Cameroon is a blissful country in Africa that boasts thick rainforests, white-sand beaches, active volcanoes, and fantastic rock formations. Situated on the Gulf of Guinea, it is a wonderful Central African nation with varied terrain.
Besides the diverse landscapes, Cameroon also boasts several national parks that offer amazing scenery and wildlife.
There are also a variety of activities you can do in Cameroon. You can swim, relax, hike in this country.
You will also enjoy eating fresh seafood and dancing the night away at some of the best bars and nightclubs.
Cameroon got its name from the Portuguese explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries. It is derived from Rio dos Camarones (River of Prawns).
There are also plenty of Islamic holidays which you can celebrate with the locals.
Geography
Nigeria borders Cameroon to the northwest, Chad to the northeast, the Republic of the Congo to the southeast, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to the south, the Central African Republic to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest.
The country’s land is divided into northern, southern, central, and western geographic regions. The country has savanna plains, scattered inselbergs, coastal plains, and rainforests.
Climate
Cameroon remains hot all year round as it lies within the tropics. As a result, the average temperature of the country lies between the low 70s to 80s F.
Cameroon has four seasons: the light rainy season, short dry season, heavy rain season, and long dry season.
The monsoon season begins from April to November, whereas the dry season begins from December to March.
The rate of rainfall decreases from the south to the north region.
Since the country is vast, the climatic conditions vary from hotter, drier north to wet slopes of Mount Cameroon.
Best time to visit Cameroon
Visit the country during November to February, as these are the months when the temperatures are cooler and drier.
The Sharan Harmattan wind reduces the humidity and brings a cool temperature; however, there might be a haze of dust, so make sure to wear your sunglasses.
Nature and Wildlife
There are dense rainforests in Cameroon that houses hardwood evergreen trees such as mahogany, obeche, ebony, and sapelli. Orchids and ferns also grow in significant numbers.
As you go further north, you’ll find wooded savanna with scattered trees.
In terms of wildlife, you’ll find screaming red and green monkeys, mandrills, chimpanzees in Cameroon’s dense forests. There are few elephants, antelope, and baboons in the grassy woodlands.
You’ll also find rodents and numerous birds such as sunbirds, eagles, and giant hawks in these forests.
Go to the Waza National Park to check out some of these animals. One of the best-protected rainforests of Africa, named Dja Faunal Reserve, lies in the southern region of Cameroon.
People
The first people to inhabit Cameroon were the Pygmies, also known as Babinga or Baguielli. They live in small hunting bands.
Due to European colonization, European languages were introduced to the locals.
This country has more than 200 different ethnic groups and three major linguistic groups.
Bantu-speaking people inhabit the south, Sudanic-speaking people in the north, and Semi-Bantu-speaking people in the western region.
Before, German used to be the official language of Cameroon. Now it has been replaced by English and French.
About two-fifths of the country’s population is Roman Catholic. Protestants, Sunni Muslims, and animists are also other traditional religions that are prominent in Cameroon.
