Visiting Cameroon
Stretching from the Gulf of Guinea to Lake Chad, Cameroon holds a choice position as far as tourism is concerned in Africa. There are many attractions - forests, savannah, mountains and plains, wildlife and folklore.
Government took a series of measures to instill new life in to tourism. A blue print for tourist promotion was drawn up providing notably for the building of international class hotels in the main centers of interest (with the greatest number of tourists) such as Douala, Maroua, Waza and Kribi, the opening of a tourism school and modifications in the investment code in order to enable foreigners participate in the implementation of tourism projects. Precaution the tourist is advised to bring along anti-malaria drugs. Animals accompanying the tourist shall also be subject to health regulations. The regulations apply in both village and urban areas.
Customs: The tourist can bring in duty-free, the following personal effects: jewelry weighing less than 500 gr, clothing and bedding, cat and dog, two Cameras with 24 slides or 10 rolls of film for each, one small-size movie camera with 10 reels, a portable television and radio, a portable tape recorder, a pair of binoculars, minor camping and sports equipment, toilette articles, perambulators, three litres of wine, one litre of aperitif or spirits, 500 gr of tobacco or 400 cigarettes or 125 cigars.
Which is the ideal season?
It all depends on where the tourist intends going. Whatever the case, it would be a bad idea to visit in the rainy season.
The forest region of the South has four seasons: a big dry season from January to March; a small rainy season from April to June; a small dry season from July to September; a big rainy season from October to December. On the contrary, the North has two distinct seasons: a rainy season from June to October and a dry season the rest of the year. This is only theoretical as there are, for instance, variations in the West where there are heavy rains in July, August and September and the Littoral where it rains nearly the whole year round.
Generally speaking, and from the official point of view, the Cameroon tourist season opens November and closes in May, both months inclusive. If the tourist is lucky he may even come by a plate "ndomba" made from bush meat (small game), but he can only enjoy excellent Cameroonian food in friends' houses. In the market the tourist can buy all local produce banana, pineapples, oranges, etc...
Drinks
In the villages, the most popular drinks, depending on the region, are palm wine or raffia palm wine, fermented and alcoholic but delicious. The local inhabitations have invented other drinks such as corn beer and millet beer, illicit gin (Arki), etc...
Recreational activities
Cameroonians are hardworking but also like to enjoy themselves. The city-dwellers' favorite pastimes are the cinema, the theatre, dancing and sports. Cameroonians also like reading newspapers such as the Cameroon Tribune, a daily, or sports magazines.
In the villages and even in towns, traditional dances are organized to mark occasions such as death, birth, marriage and various happy events...
Night clubs
All the major towns have at least one dancing hall where tourists wanting to enjoy themselves can dance to Cameroonian music.
Souvenirs
Photographs and films: Tourists may take photographs throughout the country. But it is prohibited to take photographs of the presidential palaces, airports, military zones and installations, security and military staff in uniform, and other aspects liable to cause moral decline and tarnish the country's reputation. During official ceremonies, national festivals or other manifestations, contact the Ministry of Information and Culture for a special pass. Works of Art: Beside artistic works the sale and export of which is prohibited, the tourist can as masks, statuettes, leather goods, animal skins, etc...