Cameroon – Colours of Africa, 16 days
We would like to invite you for an exceptional journey to Cameroon – one of the cultural highlights of West Africa, inhabited by over 250 ethnic groups. Cameroon is also one of the most interesting areas of Africa as regards biodiversity
During our trip, we will try to show you the most important natural and cultural heritage sites of this country. We will visit capitals of old kingdoms – Bagam, Bamum – we will learn their extraordinary history as well as local traditions and culture. For nature lovers, but surely also for others, an unforgettable experience will be the visit in the Lobèkè National Park where we will admire the flora and fauna of rainforests of the central part of the continent. This is one of last so rich tropical ecosystems, not only in Africa. We will meet there with lowland gorillas and forest elephants. We also will explore the culture of Pygmies whose lands are now part of the Lobèkè National Park. Finally, after the hardships of the journey, it is time to relax on Atlantic beaches.
itinerary
Flights to Yaoundé usually take place in the afternoon and evening. After arrival, visa formalities. Transfer to the hotel and, after a short rest, an organisational meeting and dinner.
D.
After breakfast, we will drive to Mefou. We will visit the National Park and the centre for rehabilitation of primates, where we will see lowland gorillas and chimpanzees. We will also go for a short hike into the forest, during which we will admire the richness of th e Cameroon flora. In the afternoon, we will head off to Ebogo where we will have a cruise on the river in traditional boats and visit the place where one of the largest trees in the world grow. In the evening, we will drive to the town of Ebolowa for dinner and night rest.
B. L. D.
After breakfast, we will set off to visit the area around Nkolandom. We will visit a cave that was a place of worship for the local community, and a museum with a collection of masks and sculptures. There will be an opportunity to observe local fishermen at work and visit the local market. In the afternoon, drive to Yaoundé for dinner and night rest.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will start our whole-day trip towards the Lobèkè National Park (350 km). Gradually, the landscape will change and asphalt roads will give way to open terrain, muddy at places. En route we will stop for lunch and a short visit in the town of Abong Mbang. Our night rest and dinner are planned in Bertoua.
B.L.D.
After an early breakfast, we will set off to continue our journey to Mambèlè (450 km), where the management of the Lobèkè National Park is located. On this day, we will complete all formalities related to the stay in the National Park and we will visit the tourist information centre. We will go to a hotel in Mambèlè for dinner and accommodation.
B.L.D.
The Lobèkè National Park is one of the most valuable natural areas of Cameroon and Central Africa. It gives shelter to numerous populations of western lowland gorillas, African forest elephants and forest buffaloes. Many of the bird, amphibian and reptile species present there have still not been described, not to mention invertebrates and other extraordinary flora of this area.First, we will go to meet mountain elephants. En route, we will get to know also other inhabitants of central African rainforests. Dinner and night rest at a tent lodge camp.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will go to one of small villages where we will learn about the life of Pygmies who still inhabit the forest parts of the National Park. Then, accompanied by the village inhabitants, we will go to the forest for a traditional hunt. We will also learn about medicinal plants and edible fruits. It will be an exceptional opportunity to have a close encounter with the disappearing Pygmy culture. Dinner and night rest at a tent lodge camp.
B.L.D.
In the early morning, we will set off for a hike in the search for family groups of Western lowland gorillas. In line with the regulations protecting this endangered primate species, observation is possible for only one hour. We will also see other, smaller, very interesting inhabitants of the central African forests. Dinner and night rest at a tent lodge camp.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, the last trip to the rainforest and close encounters with larger and smaller inhabitants of one of the species-richest habitats on our planet. In the afternoon, a drive to the town of Mambèlè. Dinner and night rest at the hotel in the town.
B.L.D.
A whole-day drive to the Cameroon capital. En route we will stop for lunch in a small town called Yokadouma. Dinner and night rest at a hotel in Bertoua.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will visit Bertoua with its local market and then will set off for Yaoundé – the capital of Cameroon. Dinner and night rest at the hotel.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will start our drive to the west of Cameroon, where we will visit one of the most interesting places of this west African country from the cultural and historical point of view. We will visit palaces that belonged to local rulers back in the olden days and are now museums in Batoufam and Bandjoun. In the afternoon, a drive to Bafoussam for dinner and night rest at a hotel.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will drive to Foumban, that used to be the capital of the local sultanate. We will visit a local museum and a handicraft market. We will see traditional houses. In the afternoon, a drive to Bana for dinner and night rest.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will leave Bana and go near the town of Melong, where we will stop in front of one of the most beautiful waterfalls of West Africa: Ekom-Nkam (over 80 metres of height). Next we will set off for a short visit in the town of Duala. In the afternoon, we will drive to the vicinity of Kribi. We will spend two nights there, resting after the hardships of our expedition.
B.L.D.
We will relax on the picturesque beach. An optional visit to the nearby Lobe Waterfall. It is an exceptional place where water falls directly into the ocean. Lunch at one of local restaurants whose specialty is fish and seafood. Return to the hotel. Dinner in the evening.
B.L.D.
Last swim in the ocean and relaxation on the beach. Depending on the departure time, transfer to Duala to the airport and flight to Europe. We will reach our final destination airport on the same or next day.
B.L.
Practical information
- the length of the tour : 16 days in Cameroon;
- start of the trip: Yaoundé;
- end of the trip: Douala;
- the highlights of this expedition:Its highlights will be visits in villages and small towns with inhabitants of different nationalities, forming a real melting pot of people with different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds of Cameroon. Moreover, an exceptional attraction will be the stay in the Lobèkè National Park.It will be an extraordinary opportunity to learn about the fauna and flora of one of the most species-rich habitats in the world, which are the rainforests of Central Africa. In particular, we should have close encounters with forest elephants and lowland gorillas.
The tour will be an expedition to one of the regions of the world rarely visited by tourists. The tour has a nature of a tourist expedition and will be oriented on cultural, sightseeing and nature tourism. Because of the special nature of the visited places and of the expedition features, the travellers are required to be physically and mentally fit. Long car rides through the wilderness of Cameroon, often at more than +30°C, overnight stays in hotels and lodges with limited access to toilets and showers may be very tiresome and cause considerable discomfort. Furthermore, as the expedition will take place to very remote areas, during its course there will be practically no access to medical services, except for the capital and larger towns of Cameroon, and even there only to a limited extent. Hikes in the Lobèkè National Park are planned during the trip. The itinerary was designed to enable best possible viewing of the places away from mass tourism routes, while meeting basic safety standards and ensuring comfort to the travellers. You should bear in mind that Cameroon is a country of many cultures and traditions, having a special and unique character.
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned end of the tour.
- Before departure, you must obtain the tourist visas at one of your nearest embassies of Cameroon. Having booked the tour, the travellers will receive a letter of invitation necessary for obtaining the visa. The completed visa application and two current colour photographs will also be necessary.
- To obtain a visa, you may use the services of visa agents or the help of BTP Adventure.
- You should take with you for the trip a photocopy of your passport (the photo page) and an additional ID document.
- Take with you for the trip the yellow vaccination booklet with certified valid yellow fever vaccination – it is impossible to enter Cameroon without this document and vaccination.
- Before departure, we recommend a consultation with a family physician and a tropical medicine specialist.
- Vaccination against yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria, viral hepatitis A and B, meningococci and typhus is recommended.
- Malaria prevention measures (Malarone or Lariam) are necessary.
- There is a risk of dengue and tuberculosis at the places planned to be visited during the trip.
- We recommend visiting https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries.
- During our expedition, we will drink only bottled water. You should avoid ice in your beverages and eating raw or undercooked foods. Only private medical care exists in Cameroon and this only in the only in large cities.
- Because of difficult travelling and accommodation conditions and particularities of the country, good general health and physical fitness are necessary. Furthermore, your patience will definitely be tested and you should prepare for hardships of long journeys, lassitude and discomfort.
- Please take with you a first aid kit and a sufficient supply of your regular (prescription) medicines, if any. Some useful contents of the first aid kit:
- insect repellents – absolutely necessary
- malaria prophylaxis
- high sun protection cream (recommended SPF 50)
- disinfectants, wound dressing materials
- analgesics and antipyretics
- antibiotics, as a precaution
- anti-diarrhoeals, electrolytes and vitamins
The Cameroon is currently relatively stable and safe countries. The actual terrorist threat or armed conflict risk is nowadays relatively low. We design our itineraries so as to avoid places that are potentially dangerous region of Cameroon, near the border with Nigeria and Chad.
Owing to the good relations we have with local contractors, we keep following the news to be aware of any potential threats and safety risks. We also recommend you to read the latest news on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
The legal tender in Cameroon is CFA franc. Currency exchange is possible in the largest towns of Cameroon – at the airport and in hotels. It is very difficult elsewhere. Using payment cards is practically impossible outside the capital. The best foreign exchange rate is for euros and US dollars. UK pounds are not generally exchangeable.
For current foreign exchange rates see www.xe.com or install xe.com on your phone.
In Cameroon the official languages are English and French. Several hundred local languages are also spoken. For self-guided tours, you must speak English or French.
Cameroon is multi-ethnic and multi-religious countries. Their inhabitants are predominantly Christians of different rites and followers of traditional African religions. Local customs and traditions are very much preserved.
It is very important to respect local customs and abide by local laws. You will receive the relevant information from your local guide or the tour leader.
The tour dates are proposed in periods of the best possible weather conditions at the sites included in the itinerary. The best time for expeditions to Cameroon is the period between November to the end of February and from June to the end of August. Temperatures exceed +30°C during the day and +20°C at night. Rainfalls are possible. Major problems are low quality of roads, dust in the air in the dry season and mud after rainfalls.
For detailed information see https://www.meteoblue.com/en.
Mobile network coverage is available in most towns and villages. In areas outside of large towns, mobile network services are mostly unavailable. Purchase of a local SIM-card is complicated and of little benefit. Before the trip, please enquire with your mobile network operator whether they have a contract signed with operators in Cameroon and what the prices of call and SMS roaming are. To avoid a nasty surprise, we recommend disabling mobile data usage.
- Wi-Fi is available only at certain accommodation sites and in a handful of restaurants.
- Additionally, we recommend taking a capacious power bank, solar charger or car charger. In national parks and in the course of car rides, it will be possible to charge electronic equipment only from vehicle power supplies.
- Power sockets of type C, and E, . Voltage 230 V, frequency 50 Hz.
For climatic and cultural reasons, loose garments will be most appropriate: long trousers, long skirts, long-sleeved shirts, which can be easily washed and will quickly dry. The most comfortable footwear for the tour will be lightweight boots. Palladium brand boots are recommended. You may walk in open sandals but in towns and desert regions this may be uncomfortable because of stones, thorny plants and sharp grasses. Light hiking boots may prove useful. The following are worth taking:
- sachet for documents and money
- wet wipes for body cleaning and antibacterial gels
- dry shampoo
- polar fleece jacket or warmer blouse, especially useful at evening and night times
- head cover and sunglasses – mandatory, the sun is no joke!
- comfortable summer clothes, useful during practically the whole trip
- light T-shirts/shirts
- useful odds and ends: torch, Swiss Army knife, sewing kit (usually is not needed but is not heavy and does not take much place), chargers, mug (for special occasions); inflatable neck pillow, useful on the plane and during car rides; small wallet for the local currency; books to pass the time on flights and car rides
Price
Price: £ 3590 p/p
Price per person for a group of at least 4 people. In the case of a trip for a smaller number of people, the price will be given individually:
During the expedition, we will travel by 4WD vehicles. Expected number of travellers in one vehicle: 3 + the driver. Our cars may not be equipped with air conditioning or the air conditioning system may be switched off because of too much dust particles in the air. Speed depends on the road surface conditions, terrain characteristics and number and length of stops.
We are not able to guarantee a uniform accommodation standard at each of the planned sites during the stay in Cameroon. Our priorities are your comfort, appropriate location, character of the site and historical, cultural and natural values. We always place emphasis on the support of local community when selecting the sites for our accommodation. In general, rooms will be assigned on the assumption of two people sharing a twin room (rooms with individual bathrooms). The surcharges for single rooms are quoted in the “Price” section. In Cameroon we will stays in 3- and 4-star hotels. Four overnight stays are planned in Lobèkè National Park in tent lodge camp.
Meals according to the schedule B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner and mineral water.
Meals while travelling and during the stay in northern regions may be sometimes unvaried and repetitive, because of limited availability of foods. Apart from the capital and larger towns, only very basic foods can be bought. For information about the local costs of living see https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/.
Local guide
Entrance fees and permit charges meals according to the program
Trip preparation, visa mediation, the invitation necessary to obtain a visa
Costs of the main flight to and from Cameroon
Costs of flight tickets are not covered by the tour price. BTP Adventure does not directly arrange and buy tickets for international flights. However, we may suggest the best connections and airlines. For this purpose, contact us by e-mail or call us.
Visa costs and visa services.
- Visa to the Cameroon Republic – single entry visa is necessary
- Insurance is not covered by the tour price. Having valid insurance is a condition for taking part in the trip. We recommend taking out insurance that will be appropriate for the planned itinerary and for your individual state of health and needs. Please send us the proof of your insurance contract.
- You can purchase insurance on your own on the website of Axa or any other insurance company: https://www.axa.co.uk/travel-insurance/.
- BTP Adventure may help you obtain adequate insurance cover. If you want our help, please contact us.
The price does not includes the cost of tips and porters’ fees.
Meals other than those listed in the final itinerary.
Surcharge for a single room: 550 £
supplementary payment for the additional accommodation In the case of arrival or departure on a different date,
Final notes
The planned expedition is an exclusive proposal prepared on the basis of our experience and knowledge of the local peculiarities and major sightseeing attractions of Cameroon
We are committed to ensure the best possible and safe and, as far as feasible, comfortable travelling in Cameroon.
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
We can arrange a self-guided tour – if your are interested, please contact the office.
The trip can be combined with an expedition to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo Benin and Uganda.
We will keep updating the detailed information on the safety and final itinerary of the tour. Before you decide to submit the booking form, please learn about the current political and sanitary situation in Cameroon.
With any questions please contact BTP ADVENTURE
3590 £ Per Person
It is possible to extend the trip to Gabon
The trip can be combined with an expedition to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo Benin and Uganda.
