North, Waza National Park is a haven to African wildlife. Limbe is located on a beautiful bay against the backdrop of a major mountain range. Black sand beaches make Limbe one of two coastal towns (Kribi being the other) that are popular The Limbe Wildlife Centre and Limbe Botanical Gardens are notable attractions. The Germans left a Bismarck tower in the vicinity of Limbe. Cameroon 1
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Yaoundé Yaoundé is the capital of Cameroon and with a population of approximately 2.5 million, the second largest city in the country after the port city of Douala. It lies in the center of the nation at an elevation of about 750 meters above sea level. Most of Yaoundé’s economy is centered on the administrative structure of the civil service and the diplomatic services. Due to these high profile central structures, Yaoundé enjoys a relative higher standard of living and security compared to the rest of Cameroon. The National Museum, Yaoundé A view of Yaoundé from the BEAC office. WEATHER HEALTH Cameroon is triangular in shape. A coastal strip 10 to 50 mi (16–80 km) wide in the southwest is covered with swamps and dense tropical rain forests; it has one of the wettest climates in the world. Cameroon has two major climates, Dry season and Rainy season. Yaoundé features a topical wet and dry climate with constant temperatures throughout the year. However, primarily due to the altitude, temperatures are not quite as hot as one would expect for a city located near the equator. Yaoundé features a lengthy wet season covering a ten-­‐month span between February and November, with the rains increasing as time goes by. A valid yellow fever certificate is required for entry into Cameroon. The existence of the female anopheles mosquito creates the need to come with malaria preventive drugs to avoid being infected. Near the coast are volcanic peaks, dominated by Mt. Cameroon (13,354 ft/4,070 m), the highest point in the country. TRANSPORT Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport and the Douala international airport remain the nations major air transport hubs. Railway lines run west to the port city of Douala and north to Ngaoundere. Many bus companies operate from Yaoundé. Frequent bus runs occur along the road between Yaoundé and Douala, travel time by road between Douala and Yaoundé is approximately 3 hours. Traffic in the city can be heavy during weekdays and the population mainly commutes by yellow taxis.