Cameroon

Situated on the west coast of Africa, Cameroon is bordered by the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The country to the northwest is beautiful; volcanic peaks covered by bamboo forest rise to over 2000m (6500ft), with waterfalls and villages scattered over the lower slopes. The capital, Yaoundé, stands on seven hills. There are several modern hotels and many markets, shops and cinemas. Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, is 24km (15 miles) from the sea and dominated by Mount Cameroon, West Africa’s highest mountain (4095m/14,435ft). The cathedral, the Artisanat National (a craft/souvenir market) and Wouri Bridge are well worth visiting. The Kalamaloue Reserve, in northern Cameroon, is small but offers plentiful opportunities for viewing antelope, monkey and warthog. Cooking is predominantly French or Lebanese, though local food can be very tasty. Avocado pears, pineapples and mangoes are frequently used ingredients. In Douala and Yaoundé, nightclubs and casinos can be found independently or within most good hotels.