Cameroon

Cameroon’s tourist industry is a victim of geography. It sits in a tough neighbourhood, bordered by some problematic countries. But this shouldn’t put you off, as Cameroon really has just about everything a traveller could want. One of the most culturally diverse countries on the continent, its people include ancient tribal kingdoms, Muslim pastoralists and forest-dwelling pygmies.The landscape is no less dizzying in its diversity. Mt Cameroon is the highest peak in West Africa and attracts plenty of trekking interest. A still-active volcano, it rises almost straight from the sea in a spectacular manner. Further north are the rolling grassfields of the Ring Road area, while the Mandara Mountains are a complete contrast again dry and rocky, with isolated villages eking out a living. Fringing all of this are some of Africa’s oldest rainforests, and the excellent Parc National de Waza, with abundant mammal and birdlife, and large herds of elephants gathering at water holes in the dry season.Yaounde might be Cameroon’s capital, but Douala is the economic powerhouse. With little in the way of tourist attractions, it’s a swelteringly hot mess of dusty honking traffic jams. Hard to love initially, give it some time and you may begin to appreciate this port city’s good restaurants, lively nightlife and decaying tropical ambience. As the Cameroon ians say, ‘Yaoundé sleeps, Douala moves’.Yaounde is unique among West African capitals for its green and hilly setting. Set at an altitude of 750m, this gives the city a slightly more pleasant air than sweaty Douala.