Located in the Gulf of Guinea, Cameroon lies at the intersection of West Africa and Central Africa. The north of Cameroon is dry and contains vast savannas, whereas the south is home to dense tropical forest. Ecologically and culturally, Cameroon is extremely rich. It contains more than 200 ethnic groups, and a particularly high biodiversity, especially in terms of its flora. The European powers' "scramble for Africa" movement in the late 19th century was the beginning of a long period of colonialism in Cameroon. Since then, the country has been renamed several times, each by a different colonizer. When World War I ended, the country was split into British Cameroon in the south and French Cameroon in the north. In 1961 the country was reunited, and the Federal Republic of Cameroon was declared. Behind this political turmoil lives some 200 cultural groups. A gentle but resilient people, they are slowly shaking off the colonial influences still visible in their society. Today, a strong national identity has emerged, binding north and south Cameroonians into one.
Crossing Cameroon you come across great varieties of vegetation, from savannah around the shores of Lake Chad, to equatorial forests in the south-east of the country. It is one of the most geographically diverse countries in Africa, comprising three major zones: the northern savannah, the southern and eastern rainforests, and the north-western hill region near Nigeria. Because of its great geographical and cultural variety, Cameroon is sometimes called "Africa in miniature". Cameroon's valuable rain forests contain a number of species of trees, including oil palms, bamboo palms, mahogany, teak, ebony, and rubber. Wildlife is diverse and abundant and includes monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas, antelope, lions, and elephants, as well as numerous species of birds and snakes. Sweltering rainforests and strutting sultans, game parks and grilled chicken: Cameroon is one of Africa's most naturally and culturally diverse countries. The population is composed of over 130 different ethnic groups speaking dozens of languages. Mt Cameroon not only is West Africa's highest mountain but also is the only still active volcano in Africa. The national team became Olympic Champion Football 2000. Soccer and basketball are immensely popular, and village pick-up games aren't hard to find, especially if you bring your own ball. Cameroon has achieved one of the highest rates of school attendance in Africa, although the literacy rate is still just 54 percent.
Islam and Christianity compete for souls with an array of traditional animist beliefs. Outside of the swelling and modernised cities of Yaoundé, the capital, and Douala, the largest city and industrial centre, rainforests stretch north from the Atlantic Ocean, giving way to savannah and semi-desert in the north. Elephants and bongos congregate by the hundreds in some of Africa's best game parks, and beachcombers laze on long, isolated beaches. Little is known about Cameroon before 1472 when the Portuguese arrived shouting 'Camarões, camarões!' in amazement at the many giant shrimp - hence the country's name.
Cameroon, AFRICA IN MINIATURE
Cameroon is Africa in Miniature and offers all the diversity of Africa—in climate, culture, and geography within its borders.Other touristic phrases sometimes used include "the melting pot of Africa" and "Africa in microcosm". Cameroon's tourist destinations are in four general areas: the coast, the major cities, the Western highlands, and the north. The coast offers two major beach resort towns: Limbe is English-speaking with black, volcanic sand; and Kribi is a French-speaking city with white-sand beaches. Mount Cameroon on the coast is the highest mountain in Central and West Africa and draws hikers and climbers. The stepping-off point for climbing Mt. Cameroon is the city of Buea, where guides can be hired and equipment can be rented. There are several tin-roofed huts for hikers to sleep in during their trek up the mountain.
Yaoundé is home to most of Cameroon's national monuments. It also has several museums. The Western highlands offer picturesque mountain scenery, waterfalls and lakes, and the altitude provides a cooler climate. Bamenda is the main city in the western highlands, and is the capital of the Northwest province. This area is known for its traditional culture and crafts. The city of Bafoussam is especially famous for its wood-carving culture and artifacts. In fact, the area produces more crafts than any other in Cameroon. The West is also home to traditional chiefdoms and fondoms, such as the sultanate of Foumban. Each chief typically has his own palace or compound which visitors may visit for a fee.
Cameroon's north is the nation's primary tourist draw. The area has several wildlife reserves, including the largest and best-run in West Africa, Waza National Park. These parks offer both animal viewing and big-game hunting. Animals in this region include cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, hippopotami, and rhinoceroses. Maroua offers a large crafts market and museums.
The Adamawa, East, and South provinces offer a new front for expansion of the tourist industry, but poor transport conditions keep the industry small in these regions.Forest reserves in the south have little tourist-oriented infrastructure, but visitors there may see chimpanzees, elephants, gorillas, and other rainforest fauna.
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African Wisdom of the Day
“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”
