At once I want to tell that the main instrument of payment in all Cameroon is cash. During all my trip I didn't meet any place where would accept for payment cards. It is possible to remove cash from the card in offices of banks. The most reliable bank SGBC (Societe General Bank du Cameroon). Consider that the majority of banks, as well as other companies, works with 7.30 till 16.30 with a lunch break around 12 o'clock in the afternoon.

Sights and cities

Vulcan Kamerun (4 095 meters)

Gore Kamerun is the highest mountain of all Western Africa. The last eruption was in 1999. Now the volcano is inactive. The standard ascension on top takes three days. This rather fascinating occupation. Lifting begins with a mark of 1 000 meters above sea level in Bea's small town (the city is located in 40 kilometers from the Limb). Alternately you will pass through the mountain cloudy woods, then meadows and the mountain savanna, and then the Alpine meadows. Be ready that despite that the volcano is located near the equator since height in 2 700 meters in the evening, and from height in 3 500 meters and in the afternoon weather quite cool at very high humidity. So if you decide on an ascension surely take with yourself warm things. All necessary for an ascension (sleeping bags, the conductor, the porter) it is possible to organize in travel agency in Bea – www.mount-cameroon.org. Also this agency will organize some other excursions in the Southwest and Northwest provinces of Cameroon.

Limb (Limbe)

Limb is seaport and the resort, located at the mountain Cameroon bottom. Limb is in one and a half two hours' journey to the west from Douala. Buses from Douala to the Limb go throughout the day.

The best volcanic beaches are located to the North from the city. In the city it is worth visiting a botanical garden (an entrance of 2 000 francs, permission to photographing – 1 500) and the center of the wild nature in which the main primacies living in Cameroon (actually are presented is a zoo). It is worth visiting the bottom city beach in the evening – there is a restaurant at which prepare fresh-caught fish (the prices very much even accepted). Little tables are located directly on a beach so during inflow you can ask to change because differently you will be flooded by inflow waves.

Debuyedsh's (Debuedsha) kraterny lake is located to the North from the Limb. The lake is located near the ocean coast. That to reach it you should make the way about an hour through the jungle. Unfortunately, it is difficult to carry out this campaign so it is better to resort to services of travel agency. Besides the lake you will deliver in a fishing small village.

Nkongsamba (Nkongsamba)

The city is located on a way between Douala and Bafusam and has bus service to Douala and the Limb. The city doesn't represent particular tourist interest. In a neighborhood of this small town volcanic lakes Manengouba (Manengouba crater lakes) are located. Both lakes are located on a plateau. To reach them you will need to pass around two – three hours on a country road. The public transport in channelized practically doesn't go so you should or organize this trip and tracking through travel agency or to agree with private drivers in the city.

Мелонг (Melong)

The city is located on a way between Douala and Bafusam. In a neighborhood of the city on the way to Bafusam one of the highest and powerful falls of Cameroon – falls What is located. The falls are located in five-ten kilometers from the main road. To reach it you besides should agree with local drivers.

Bandzhun (Bandjoun)

This city is the capital of the kingdom of the same name. It is located besides on a way between Douala and Bafusam (driving about half an hour to Bafusam). In the city there is a museum of the kingdom of Bandzhun. In it cult and life subjects (the masks embroidered by beads and bugles of a chair and vessels, suits made of feathers) are presented. The trip to this city can be organized from Bafusam in one day.

Bafusam (Bafoussam)

The small town doesn't represent tourist interest. In the city roads from Douala and Yaounde are crossed. From the city it is possible to go either to Funmban or to Bamenda.

Funmban (Founmban)

The city is the capital of the sultanate of the same name.  Sights of the city are the sultan palace in which the museum with collection of wooden and bronze masks rather rich by local standards, clothes and household items, and also the main mosque is located. 

Bamenda (Bamenda)

Bamenda is the center of English-speaking part of Cameroon. Near the city (driving half an hour) the small town Bafut (Bafut) being the center of the kingdom of the same name is located. For a small payment (about 3 000 francs) the wife of the king will conduct tour on the main palace museum (the same masks and utensils subjects) and to houses in which lived and live wives of the king.

Yaounde (Yaunde)

The capital of Cameroon practically has no noteworthy sights. Though it is possible to walk by its central part to take pleasure in architecture of the 70th years. Yaounde generally is the basic transshipment points for travelers to the north the countries.

To N'gaundera (Ngaoundere)

In this city it makes sense to visit three mosques (big, small and new). All this will borrow from you no more than a couple of hours. For the rest this city should be considered also as transshipment terminal on a way to the north.

Marois (Maroua)

It is one of the coziest and pure, in my opinion, the cities of Cameroon. Marois is a starting point for all excursions on Far North the countries. The main sights round the city are:

National park Vase

It is one of the best national parks in all the Western Africa. The park occupies the space approximately equal to the area of Moscow. Elephants, lions, giraffes, some species of antelopes, monkeys and a big variety of birds, including ostriches, crowned cranes, sacred ibises and so on live in park. I want to make a reservation at once that parks of the Western Africa can't be compared to parks of Kenya and Tanzania. Quantity of wild animals per unit area here much less. Both the quantity and a variety of the animals seen by you during a safari, depends on your luck.

Mandar's mountains

Interesting are as the mountains possessing the splendid landscapes, and the various small villages located in these mountains. The tribes occupying these small villages, differ richness of traditions and originality of suits. At least it is worth visiting Rumsika's (Rhumsiki) small villages and Toura (Tourou).

Криби (Kribi)

This small town call a beach number one in Cameroon.  The city is connected by bus service to Douala.  Sight of the small town are the falls of the Laba River located in 8 kilometers to the South from the city.  Lobe's river flows into the ocean the cascade of falls.  In Kribi the asphalted road comes to an end.  So all roads to the south to Kampo – soil. 

Transport

The main vehicle in the western and central provinces, and also on the coast are regular buses. To reach Far North the countries, you should or use services of Cameroonian airlines or to use a combination from a trip by train Yaounde-N'gaundere and further by bus.

Buses

As for buses, it is necessary to be ready - the majority of them quite old and without conditioners. Buses connect the majority of the large cities of the country. In any city there are at least one-two bus stations. Very often each bus company has the separate bus station. On them it is possible to learn the movement schedule. Tickets can be bought in advance. It is one landing better to come too in advance that it was possible to choose a normal place. As at first all places provided by a design of the bus are filled, and then in pass plastic chairs are put and all the others sit on them. The most reliable bus company – Touristique express. This company in most cases adheres to the declared schedule.

But be ready to that many other companies can go only at the certain minimum number of passengers. So sending the bus can be tightened at some o'clock.

Here some most popular bus routes: 

Yaounde – Douala (3 hours, trip cost – 3 000 francs);

Douala – Kribi (3 hours, trip cost – 2 000 francs);

To N'gaundera – Garua – Marois (5 hours to Garua, and 3 more hours to Marois – 6 000 francs).

Yaounde – Bamenda (6 hours);

Douala – Bamenda (6-7 hours);

Douala – Limb (1,5 – 2 hours).

Bandzhun is on a way between Douala and Bafusam (a way between Bandzhun and Bafusam takes 40 minutes – 1 hour). From Bafusam you should choose where you will eat – or in Funmbam (about 1 hour), or to Bamenda (too about 1 hour).

At a trip by bus between the cities it is necessary to be ready to that at entrance and at departure from the city there are police patrols which can periodically stop buses and arrange verification of documents. Thus there is a risk of that police officers will take away your passport for check, and will return it after a certain remuneration. It happens not in 100% of cases, but it is necessary to be ready to such succession of events.

Trains

The main used site of the railroad is the piece of Yaounde – N'gaundera. Trains from Yaounde and N'gaundera go at 18.00. Declared time in a way – 18 hours (arrival in the destination at 12.00). If to you carries, travel can be reduced till 15-16 o'clock (that is you will arrive to the destination in 9.00-10.00). But be also ready to that travel can be tightened more – because of breakages of the locomotive or the brought-down cows. Stop plus on all substations.

There are four categories of cars. Cars of the 1st and 2nd class represent too most, as the bus. Ticket cost in the 1st class in one party makes 17 000 francs. There are also 2nd and 4-seater compartments with couches (respectively, as a compartment habitual to us). Ticket cost in a 4-seater compartment – 25 000 francs one way, in 2-seater – 28 000 francs.

All cars, both compartment, and 1-and 2 class the very old. The linen in a compartment doesn't change and isn't erased in principle. Everything is broken by a compartment and can smell slightly slightly. Toilets though slightly rather dirty, is in each car.

Seasons

The main tourist season in Cameroon of December till March. At this time in the territory of all Cameroon a dry season. On the coast at this time temperature fluctuates about +26, and humidity makes "no more" than 70%. During a season of rains according to locals the rain can go till 6-7 days in a row. In the north in the afternoon temperature can reach +30, and morning and evening differ a pleasant cool as in Moscow in August.

I want to tell that the so-called tourist season has two pronounced peaks when the most part of hotels can be occupied. This time of Catholic Christmas and new year (week from December 24 to December 31) and week for Catholic Easter. In the rest of the time, even during the high season hotels stand, to put it mildly, the thin. Hotels the Limb and Kribi for the weekend when they are filled with local more or less wealthy inhabitants can make an exception.

Hotels

As for quality of hotels, it is necessary to be ready to that Cameroon is not Europe and at all Asia. The majority of hotels was constructed in the 70th years, and since then they weren't under repair and weren't updated. The cost of numbers is rather high – 30-60 dollars. Thus the breakfast in most cases isn't included, and cockroaches – are included. Besides, practically, there are no numbers to full structure of services: there are good sockets, but the old conditioner, the conditioner more or less modern, but instead of a bathtub – a hole in a floor, etc.