ABOUT CAMEROON

Cameroon, also affectionately known as “Africa in Miniature” or “Petit Afrique” is a Central African Country about the size of California with a population of about 18 million people. It has two official languages, French and English and has over 250 ethnic groups, each with its own language and culture. Cameroon has its nickname from its great environmental and cultural diversity, which mimic the continent of Africa. From South to North, Cameroon straddles all the major vegetation belts in Africa, from the Equatorial forest of the south with highest rainfall, through the Savanna in the middle and the Sahel (semi desert) region of the north with the least precipitation. The town of Debunscha in southern Cameroon is one of the 5 top rainiest places on earth with an annual rainfall of 400 inches (10,000 mm). The ecological diversity resulting from climatic differences are responsible for the environmental and food diversities, which have also translated to cultural diversity- since cultural practices are primarily shaped by environmental factors.

In addition to ecological diversity, Cameroon also has a unique history that has contributed to further cultural diversification, including blending of Cameroonian and Western cultures. Cameroon is the only African country to have been colonized at one point in their history by three separate major world powers, Germany, England and France. Visitors to Cameroon will see firsthand how these world powers impacted and continue to impact Cameroon. Visitors to Cameroon can easily see how French culture impacts local cultures in Francophone Cameroon while Western Cameroon cultures are mostly impacted by English culture. Cameroon is very unique in that it has two systems of justice and two systems of education, the English justice and educational systems in the West and the French legal and education systems practiced in the East. Due to the passage of time since German colonization, German influence is mostly limited to existing plantations and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings and statues.

Cameroon was part of the Transatlantic Slave Route. The port region of Bimbia still contains relicts of the slave trade for visitors to see. This inhumane trade devastated communities, causing people to flee their settlements in order to escape slave raiders. Part of the legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade is the importation of various cultural practices into the Americas and Caribbean, especially music which has evolved to today’s American Popular music. Visitors to Cameroon will experience the rich cultural diversity as expressed in the varieties of traditional music, languages, clothing, foods and more.

Discover the Slave Route in Cameroon.
Cameroon slave trade, served as a very important supply zone for the export of African slaves to the New World after the Portuguese exploration on the Cameroon coast. Cameroonian slaves were mostly sold to the Fernando Po collection center. The island of Fernando Po was one of the main collection points for slaves taken along the Bight of Benin. The Douala of Cameroon were the predominant slave-trading middlemen in these transactions.
The majority of slaves traded from the Cameroon coast came from inland invasions as well as from the neighboring Batagan, Bassa, and Bulu.
Four groups Tikari, Douala-Bimbia, Banyangi and Bakossi, Bamileke accounted for 62 percent of the people carried out of the River and from Bimbia in these years.

Now experience this vibrant country of striking contrasts. Cameroon, a combination of over 2,000 years of tradition and culture with one of the most modern life-style on the African continent. After several years under democratic rule, the country has emerged as the largest democracy in Africa and opening her doors for business and leisure visitors. You will discover everything from ancient villages, markets, shrines, palaces to modern cities, highways, industries etc. “Every kilometer, another language……” Land of a thousand dialects and diverse ethnic cultures, indeed Africa’s “melting pot”. And while exploring this land of cultural diversity, you are surrounded by perhaps the most hospitable people in the world.

Cameroon, a fun loving and friendly people are ready to welcome you and share their rich cultural heritage with you. Cameroon has been continuously settled since the Neolithic period (the New Stone Age), most notably by Pygmy groups, including the Baka. European interest in the area began in the fifteenth century. Germany claimed the region, known as Kamerun at the time, as a colony in 1884 and used forced labor to improve local infrastructure. After Germany’s defeat in World War I, the colony was split between France and Britain. In 1961, Cameroon was reunited as an independent nation We invite you to explore Cameroon with Global bush travel and Tourism

One country, two climates

Cameroon has two types of climates.

In the North and Far North: tropical climate with a light rainy season and high temperatures (average 30° C) increasing as you advance in arid lands.

In the South, western high plateaus and coastal plains are influenced by sea and relief with heavy and regular rains and constant temperatures (average 26° C).

A luxuriant vegetation

The natural beauty and diversity invites people to a stronger respect of environment protection. Therefore, tourists have a great opportunity to find out their harmony with Nature and its treasure. Because vegetation reflects climate, it is humid in the luxuriant tropical forests of the South, which represents more than one third of the total area.

Before reaching the ‘’Savannah’’, tourist could discover a landscape mosaic of grass and galleries. Then, they should meet the dry woods of Sudan Savannah, at the foothills of Adamaoua plateau. Dryness and heats of Sahara region represent the classic image of the North, full of acacias. Finally, a specific and terraced vegetation appears in the highest mountains above 2 500 m, like on the famous Mount Cameroon.

A renewed landscape

At first glance, the tourist is surprised by the beautiful diversity of Cameroonian landscape. His curiosity is excited along the trail of discovery, from picturesque mountains to grey-sandy beaches.

In the North, lunar landscapes like the Kapsikis outstand over the surrounding steppes. Irrigated by great rivers, the South and East tropical forests dominate the territory.

In the South coast, near Kribi, ‘’The Cameroonian Côte D’Azur’’, tourists really appreciate the pleasure of the vast sandy beaches shaded by coconut trees.

Finally, Mount Cameroon in the South West, an active volcano towering over the Ocean, offers its black-sandy beaches at Limbe along with other beautiful colours of Cameroon.

Free and protected animals

Cameroon is a real paradise for animals in the wild. The country concentrates the best fauna of Central Africa, through its 9 natural parks and other numerous reserves. Such an exceptional resource stands for a treasure to all tourist in search of ‘’The Soul of Africa’’.

Their dreams become true in the northern savannah when they meet lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinoceros ...etc. Down in the South, forests and rivers full of funny gorillas are waiting for their visits.

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