Cameroon: Getting there & around

Europe has the best air connections to Cameroon with international airports in both Yaoundé and Douala. Travellers from North America will have to connect in Europe or an African hub such as Dakar (Senegal) or Lagos (Nigeria). There's a departure tax on international flights of around 10000.00 .

The most popular border crossing point between Cameroon and CAR is at Garoua-Boulai. To get there from Yaoundé, take the train northeast to N'Gaoundal then catch a minibus to the border.

Bush taxis and minibuses are the most common way of arriving by land. The most common border crossings for vehicles are Kousséri from Chad, Mamfé from Nigeria, and Amban from Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Douala is a popular port with European freighters, and there are ferries making twice-weekly runs between Calabar in Nigeria and Limbe in Cameroon.

The best way of making short trips is by bush taxi or minivan. They're cheap, fast (sometimes a bit too fast) and easy to find. Buses, however, are better for getting between Yaoundé and Douala.

If you're travelling to northern Cameroon take the train. It's cheap, much faster than driving and fairly comfortable. The Gazelle du Nord runs once a day between Yaoundé and N'Gaoundéré. There's also a leg between the capital and Douala. Cameroun Airlines flies between Douala and Yaoundé several times a day and has flights to Maroua, Garoua, N'Gaoundéré and several other cities. Flying is by far the most expensive way of getting around. There's a nominal departure tax on domestic flights.

If the teeth-clenching, knuckle-whitening speed of bush taxis turns your stomach, car rental is an option. Petrol is cheap but rental fees are quite high. Agencies can be found in Yaoundé, Douala and a few other large cities. You can drive with a valid licence from your home country but it's always best to get an International Driver's Licence. Driving is on the right.