Welcome to Cameroon
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
David Smith
After all," I said casually, "This is probably the last time I'll ever go to Cameroon."
This remark was met by surprise. Just short of my 35th birthday, it's maybe a bit premature to say never again to anything. But time is a finite cake that can only be cut so many ways. I thought I was being realistic in a world now crowded with unmissable destinations, once-in-a-lifetime adventures and 1,001 places to see before you die.Cultural commentators have noted that unique experiences, not material possessions, are now the top currency. There's a premium on climbing that mountain, touching that shark or seeing that solar eclipse and then blogging about it, just to make sure all your friends, and the rest of the planet, know what an amazing time you're having. We are what we do, not what we own.
But Cameroon does not appear to figure highly on most bucket lists.
"What shall I do on a spare day in Yaounde?" I asked a local journalist. He looked at me blankly, then ventured: "Maybe go out to the forest."
There was no travel guide in the airport bookshop, only a chapter in Lonely Planet's Africa volume that noted the country's tourism suffers because of volatile neighbours. The Wikitravel website's guide to Cameroon has headings for See and Do, but both are blank.
It's also awkward and costly to get to. I flew to Nairobi first, then caught a connecting flight that was seemingly devoid of holidaymakers but did contain a Congolese sports team and dozens of Chinese men. The language barrier between them and the air stewards may be a regular occurrence in Africa these days.
"I don't trust the Chinese," said my taxi driver, winding past open-air bars where people drank, danced and sat on plastic chairs watching football on TVs below dangling lightbulbs. "They don't pass on any knowledge to the Cameroons. They bring their own people. They are here for the minerals, then they will be gone. Our government should remember its children."
We passed a new Chinese addition to the landscape of Yaounde, a music and sports facility that resembles a steel armadillo, or a spaceship.
It's an incongruous touch of the Frank Gehrys in a landscape that otherwise consists of blocky concrete, rusty corrugated roofs and a small park where parents show their children fish in the river. Government ministries are giant Stalinist towers with a touch of central Birmingham.
Drive up into the surrounding hills, however, and it's a different story of lush vegetation and clean air. I glimpsed that archetypal image of African football that will be seen regularly around next month's World Cup: young men chasing a ball on a pitch of ochre-red dirt surrounded by verdant borders.
At a Benedictine monastery on Mont Febe I found a rocky precipice with sweeping views of the city. Nearby, there were people praying to a Madonna statue carved into a giant boulder, and a lone boy lobbing a ball at a basketball hoop. Colourful geckos darted along the ground, as they do all around the city.
I wandered unchallenged into the monastery's arts and crafts museum, a small but potent collection of masks, statues and ornaments. This is bold and brilliant ritual art, some of the faces containing teardrop eyes or giant mouths more alien than human. It could be the stuff of nightmares but feels vital and charged with imagination.
I shopped for some of it at the arts and crafts market, where hawkers lull their prey into their stalls then beg, flatter and all but rugby tackle them to stop them escaping. There must be seasoned travellers who are world champions at haggling and fending off harassment, but I'm not one of them.
Cameroon is this week celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence. Paul Biya, the president, has reigned for 28 of those.
He claims to be Monsieur Propre — Mr Clean — but it's known that corruption is rife. Last month, a journalist, Bibi Ngota, died in prison after apparently being denied medical treatment. Nothing, however, will get international attention like Cameroon's footballers, the Indomitable Lions, when they play in the World Cup.
This, after all, is not a place many people choose to come on honeymoon, or to retire to, or to die in. As I head for the airport, I'll wonder if I'm ever coming back. Making my first trip to Cuba, Iran or Nigeria feels more urgent. But saying never again feels a little too sad and mortal to bear.
David Smith is the Guardian's Africa correspondent
Labels: Cameroon, David Smith, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:15 PM,
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Anjali Nayar in Cameroon
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Anjali Nayar with a group of soccer fans in Cameroon
During breakfast I was entranced by the Cameroonian jersey-clad dancers, rhythmically hip-thrusting their way across my television screen. It was the music video for local musicians Ebel La Gloire and Macha's latest song: "The Lions in the image of a lion."
"Let's go the Lions, the Indomitable Lions. You are the joy of the country. Cameroon is behind you," sung Macha in the first verse. Enlightening as much as it is entertaining. I've uploaded a clip of the music video to YouTube, so you can try your luck at the accompanying body vibrations.
I headed out on to the streets, where I waded in a sea of green, red and yellow soccer jerseys, shorts, tracksuits, caps, wristbands and bandanas and that is just the beginning.
In the sky above me, there was a billboard of Eto'o "reaching for greatness" (ostensibly greatness is a Guinness beer).
Read here and see images here.
Labels: Anjali Nayar, Cameroon, Soccer, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:05 PM,
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Cameroon Travel
Friday, January 28, 2011
Cameroon Lonely Planet
Cameroon at National Geographic
Cameroon Tourism
Cameroon Heritage sites pdf
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:28 PM,
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Douala - Gateway to Cameroon
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Douala is the capital of Cameroon’s Littoral Province and the largest city of the country. Most people know Cameroon, by Douala, in other words it is the identity of the country. Besides that, Douala also has another significant importance in the region as it is home to Cameroon’s largest port and its major international airport “Douala Airport”. Both airport and the “port” serve as gateway to not only Cameroon but also a connecting point for neighboring countries such as central Africa, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
In 1986, Douala became a Sister City of Philadelphia and Akhisar, Turkey mainly because it is the largest port in West Africa and the unofficial economic capital of the Cameroon. The richly diverse population that represents more than 130 ethnic groups in Douala was last estimated 1,448,300. The name “Douala” has its origin from early 17th century and it is believed that it was actually named after a tribe that settled in the coastal area of Cameroon.
Being the biggest port in the region, Douala serves as commercial capital of the country. Consequently, it handles most of the country’s major exports, such as oil, cocoa and coffee, timber, metals and fruits. This also makes Douala the richest city in the whole CEMAC region (Communauté Economique et Monetaire de l’Afrique Centrale), consisting of 11 African countries. Other countries, member of CEMAC are Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo. On an overall basis, the CEMAC region is rich in mineral resources, with oil and gas exports accounting for almost 80 per cent of the West African region’s total exports, however, despite the abundance of natural resources, the majority of the population in the member states still lives in a below poverty line conditions. The key institutional bodies of CEMAC, such as the Conference of Heads of State, the Council of Ministers and the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) are also based in Cameroon.
For a tourist, Douala is an excellent location situated on an estuary of the River Wouri that represents a delightful mosaic of colorful markets, historic churches and museums unfolding vibrant and rich African history. Also one prominent attraction is the equatorial forest on Douala’s outskirts that serves as a sanctuary for dozens of species of birds, animals and plants.
Labels: Cameroon, Douala, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:21 PM,
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Top Ten Attractions In Douala, Cameroon
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Douala is the commercial Capital of Cameroon. Also, it is the hub of international arrivals. What makes Douala more appealing than the rest of Africa is the fact that it offers dozens of attraction, entertainment opportunities and fun spots yet far below the cost any other destination may incur. Accommodations in Douala are also very reasonable priced.
- On out count doesn’t, the first attraction of Douala is its weather, its not very African I mean that the heat does not raise unbearable levels even in day times. The tropical climate is just as perfect to enjoy the great deals this city has to offer its visitors.
- The second is the affordability, as cheap flights to Douala Cameroon and accommodations are available with plenty of low cost airline if reserved timely.
- Thirdly, like the rest of African continent, Cameroon is rich in wildlife abundance. The Lobeke National Park Douala is home to extraordinary yet typical African Wildlife, the gem of an African Holiday.
- Another attraction, forth to say, is the Baka Pygmies, claimed to be the most indigenous of all tribes in the whole wide world.
- Fifth attraction is the Mount Cameroon the highest point in Western Africa.
- Other than the highest point, the sixth attraction of the city is the active Volcano at the Cameroon Mountain. It also offers climbing expeditions.
- Number seven, are the areas around the famous river Wouri. It is famous for the stunning views of Gulf of Guinea in the mango swamps alongside its developed areas.
- An eight attraction is the hotel Akwa Palace, a must to see.
- Also Eko Market is the ninth on the list.
Lastly, don’t forget to visit the Harbor, our tenth attraction of Douala the tropical city of Cameroon Africa.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:42 PM,
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Africa in Miniature
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The Republic of Cameroon is primarily known around the world for just two things: football and music. But number of are aware that this nation is also teeming with tourism attractions that can’t be found elsewhere. Cameroon, whose majestic natural beauty is really a aspect in luring visitors in, enjoys a more stable political and social system compared to other African nations. With this, travelers to Cameroon are treated to a a lot more urbanized experience.
You’ll find a hodgepodge of cultural groups scattered across the region which brought about some 200 linguistic groups. In spite of the variety and differences, The Republic of Cameroon has a small but thriving tourism industry. If your in the country, it pays to go to the Waza National Park, which is the biggest and best-run wildlife reserve in West Africa. Right here, holidaymakers can opt to go on a safari trip and see the iconic African animals few have seen in real life such as gorillas, rhinoceroses, chimpanzees, elephants and even hioppopotami or participate in big-game hunting.
Those who are looking for relaxation will also discover what they’re searching for in Cameroon. Unknown to many, the beach towns of Limbe and Kribi are the eventual beach getaway in Africa. Limbe is in fact an English-speaking town with black-sand beaches even though the Kribi population speaks French and boasts of pleasurable white-sand beaches.
Newbie African travelers ought to be ready to face poor transport choices and now and again even accommodations despite Cameroon being far more stable than other countries within the continent. This, although, does not imply that the attractions and wonders to be observed in Cameroon are equally as bad due to the fact they’re not.
Traveling to Cameroon is an epic adventure that ought to be made at least once in any adventure-seeker’s life. Besides, the Cameroonian government wouldn’t be promoting their land as “Africa in Miniature” for nothing. [Via]
Related: Cameroon
Related: Cameroon
Labels: Africa in Miniature, Cameroon, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:15 PM,
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