Tribal Lands of Cameroon

The jungles of Central Africa have forever been a mysterious land, difficult to penetrate and home to bewildering array of flora and fauna that will have nature enthusiasts salivating. This unique tour

takes you on an incredible journey where nature rules supreme and the presence of man often seems insignificant, surrounded by thick rainforest alive with the calls of birds and monkeys.

First we start in Douala, and head west to explore the tribal kingdoms of the Bamileke and Bamoun, some of the region’s greatest artisans and with a vibrant and rich culture to explore. From here we head to the capital Yaounde, then continue south to a village of the Fang people. Here we are privileged to witness an authentic Bwiti ceremony, a spiritual ritual based around used of the psychoactive iboga root and one of the region’s most fascinating sights.

After some time spent on the coast at Kribiwe venture into the forest to spend time with the Badgeli pygmies, camping within their community and learning about the numerous ways in which they have mastered the jungle, and also visit the chimpanzee sanctuary of Pongo Songo and Lake Ossa, home to the West African manatee.

This trip offers the chance to see Africa at its wildest, where nature rules supreme and the jungle is king. This is not an easy journey, with some long drives, bad roads, limited infrastructure and the often infuriating bureaucracy of Central Africa to deal with along the way. But who said real adventure was ever easy? Join us to discover lost worlds, ancient traditions and the magic of the rainforest.

Day 1 - Douala

Arrive in Douala and transfer to your hotel. Overnight Hotel Falaise or similar.

Douala

The largest city in the country, Douala is chaotic and lively and to some may be intimidating, but offers a great snapshot of modern Cameroon. Although undoubtedly the economic powerhouse of Cameroon, it is not the political capital – Yaoundé, a few hours’ drive away, is where the government is based.

Douala, however, is much older and was founded by the Portuguese when they first arrived in the 15th century – indeed it was the Portuguese that are responsible for the modern name, as it is derived from the word ‘cameroes’ (prawns) a reference to the good fishing that they found here. Today it is a vibrant city with an excellent nightlife, and although like many cities in the region parts are rather run down, it can be a fun place to explore and soak up the tropical ambience.

Day 2 - Ekom Falls - Bafoussam

Today we head west, stopping en route at the Ekom Falls, dropping 80 metres to the forest floor. We then continue to Bafoussam, stopping at the community project at Tockem to learn about local traditions and customs, then visiting the sacred Metche Falls before arriving in Bafoussam for the night. Overnight in Zingana Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 3 - Bangoulap

Spend today exploring the culture of the Bamileke people, Our journey today takes us to the chefferies of Bafoussam, Bandjoun and Batoufam, traditional kingdoms with rich history, identity and traditional architecture, learning about the complex customs which govern local life. Overnight in Villa Boutanga or similar. (B)

The Bamileke people

The Bamileke are spread throughout three regions of Cameroon – West, North-West and South-West, and also split between the English and French-speaking regions. Historically, the Bamun and the Bamileke were united, but during the mid-17th century, the Bamiléké people’s forefathers left the north to avoid being forced to convert to Islam and migrated as far south as Foumban. Conquerors came all the way to Foumban to try to impose Islam on them. A war began, pushing some people to leave while others remained, submitting to Islam, which marks the current division between the Bamun and Bamiléké people.

The Bamileke are organised into chiefdoms. The chief, or fon is considered as the spiritual, political, judicial and military leader. The chief is also considered as the ‘Father’ of the chiefdom. The successor of the ‘Father’ is chosen among his children. The successor’s identity is typically kept secret until the fon’s death. The fon has typically 9 ministers and several other advisers and councils. The ministers are in charge of the crowning of the new fon. In addition, a “queen mother” or mafo was an important figure for some fons in the past.

Day 4 - Foumban

Today we will begin by visiting a local NGO dedicated to traditional architecture and crafts. We will then visit Foumban, home of the Bamoun people. We explore the town and visit its museum and artisans’ quarter – the Bamoun are great craftsmen, working with wood and bronze, and most of the pieces they create are exported overseas to collectors. We may also, depending on availability and schedule, be able to meet the King of Foumban. Overnight in Domaine de Petpenoun or similar. (B)

Foumban

Foumban is a predominantly Muslim town and the seat of the Sultanate of the Bamoun people, founded in the fifteenth century and one of the oldest towns in Cameroon. As well as a royal palace there are also some old German colonial buildings, and its museums hold excellent examples of Bamoun arts and crafts as well as exhibits on local history, masks, traditional dress and everyday items that have been used in Bamoun life. It is particularly rich in local culture and crafts and the Rue des Artisans is home to all manner of small shops and workshops making this one of the best places in Central Africa to buy wood carvings.

Day 5 - Yaoundé

Head to Mont Mbapit, where walk up to the crater rim for views of Lake Mfou. Afterwards, we will continue onto Yaounde. Overnight in Merina Hotel or similar. (B)

Yaoundé

Although not the largest city in the country, Yaoundé is the political and administrative capital, and a little more ordered than Douala. It’s also far greener, with pleasant tree-lined streets and the lush Mt Febe overlooking the city. Mt Febe is also the site of a former Benedictine monastery, which now houses a rather excellent museum dedicated to the art and crafts of Cameroon’s many different ethnic groups, with numerous masks and sculptures. Other than that, like most African cities Yaoundé is not big on traditional sights but it’s not a bad place to get to grips with modern urban Africa, and more pleasant than most.

Day 6 - Ebogo - Nkolendom

Leave Yaounde and head through the forest to the wildlife sanctuary at Mfou, home to a wide variety of species including gorillas, chimps and mandrills, and dedicated to the conservation of endangered primates. From here head to Ebogo and visit a local community tourism project, taking canoes through the forest, tasting local dishes and seeing traditional dances of the Bassa people. Overnight Nkolendom Tourist Centre (simple accommodation). (B)

Day 7 - Fang village

Drive to a Fang village close to the borders with Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Here, in the heartlands of the Fang people, the Bwiti rituals still thrive. We will be privileged to witness this unique series of rituals, centred around the use of the iboga root – this is perhaps one of the most spectacular of all traditional ceremonies in Africa, and a highlight of the trip. Overnight Hotel Escapade or similar. (B)

Days 8-9 - Kribi

Continue to Kribi, on the coast. Here we explore the old colonial town, visit the Lobe Falls, where the river falls directly into the Atlantic Ocean, and visit a fishing community of the Batanga people. Overnight Hotel Ilomba or similar. (Day 8 – B, Day 9 – BD)

Day 10 - Pygmy village

Drive south to meet the Badgeli pygmies, some of the most traditional people in Cameroon. We spend time in the forest taking part in traditional activities with the Badgeli, learning how they hunt and gather food, and seeing their vibrant culture and music. Overnight camping. (BLD)

‘Pygmy’ is a term used to describe a number of different ethnic groups living throughout central Africa, from the Batwa of the Great Lakes to the Ba’Aka and Badgeli of the western forests. Most Pygmy communities are partially hunter-gatherers, living on the wild products of their environment, but many also trade with neighbouring farmers to acquire cultivated foods and other material items. It is estimated that there are between 250,000 and 600,000 Pygmies living in the Congo rainforest.

The pygmies are masters of the forest, traditionally relying on it for most of their daily needs, although in modern times many have become more settled and are adopting the customs of the larger populations around them. They have been much discriminated against in recent times, with African governments attempting to ‘modernise’ them and seeing them as something of a throwback. However we feel that spending time among these groups of people, with their encyclopaedic knowledge of the natural world and unique customs is one of the more special experiences the continent can offer.

Day 11 - Pongo Songo - Lake Ossa - Edea

This morning explore the forest further with the Badgeli, then head to Travel to the Douala Edea Reserve and from here take a boat to visit the Pongo Songo chimpanzee sanctuary, with fantastic opportunities to get close to these primates. From here continue to Lake Ossa, noted for its manatee protection programme, then end up in the town of Edea for the night. Overnight local guesthouse. (B)

Day 12 - Douala

Drive to Douala and visit the artisans’ market before transferring to the airport for your flight home. (B)

This trip can be combined with our ‘Lost Kingdoms of Nigeria’ tour for a comprehensive journey through the region.

What's included?

Airport transfers

We include arrival and departure transfers regardless of whether you book flights yourself, or we book them for you. If you’re booking them yourself, then please let us know the details so that we can arrange the transfers.
Please note though that if you arrive earlier than Day 1 of the tour, and leave after the final day, we may need to make an additional charge for an airport transfer.
Accommodation

Accommodation as listed in the dossier. The nature of the destinations that we operate may sometimes mean that we need to change hotels, but we’ll always endeavour to keep the same standards. Please be aware that as we operate in many countries where tourism is in its infancy, hotel standards may not be the same as you’re used to elsewhere.
If you are a same sex couple, on some occasions it may be necessary to book two separate rooms – please contact us for more information.
Guides

In most cases, you will be accompanied by one guide from start to finish. However, there may be occasions when this is not practical, for example, if your trip covers a number of different countries. In these cases it often makes more sense to include different guides for each place, to take advantage of their specific knowledge of the destination.
Meals

As listed within the itinerary / dossier (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner). These will vary from trip to trip – in some areas it makes sense to include all meals while in others there is a good choice of restaurants and we feel people might like to ‘do their own thing’ now and again.
Please note that when meals are included, sometimes these will be in hotels, as often these are the most appropriate option, and will sometimes be set menus. Local restaurants are often lacking in variety, as well as the capacity to cater for groups. Drinks are not included and are at your own expense.
Entrance fees

Entrance fees are listed for those sites that we mention within the itinerary. If there are any other sites that you’d like to see, these would be at your own expense.

What's not included?

Visas

We don’t arrange visas for our travellers, but if an invitation letter is necessary then we will arrange this for you. If you need any advice with visas then just give us a call, or alternatively, a visa agency such as Travcour can assist.
International flights

Many of our travellers arrive from different destinations and so we don’t include international flights in the cost of our tours. If however, you would like us to book flights for you, then just give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.
Travel Insurance

If you need any assistance with this, then let us know – although we can’t arrange it ourselves we can point you in the direction of a reputable provider that can assist.

Visas

Most travellers will require a visa to enter Cameroon. You may need an invitation letter in order to obtain this, depending on the requirements of the embassy that you apply at – we can provide this for you. Visa regulations can change however and so we recommend that you contact your nearest embassy for the most up to date information.

Health and vaccinations

We are not medically qualified and so we recommend that you speak to your doctor or nearest health professional for advice concerning recommended vaccinations. For more advice on vaccinations, you can also visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.

If you have any physical limitations that might impact your ability to participate in the planned tour activities, it’s essential that you make us aware as soon as possible so that we can discuss this with you.

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry to Cameroon and you must bring this with you.

Insurance

It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they will cover, but as a minimum you need medical and health cover, which will cover you for the whole time that you are away. Most policies will also include cancellation cover, which will cover you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as you book your trip.

Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, and you should check this with your insurance company.

Arrival and departure taxes

When leaving Cameroon there is a departure tax of CFA10,000 (approximately €15).

Money

The local currency in Cameroon is the Central African CFA, a currency that is shared with many other countries in the region. It is not, however, the same as the West African CFA, and the two are not interchangeable. It is best to bring Euros for exchange purposes as the CFA is not obtainable outside of the region.

It’s not difficult to change money in Cameroon, either at banks or the hotels and your guide can assist with this. There are also an increasing number of ATMs in larger towns. However, these are not always reliable and so it is best to think of them as a back up rather than a main means of obtaining money.

Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and better restaurants (usually in Douala or Yaounde) but are not commonly accepted elsewhere.

Local conditions

When travelling to some of the destinations we offer, you need to bear in mind that things won’t always work here as we’re used to them working at home. Travelling in underdeveloped and untouristed destinations requires both patience and a sense of humour. There may be problems with infrastructure, attitudes may be different, and maintenance may not be as high a standard as we would always like, but this is very much part and parcel of travelling in such a place. We aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, and thank you for your patience.

Travel advice

We keep a very close eye on the travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that we can keep you up to date with any warnings. At the time of writing the FCO advises against travel to some parts of Cameroon that we visit.

We work very closely with our local team and are fully confident that we can operate tours safely in Cameroon. Should you have any concerns over safety please do not hesitate to contact us and we can address your concerns.

This relates to advice from the British government – other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governments.

Please note that the information contained above is highly susceptible to change, and while we endeavour to keep up to date we recommend that you use this as a guide only. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

" Cameroon was great - I'm surprised it's not visited more. We had a great trip, ably assisted by Jacob whose local knowledge and relationships were invaluable in making sure that we did more than skim the surface when we visited the villages. "

Sue and Tom Beecroft

" One of the best trips I've done. Good guides, friendly and helpful driver and accommodation much better than I expected it to be. Spending time with the Mbororo was quite special, and I'm glad we had enough time here to do it properly. "

Sam Dye

" Thanks for your patience in answering all our questions beforehand - it made a difference to talk to someone who has actually been and can offer real advice. When the north of the country becomes possible again, please let us know! "

Jonathan and Sarah Roberts

" Cameroon is extremely underestimated as a destination and I will definitely be suggesting this particular trip to my friends and colleagues. The experience, knowledge and expertise of both our wonderful tour guide, and the company, was obvious and this is what made the trip such a success! "

Margaret and Melvyn Thompson

" We really enjoyed the trip tremendously. Cameroon has so much to offer. Central Africa we would never expect to be “easy” but sometimes it is the challenges that make a trip worthwhile and help a group bond. We certainly go on these trips to experience life as it is and to learn from people and cultures who are different from our own. The people were so friendly and welcoming. "

James Frost

" There were perhaps some minor issues with the vehicle up in the North around Poli - there were six of us in it - it struggled because of the rain and the thick mud but the driver got it sorted each time, they worked so hard to ensure we got there - and we did. Drinking wine out a carton in the mud to makossa music, dancing with fireflies with the umbrella in the rain before being pulled out the mud backwards by a saloon car with pigs on the back seat- you could not make it up and we feasted of the drama for the rest of the trip!! Any bit that was perhaps “temporarily” less smooth got sorted and one just has to take a small step back and look at the opportunities we were given in such a remote place by people who have so few tourists - we were very lucky. I would love to go back some day. "

Hazel Mason

" Wandji was a great guide and all three of us agreed that we always felt like he had everything in hand. At Bukaru camp he went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable and had beer. Just excellent all around. Hamadou did a great job driving. I don’t remember the other drivers’ names, but also excellent. Local guide Alphonse was great, as was Laurentine, the cook. So overall very good all around and I will certainly book with Native Eye again "

Patrick McHugh

" I had an amazing trip, think it was my favourite trip I've been on, really an incredible country and amazing experiences. Wandji and Abdul are excellent guides and went above and beyond to make sure things went smoothly. Thank you to Native eye for running exciting trips to very different countries! "

Declan Barker

" I very much enjoyed it. Cameroon is interesting because it is a kind of representative country of Africa, and I really like the western region. The different tribal areas exceeded my expectations and the guide Daniel, was excellent. Overall, probably the best guide I have had in Africa. "

Keith Gapp

Tribal Lands of Cameroon

Tribal Lands of Cameroon

Highlights

Day 1 - Douala

Douala

Day 2 - Ekom Falls - Bafoussam

Day 3 - Bangoulap

The Bamileke people

Day 4 - Foumban

Foumban

Day 5 - Yaoundé

Yaoundé

Day 6 - Ebogo - Nkolendom

Day 7 - Fang village

Days 8-9 - Kribi

Day 10 - Pygmy village

Day 11 - Pongo Songo - Lake Ossa - Edea

Day 12 - Douala

What's included?

Airport transfers

Accommodation

Guides

Meals

Entrance fees

What's not included?

Visas

International flights

Travel Insurance

Visas

Health and vaccinations

Insurance

Arrival and departure taxes

Money

Local conditions

Travel advice

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