Useful Information
When to go?
Police Formalities
Health
Customs
Airport tax
Currency/Exchange
Official Languages
Photography
Urban and Inter-Urban Transportation
Electricity
Telephone
Catering/Food
Airlines
Time
Working Hours
When to go?
It all depends on the area to be visited.
The south is entirely covered with dense forests and has four seasons in a year: a long dry season from January to March, a light rainy season between April and June, a short dry season from July to September, and a heavy rainy season from October to December.
The northern region on the contrary is under two main seasons: a four ? month rainy season from June to October and a very long dry season for the rest of the year.
It is to be noted however that these information are nothing but theory, as a number of variations can be observed here and there. In the west for example there are heavy rainfalls from July through September, and the Littoral where it rains throughout the year.
Cameroon can be visited at any period of the year, except National Parks in the north, which are difficult to access in the rainy season.
En dehors des Parcs Nationaux situés dans le nord du pays qui sont difficilement accessibles pendant la saison pluvieuse, le Cameroun se visite en toute saison.
Police Formalities
Foreigners wishing to visit Cameroon can obtain a tourist visa from any Cameroon diplomatic mission or Consulate in their country of residence. This is a multi-entry non-renewable visa valid for 30 days.
Tourists from countries with no Cameroon diplomatic mission can obtain their visas at the border on arrival. This is also valid for tourists coming in organised trip.
The following documents are required to obtain a tourist visa:
- A valid passport;
- A return air ticket;
- An international vaccination certificate (yellow fever);
- Two full-face passport size photographs;
- An accommodation certificate or hotel reservation;
- A filled and signed visa application form obtainable from Cameroon consulates, or by post on mere application.
A stamped envelope should be attached to the form for reply. Fiscal stamps are sold within the consulates.
Health
Tourists on arrival must present an international vaccination certificate for yellow fever. They are highly advised to take pre-emptive measures against malaria.
Animals brought into the country by tourists are subject to the usual health formalities, especially those concerning rabies.
In Cameroon there are high standard health infrastructures such as the two reference hospitals in Douala and Yaounde, as well as a good number of other health facilities throughout the country.
Customs
Tourists enjoy a temporary import regime as the following personal items can be brought in free of customs duties. Such items are: jewels weighing less than 500g (1.10 pounds), clothes and linen, cat and dog, two photo cameras with 24 stretchers or 10 film rolls for each camera, a miniature camera with 10 tapes, a TV set and a portable radio receiver, a portable video recorder, a pair of binoculars, light camping equipment and sports items, washing items, child car, three litres of wine, one litre of liquor or alcohol; 500g (1.10 pounds) of tobacco or 400 cigarettes or 125 cigars.
- An import license is required for hunting guns;
- An authorization from the administration in charge of forest matters is also needed by tourists to carry away animal products.
- As for art objects and other items (wood, iron...), tourists should apply for authorization from the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines.
Airport Tax
The airport tax from Cameroon is:
- 10,000cfa (15.50 ?) for international flights; and
- 500cfa (0.8 ?) for national flights.
Currency/Exchange
Cameroon currency is the CFA franc which is pegged to the Euro: 1 Euro = 656cfa. Banks usually work from 7.00 a.m to 3.00 p.m. Currency exchange is made possible with banks, big hotels and some travel agencies. Credit cards are also accepted in some high standard hotels.
Official Languages
Cameroon is known as a bilingual country with French and English as official languages.
Photography
Tourists are free to take photographs throughout the national territory, with exception for presidential palaces, airfields, military reserved zones and installations, security and defence personnel, and such images likely to undermine the country's morals or tarnish its good reputation. A special pass obtainable from the Ministry of Communication is required to film official events and for commercial filming.
Filming within national parks is subject to the payment of a fee per camera.
Individuals should give their consent before they are filmed.
Urban and Inter-Urban transportation
Taxi fare in urban areas is 150 cfa (0.25?) a drop; meaning there are many people in the same car.
In case an individual from one place to another place in town hires a taxi, the fare is bargained between the driver and the passenger, with an a verge of 1,500 cfa (2.3 ?) per hour.
Taxi fare to or from the airport is 2,500 cfa (4?) in the day and 5,000 cfa (8?) at night (from 6.00 pm).
There is a permanent bus transport service among the major cities in Cameroon.
Travelling within the country is also done by air or by train. There are airfields in Ngaoundere, Bertoua, Bafoussam and Maroua. Cameroon is crossed from west to east by a more than 1500 metres long railway going from Douala to Ngaoundere through Yaounde.
In villages and some urban areas, bush taxis constitute the main means of transport.
Electricity
220V, European standard sockets.
Téléphone
The international dialling code is 237 to which you add the other seven local digits.
Catering/Food
Foreign tourists can find European food in major hotels and good restaurants. Yet, an excellent local cuisine, with a variety of fresh ingredients (fish, game, fruit) is made available in the country is many restaurants.
Airlines
Cameroon has three international airports in Yaounde, Douala and Garoua.
There are direct flights to Europe (5000 km in 6 hours).
The main airlines are:
- Cameroon Airlines : 12, Boulevard des Capucines. 75009 Paris, Tel : 0143123010. Fax 0149249398. There are daily flights from Paris to Cameroon or from Cameroon to Europe.
- Air France: Tel. 0802 802 802 with daily flights from Paris and Cameroon;
- Swiss: two flights per week from Zurich;
- SN Brussels, with two flights per week from Brussels;
- For inter-African air links, there are Cameroon Airlines, Air Gabon, Air Ivoire, Kenya Airways and Nigeria Airways.
Time
Time zone is: Universal Time (GMT) + 1.
In winter, Cameroon time is the same as France's. In Summer: GMT-1.
Miscelleneous
Tourists should bring along light linen, cotton or linseed clothing, sunglasses, a hat, sweaters for evenings, and probably a raincoat. They Should avoid synthetic fabrics.
Tips are accepted in bars and restaurants.
Working Hours
Monday through Friday from 7.30 a.m to 15.30 p.m. for public service, while private business runs even on Saturdays till 18.00 p.m.