Cameroon travel guide

Getting there

Douala International Airport and Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport handle most international flights. Land borders exist with neighbours such as Nigeria, Chad, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, but conditions vary, so check before travelling overland.

Best time to visit: Nov–Feb – the dry season in most of the country.

Tougher months: July to October in the southwest and coast – heavy rains make roads muddy and trekking difficult.

Weather by month in Yaoundé

• 29°J
• 30°F●
• 29°M●●
• 29°A●●
• 28°M●●
• 27°J●
• 26°J●
• 26°A●
• 27°S●●
• 27°O●●●
• 28°N●
• 28°D

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Africa/Lagos. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 6 of 198 other passports can enter Cameroon without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 192 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Cameroon (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-05-15). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Cameroon travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Cameroon are based around Yaoundé, Douala or Limbe. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$30–50 for a backpacker and US$70–140 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Cameroon page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, E. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +237.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Yaoundé (Centre · capital): A hilly capital with museums, monuments and the Mvog-Betsi Zoo, a good base for exploring the south.
• Douala (Littoral · port city): Cameroon's lively commercial hub, famous for nightlife, music and its art scene.
• Limbe (Southwest · coast): A coastal town with black-sand beaches, botanical gardens and a primate sanctuary; check current travel advice for the Southwest region first.
• Mount Cameroon (Southwest · volcano): A demanding multi-day climb through forest and lava fields with views over the Gulf of Guinea, possible only when the security situation allows.
• Kribi (South · beach town): Golden beaches, fresh grilled fish and the spectacular Lobé Falls nearby.
• Foumban (West · royal town): Home to the Bamum sultan's palace and a centre for woodcarving and crafts.
• Campo Ma'an National Park (South · rainforest): A remote coastal forest reserve with primates, forest elephants and turtles.
• Dja Faunal Reserve (South · rainforest): A UNESCO-listed tract of dense rainforest for adventurous wildlife lovers.

Things to do

• Climb Mount Cameroon. Trek up the region's highest peak, an active volcano rising from the Atlantic coast, when travel advice for the Southwest permits.
• Visit the Sultan's Palace in Foumban. Explore the seat of the Bamum kingdom and its museum of royal art, masks and the unique Bamum script.
• Relax in Kribi. Swim in the sea near the Lobé Falls, where a river tumbles directly into the Atlantic.
• Track primates at Limbe. Meet rescued gorillas, chimpanzees and drills at the Limbe Wildlife Centre.
• Visit the museum in Dschang. Explore the Musée des Civilisations in the cool highland town of Dschang, a lakeside showcase of Cameroon's many cultures.
• Eat ndolé. Taste the national dish of bitter leaves, peanuts and meat or shrimp, served with plantains.
• Dance to makossa. Head out in Douala for live music and dancing to Cameroon's beloved homegrown sound.
• Swim on black-sand beaches. Spend a day on Limbe's volcanic beaches backed by palms and the slopes of the mountain.

Source: full Cameroon guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Ndolé – bitter-leaf stew with peanuts and meat or shrimp
• Poulet DG – chicken with fried plantains and vegetables
• Eru – wild spinach stew eaten with fufu
• Achu – pounded taro with yellow soup

Source: RoamSun Cameroon guide

Money and safety

Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected; about 10% in nicer restaurants.

Emergency numbers: 117 police · 118 fire.

• The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF), pegged to the euro; carry clean euro notes as a backup.
• Cash is king – cards are accepted only in larger hotels and supermarkets, and ATMs mainly in cities.
• Parts of the Far North and the Northwest and Southwest regions face serious security problems; many governments advise against travel there, so check your government's latest travel advice.
• Avoid travelling by road after dark, and keep valuables discreet in Douala and Yaoundé.

Source: RoamSun Cameroon facts