Africa · Middle Africa

Cameroon

Republic of Cameroon

Flag of Cameroon
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+01:00
🏛️ Capital
Yaoundé
👥 Population
29,442,327
📐 Area
475,442 km²
💱 Currency
Central African CFA franc (Fr)
🗣️ Languages
English, French
📞 Calling Code
+237
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+01:00
🌐 Region
Africa / Middle Africa

About Cameroon

Cameroon is famously known as "Africa in Miniature" — and the nickname is entirely justified. Within this single country you will find Atlantic beaches, equatorial rainforests, volcanic mountains, vast savannas, and the edge of the Sahara Desert all compressed into one remarkable territory. It is a country where a few days of travel can transport you from lush jungle where lowland gorillas roam to arid semi-desert landscapes dotted with the fortress-like compounds of northern sultanates.

Yaoundé, the political capital set in rolling green hills, offers a contrasting experience to the more dynamic commercial port city of Douala. The Littoral region around Douala is a gateway to extraordinary nature: Mount Cameroon, the highest peak in West and Central Africa, rises dramatically from the coast to 4,095 meters and can be climbed as a multi-day trek through shifting ecological zones. The Bamiléké highlands in the west are a cultural heartland of traditional chieftaincies, tikar bronze castings, and one of the most visually distinctive architectural landscapes in Africa.

In the far north, the Mandara Mountains and Waza National Park offer a wildlife and cultural experience unlike anything in the south. And cutting through everything is the Cameroonian spirit — warm, entrepreneurial, and sporting (the Indomitable Lions national football team is a source of enormous pride). Despite infrastructure challenges and some security concerns in specific regions, Cameroon rewards intrepid travelers with an Africa of extraordinary variety.

History & Background

Cameroon's territory has been inhabited for thousands of years, with the Sao civilization flourishing around Lake Chad from roughly the 5th through the 15th centuries. The Portuguese arrived on the coast in the 1470s and named the Wouri River "Rio dos Camarões" (River of Prawns) — the origin of the country's modern name. The powerful Fulani jihad of the early 19th century transformed the north politically and religiously, establishing sultanates that still hold ceremonial authority today.

Germany established a protectorate over Kamerun in 1884, building roads, railways, and plantations across the territory. After Germany's World War I defeat, the territory was divided between Britain and France under League of Nations mandates. French Cameroun gained independence on January 1, 1960, and the following year a plebiscite saw the southern part of British Cameroons vote to join the new republic, while the northern section voted to join Nigeria. The English–French linguistic fault line has intensified in recent years, with Anglophone regions in the northwest and southwest experiencing a secessionist conflict known as the Anglophone Crisis since 2016, which requires careful consideration when planning travel.

Culture & People

Cameroon's cultural mosaic is among Africa's most complex: the country harbors over 250 ethnic groups speaking nearly 300 languages. This diversity is organized into broad linguistic and cultural zones — the Beti and Bassa peoples of the south, the Bamiléké highlanders of the west, the Muslim Fulani and Arab Choa of the north, and the Baka forest-dwelling communities of the east. English and French are co-official languages, a legacy of the country's dual British and French colonial history that still shapes its politics and identity today.

The Bamiléké people of the western highlands are particularly celebrated for their rich chieftaincy traditions, elaborate funerary ceremonies, and the iconic dancing masks with long beaded garments that appear at royal festivals. Cameroon's music scene is world-class: Makossa rhythms from Douala have influenced African popular music globally, and bikutsi from the Beti south adds a compelling polyrhythmic counterpoint. The country's storytelling, oral poetry, and griots tradition weave together a cultural narrative that connects modern Cameroonians to ancient lineages while embracing a forward-looking creativity that thrives in its cities and festivals.

Food & Cuisine

Cameroonian cuisine is hearty and vegetable-rich, with a deep reliance on cassava, plantain, cocoyam, and maize as starchy bases. Ndolé — a bitterleaf stew cooked with groundnuts and sometimes meat or smoked fish — is the national dish and a deeply satisfying flavor experience. Eru soup, made from forest leaves and waterleaf cooked with smoked fish or beef and palm oil, is a western Cameroonian specialty that has become beloved across the country. Soya — spiced beef skewers grilled over charcoal at roadside stands — is the quintessential street food of Yaoundé and Douala.

Plantain is ubiquitous: boiled, fried, roasted, or pounded into miondo (a fermented cassava version) it appears at virtually every meal. Pepper soup made with goat or fish is a celebratory dish found at occasions from weddings to funerals. Fresh fish from the Atlantic coast and from Cameroon's lakes and rivers are exceptional — grilled tilapia and mackerel are sold at coastal markets with the catch barely an hour old. Palm wine, tapped fresh from palm trees, is the traditional social drink of the south, while Castel and '33' Export beer are the nation's beloved commercial brews.

Top Attractions

  • Mount Cameroon — West Africa's highest peak (4,095m), an active volcano offering challenging multi-day treks through rainforest, moorland, and volcanic lava fields.
  • Waza National Park — Northern Cameroon's premier wildlife destination with lions, elephants, giraffes, and exceptional birdwatching in the dry season.
  • Bamiléké Chieftaincy Villages — The western highlands are dotted with traditional palaces, masked festivals, and artisan workshops producing world-class bronze and textile art.
  • Limbe Botanical Garden — A lush colonial-era garden on the Atlantic coast adjoining a wildlife center caring for rescued chimpanzees and gorillas.
  • Mandara Mountains — Dramatic volcanic peaks in the far north, home to the Mandara people whose hilltop villages and terraced agriculture create a spectacular landscape.
  • Dja Faunal Reserve — A UNESCO World Heritage rainforest covering over 5,000 square kilometers, one of Africa's largest undisturbed rainforests and home to western lowland gorillas.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Check current travel advisories before visiting — the Anglophone northwest and southwest regions, parts of the far north near Lake Chad, and areas near the CAR border carry elevated security risks.
  • The CFA franc is the local currency; ATMs are available in Yaoundé and Douala but very limited elsewhere — carry adequate cash for rural travel.
  • Both French and English are official, but French dominates — basic French is extremely helpful outside the Anglophone regions.
  • A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry and will be checked at the airport.
  • Road travel between cities can be very slow; intercity buses are available but journeys take much longer than map distances suggest due to road conditions.
  • Photography requires a permit for public spaces in some areas — always ask permission before photographing people or markets.

Visa Overview

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Cameroon, obtained in advance from a Cameroonian embassy or consulate. Visa on arrival is not generally available, so plan ahead. Requirements typically include a valid passport with at least six months of validity, a completed application form, a passport photo, return ticket, proof of accommodation, and the visa fee. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for all travelers. Citizens of certain CEMAC countries and some other African nations benefit from visa-free or simplified entry arrangements. Always verify current requirements with the relevant Cameroonian mission.

Getting Around

Douala and Yaoundé are Cameroon's main international airports, connected by a highway that takes approximately three hours. Within cities, shared taxis (taxi-clando) are inexpensive; for intercity travel, bus companies like Général Express and Binam operate comfortable services on main routes. Road quality deteriorates significantly outside major corridors, particularly in the western highlands and north. Hiring a private vehicle with a driver is recommended for exploring Mount Cameroon, the Bamiléké region, and northern parks. The country's limited rail network connects Yaoundé to Ngaoundéré in the north.

Safety Notes

Cameroon has several areas of active security concern: the Far North region near Lake Chad, the northwest and southwest Anglophone regions experiencing armed conflict, and areas bordering the Central African Republic. Travelers should avoid these zones entirely. In Yaoundé and Douala, petty crime and street robbery are present — avoid displaying valuables, use reputable transport, and exercise caution at night. Road accidents are common due to poor roads and driving conditions. Comprehensive travel insurance including medical evacuation is essential; malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Cameroon.

Central African CFA franc (XAF) Fr
Updated: 2026-10-07
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.017232
AAVE 0.000010
ADA 0.006682
AED 0.006288
AFN 0.110409
AKT 0.002365
ALGO 0.014349
ALL 0.139970
AMD 0.619607
AMP 2.905400
ANG 0.003083
AOA 1.570475
APE 0.011379
APT 0.002232
AR 0.000399
ARB 0.009211
ARS 2.602879
ATOM 0.001004
ATS 0.020977
AUD 0.002457
AVAX 0.000155
AWG 0.003065
AXS 0.001415
AZM 14.552890
AZN 0.002911
BAKE 7.225606
BAM 0.002982
BAT 0.016247
BBD 0.003424
BCH 0.000006
BDT 0.210476
BEF 0.061498
BGN 0.002982
BHD 0.000644
BIF 5.142083
BMD 0.001712
BNB 0.000002
BND 0.002190
BOB 0.020528
BRL 0.008531
BSD 0.001712
BSV 0.000089
BSW 4.222614
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.025174
BTG 0.002674
BTN 0.165279
BTT 4,685.175400
BUSD 0.001713
BWP 0.023536
BYN 0.005258
BYR 33.563631
BZD 0.003445
CAD 0.002435
CAKE 0.000742
CDF 3.957529
CELO 0.017632
CFX 0.033042
CHF 0.001427
CHZ 0.107700
CLP 1.667306
CNH 0.011480
CNY 0.011480
COMP 0.000074
COP 5.542617
CRC 0.782301
CRO 0.026585
CRV 0.004865
CSPR 0.693244
CUC 0.001712
CUP 0.041077
CVE 0.168106
CVX 0.000804
CYP 0.000892
CZK 0.037210
DAI 0.001713
DASH 0.000032
DCR 0.000096
DEM 0.002982
DFI 2.133354
DJF 0.304784
DKK 0.011395
DOGE 0.019008
DOP 0.103165
DOT 0.001526
DYDX 0.012847
DZD 0.230526
EEK 0.023853
EGLD 0.000413
EGP 0.089569
ENJ 0.055204
EOS 0.017181
ERN 0.025682
ESP 0.253654
ETB 0.275807
ETC 0.000202
ETH 0.000001
EUR 0.001524
EURC 0.001525
FEI 0.001719
FIL 0.001574
FIM 0.009064
FJD 0.003852
FKP 0.001292
FLOW 0.054268
FLR 0.239045
FRAX 0.001727
FRF 0.0100
FTT 0.006951
GALA 0.739898
GBP 0.001292
GEL 0.004440
GGP 0.001292
GHC 201.465108
GHS 0.020147
GIP 0.001292
GMD 0.127041
GMX 0.000204
GNF 15.075280
GNO 0.000014
GRD 0.519470
GRT 0.061900
GT 0.000154
GTQ 0.013070
GUSD 0.001716
GYD 0.358026
HBAR 0.017817
HKD 0.013436
HNL 0.045958
HNT 0.003398
HOT 3.966249
HRK 0.011486
HT 0.046929
HTG 0.224082
HUF 0.557429
ICP 0.000535
IDR 30.623861
IEP 0.001201
ILS 0.005226
IMP 0.001292
IMX 0.009760
INJ 0.000227
INR 0.165279
IQD 2.243250
IRR 2,966.185912
ISK 0.209217
ITL 2.951825
JEP 0.001292
JMD 0.271858
JOD 0.001214
JPY 0.271265
KAS 0.041340
KAVA 0.025664
KCS 0.000223
KDA 0.189395
KES 0.222412
KGS 0.149737
KHR 6.935134
KLAY 0.044427
KMF 0.7500
KNC 0.012292
KPW 1.541188
KRW 2.291859
KSM 0.000353
KWD 0.000530
KYD 0.001423
KZT 0.771761
LAK 38.430130
LBP 153.646434
LDO 0.003940
LEO 0.000193
LINK 0.000126
LKR 0.565994
LRC 0.173325
LRD 0.292615
LSL 0.028402
LTC 0.000025
LTL 0.005264
LUF 0.061498
LUNA 0.036170
LUNC 33.742274
LVL 0.001071
LYD 0.011000
MAD 0.017067
MANA 0.016673
MBX 0.058941
MDL 0.030523
MGA 7.573988
MGF 37.869938
MINA 0.016518
MKD 0.093718
MKR 0.000001
MMK 3.594759
MNT 6.158103
MOP 0.013840
MRO 0.685104
MRU 0.068510
MTL 0.000654
MUR 0.081101
MVR 0.026465
MWK 2.967061
MXN 0.030856
MXV 0.003491
MYR 0.006997
MZM 109.346759
MZN 0.109347
NAD 0.028402
NEAR 0.000345
NEO 0.000712
NEXO 0.002035
NFT 7,239.762194
NGN 2.270128
NIO 0.062963
NLG 0.003360
NOK 0.016384
NPR 0.264571
NZD 0.003055
OKB 0.000013
OMR 0.000659
ONE 0.012171
OP 0.014088
ORDI 0.000401
PAB 0.001712
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.005893
PEPE 417.070730
PGK 0.007752
PHP 0.107424
PI 0.020475
PKR 0.474092
PLN 0.006669
POL 0.016574
PTE 0.305633
PYG 10.024659
QAR 0.006232
QNT 0.000007
QTUM 0.001843
ROL 81.548478
RON 0.008155
RPL 0.000947
RSD 0.179013
RUB 0.145132
RUNE 0.002339
RVN 0.765552
RWF 2.526608
SAND 0.022938
SAR 0.006420
SBD 0.013814
SCR 0.024565
SDD 102.757203
SDG 1.027572
SEK 0.017160
SGD 0.002190
SHIB 308.959490
SHP 0.001292
SIT 0.365329
SKK 0.045927
SLE 0.042248
SLL 42.247758
SNX 0.007048
SOL 0.000014
SOS 0.977015
SPL 0.000285
SRD 0.064486
SRG 64.486322
SSP 9.847196
STD 37.592276
STN 0.037592
STX 0.004290
SUI 0.001507
SVC 0.014981
SYP 22.265017
SZL 0.028402
THB 0.057667
THETA 0.007787
TJS 0.015784
TMM 29.929562
TMT 0.005986
TND 0.005128
TOP 0.004123
TRL 84,224.763257
TRX 0.005148
TRY 0.084225
TTD 0.011605
TUSD 0.001713
TVD 0.002457
TWD 0.054561
TWT 0.003100
TZS 4.533252
UAH 0.076778
UGX 6.923610
UNI 0.000211
USD 0.001712
USDC 0.001713
USDD 0.001713
USDP 0.001723
USDT 0.001713
UYU 0.069058
UZS 20.157473
VAL 2.951825
VEB 149,021,827.039316
VED 1.490218
VEF 149,021.827039
VES 1.490218
VET 0.208038
VND 44.533833
VUV 0.205667
WAVES 0.006110
WEMIX 0.008950
WOO 0.133298
WST 0.004761
XAG 0.000028
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.004635
XCG 0.003083
XCH 0.001132
XDC 0.050895
XDR 0.001264
XEC 222.863696
XEM 3.004133
XLM 0.008304
XMR 0.000003
XOF 1.0000
XPD 0.000001
XPF 0.181920
XPT 0.000001
XRP 0.001167
XTZ 0.005457
YER 0.404465
ZAR 0.028402
ZEC 0.000001
ZIL 0.508002
ZMK 33.984553
ZMW 0.033985
ZWD 0.619611
ZWG 0.045823
ZWL 114.499390

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Cities in Cameroon 427
Browse all cities and towns
Abong-Mbang Afanloum Akoéman Akom Akom II Akono Akonolinga Akwaya Ambam Angossas Assié Assighassia Atok Awaé Awing Ayos Babadjou Babessi Bafang Bafia Bafoussam Bafoussam III Bafut Baham Bakou Baleng Bali Bali Bamenda Bamenda Bamendjou Bamougoum Bandenkop Bandja Bandjoun Bangangté Bangem Town Bangou Bangou Carrefour Bangourain Banka Bankim Banwa Banyo Baréko (Baré-Bakem) Barndaké Baschéo Bassamba Batcham Batchenga Batibo Batié Batouri Bayangam Bazou Béka Bélabo Bélel Bembon Benakuma Bengbis Bertoua Betare Oya Bétaré-Oya Bibemi Bibey Bikok Bikop Bindiba Bipindi Biwong-Bane Biwong-Bulu Biyouha Blangoua Bogo Bokito Bonaberi Bondjock Borgop Bot-Makak Boubara Boula-Ibi Boumnyébel Bourah Bourgouma Buea Buea Camp de réfugiés de Minawao Campo Colomine Darak Dargala Datchéka Deido Dembo Demdeng (Djebem) Demsa Deuk Diang Dibang Dibombari Dimako Dir Dizangué Djang Djohong Djondong Djoum Djoum Dompta Douala Douala III Doualayel Doumaintang Doumé Dschang Dzeng Dziguilao Ebebda Ebolowa Ebolowa II Ebone Edéa Édéa II Edzendouan Efoulan Ekité Ekondo-Titi Ekoudendi Elig-Mfomo Élogbatindi Emvane Endom Éséka Esse Essu Evindissi Evodoula Eyumodjock Fifinda I Figuif Figuif Figuil Fokoué Fongo-Tongo Fontem Fontem Fotokol Foulou Foumban Foumbot Fundong Furu Awa Galim Galim-Tignère Gara Gari-Gombo Garoua Garoua Garoua III Garoua-Boulaï Gaschiga Gawel Gazawa Gbatoua Gbitti Gobo Gogoleme Gor Goulfey Gouna Guémé Guere Guider Guider Guidiguis Guidjiba Guirvidig Guiwa Yangamo Hilé-Alifa Hina Hinalé Idenao Jakiri Kaélé Kai-Kai Kala Kafra Kalfou Kar-Hay Kékem Kentzou Kétté Kiiki Kobdombo Kolofata Kompina Kon-Yambetta Kontcha Kouoptamo Kousséri Koutaba Koza Kribi Kribi II Kumba Kumba Kumba III Kumbo Kumbo Kumbo Town Kyé-Ossi Lagdo Lagdo Limani Limbe Limbé Limbé III Logbadjek Logone-Birni Lolo Lolodorf Lomié Londji Loum Ma'an Mada Madingrin_1 Maga Magba Makak Makary Makenene Makepe Makondo Malentouen Mamfe Mamfé Mandjou Manjo Manoka Maroua Maroua III Martap Massangam Massok Matomb Mayo Darlé Mayo Djarendji Mayo-Baléo Mayo-Oulo Mbaiboum Mbalam Mbalmayo Mbandjock Mbang Mbang Mbanga Mbanga Mbangassina Mbankomo Mbé Mbengwi Mbengwi Mbilé Mbol II Mboma Mbouda Meidougou Meiganga Melong Mengang Mengong Menguémé Meri Messamena Messock Messondo Meyo Biboulou Meyomessala Meyomessi Mfou Minawao/Gawar Mindif Mindourou II Minta Mintom II Mme Mogodé Mokolo Moloundou Mombo Monatélé Mora Mouanko Mouloundou Moulvoudaye Moutourwa Mozogo Mundemba Mutengene Muyuka Muyuka Mvangan Mvengue Nanga-Eboko Ndaba Ndélélé Ndikiniméki Ndikoko Ndobian ( Nord-Makombé) Ndokayo Ndom Ndop Ndoukoula Ngambe Nganha Ngaoui Ngaoundal Ngaoundéré Ngaoundéré III Ngog-Mapubi Ngomedzap Ngomedzap Ngong Ngoro Ngoulemakong Ngoumou Ngoura Ngovayang I Ngoyla Nguélébok Nguelemendouka Nguibassal Niété Nitoukou Njimom Njinibi Njinikom Njombé Nkambe Nkambe Nkô Nkolafamba Nkolmetet Nkondjock Nkong-Zem Nkongsamba Nkongsamba III Nkor Nkoteng Noubou Nsem Ntui Nyangong Nyanon Nyen Obala Okola Olamzé Olanguina Ombe Ombessa Ondong Adjap Otélé Ouli Oulouf Oveng Penja Penka-Michel Pétté Pitoa Poli Poli Pouma Pouss Rey Bouba Rey Bouba Roua Roumsiki Sa'a Salak Salapoumbé Sangmélima Santa Santchou Soa Somalomo Sorawel Soulèdé Souza Taibong Tchatibali Tcheboa Tcholliré Tchollire Three Corners Bekondo Tibati Tignère Tiko Tiko Timangolo Titing Toko Tokombéré Toktoyo Tombel Tonga Touboro Touloum Touroua Waza Widekum Wina Wum Wum Yabassi Yagoua Yamba Yaoundé Yarbang Yingui Yokadouma Yoko Yola Zimado Zina Zoétélé

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Cameroon needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Cameroon?
The capital of Cameroon is Yaoundé.
What currency does Cameroon use?
Cameroon uses the Central African CFA franc (Fr) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Cameroon?
The official language(s) of Cameroon include English, French.
What is the population of Cameroon?
Cameroon has a population of approximately 29,442,327 people.
What region is Cameroon in?
Cameroon is located in Africa, specifically in the Middle Africa subregion.
What is the international calling code for Cameroon?
The international dialing code for Cameroon is +237.
What time zones does Cameroon observe?
Cameroon observes the following time zone(s): UTC+01:00.
What is the current time in Cameroon?
The local time in Cameroon is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Cameroon?
Cameroon covers a total area of 475,442 km².
How many states or provinces does Cameroon have?
Cameroon is divided into 13 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Cameroon in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Cameroon in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Cameroon?
Visa requirements for citizens of Cameroon vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.