Cameroon - Traveller information

Local laws and conventions: Photographing military establishments and official buildings, in particular the airports, is strictly forbidden. If photographing local residents or their property, visitors should exercise discretion and should always ask permission.

Drug use and possession are prohibited. Penalties for all drug offences are severe and usually lead to a prison sentence.

Visitors should carry identification documents on them at all times; failure to produce them may lead to detention.

Islamic traditions must be respected in the north and visitors must never enter a Muslim prayer circle of rocks. In rural areas, tact should be shown for the traditional beliefs.

Clothing varies between cities and rural areas and a conservative style of dress is best adopted. Long sleeves and some form of head cover are advisable when entering religious buildings.

Handshaking is the usual form of greeting in Cameroon. Business is conducted primarily in English and French. Office hours are Mon–Fri 0730–1700.

Immigration and customs: Passports must be valid for a minimum of six months and visas are required by most nationals. Visas (tourist and business) are valid for up to six months. All visitors must present a return or onward ticket when entering the country.

Pornographic materials may not be brought into the country and licences are required for sporting guns.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate must be presented by all travellers arriving from infected areas.

Travel within the country: Traffic drives on the right. An international driving permit is required to drive in Cameroon and must be carried at all times. Car hire is available in Douala, Yaoundé and Limbé. Roads are paved between the main cities.

The most efficient and reliable means of travelling between the cities is by taking an internal flight. Unitair has daily flights between Douala and Yaoundé and operates less regular flights to other major towns.

Train services, run by CAMRAIL (Cameroon Railways), are generally good – if relatively slow.

There is a modern coach service between Yaoundé and Douala, and there are local services that serve the more rural areas.

Taxis are a cheap and fast means of travelling around the cities and are widely available. All fares must be agreed on before travel, as taxis are not metered.

Travel health: Travellers are advised to have full medical insurance.

Visitors will need protection against malaria, together with insect repellent and suitable clothing to prevent mosquito bites. Dysentery, dengue fever, typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria and Hepatitis A also occur, and visitors should exercise caution and protect themselves at all times. Paddling or swimming in fresh water should be avoided as there is a risk of catching bilharzia. In the northern areas, meningococcal meningitis and cholera are an additional risk during the dry season.

Outside of the main hotels, all water should be boiled or sterilised before use. Only powdered or tinned milk is recommended.

Money: Local currency is the CFA franc. Visitors should note that only currency issued by the Banque des États de l’Afrique Centrale is valid; it is not valid if issued by the Banque des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Cash in a hard currency is preferred to travellers cheques. ATMs are rare, and debit and credit cards cannot be used in banks to obtain cash. Limited numbers of hotels and airline offices will accept major credit cards. Banking hours are Mon–Fri 0730–1530.

There were 176,372 tourist arrivals in 2005.