Cameroon
Republic of Cameroon
Middle Africa · CMR
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Cameroon
Cameroon fits travelers who want a high-contrast trip with volcanic landscapes, rainforest parks, and a stronger sense of regional variety than many people expect from a single country. Most first visits are better built around one zone, such as Mount Cameroon and the southwest or the far north around Waza and Rhumsiki, instead of trying to stitch the whole map together.
Popular For
Things To See
- Yaounde
- Douala
- Mount Cameroon
- Rhumsiki
- Waza National Park
- Korup National Park
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- The country is more rewarding when you choose one region and pace it properly rather than forcing coast, rainforest, and Sahel landscapes into one short trip.
- Transport and road times can be uneven, so overland ambitions need more buffer here than they would in easier regional gateways.
- Wildlife, hiking, and cultural-route planning all work, but they do not naturally fit the same compact itinerary.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Cameroon.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Cameroon Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Cameroon.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Yaoundé
- Population
- 29,442,327
- Area
- 475,442 km²
- Region
- Middle Africa
Languages
- English
- French
Currency
Central African CFA franc (Fr)
XAF
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
32.7
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 37.8
- Restaurants
- 45.5
- Rent
- 19.1
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Yaoundé (3.85°N, 11.50°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
13/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 32/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.588
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.006
- 10-year change
- +0.030
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.898
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.558
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.574
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3)
- 🏛️
Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains
Inscribed 2025
- 🌿
Sangha Trinational
Inscribed 2012
- 🌿
Dja Faunal Reserve
Inscribed 1987
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 11.0%
- Forest cover
- 42.7%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 48
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 31
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
29/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
79/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise increased cautionin Cameroon due to risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, health, kidnapping, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Crime Violent crime, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, and carjacking are common in Cameroon. This is especially true in the Southwest, Northwest, Far North, and North Regions; the Adamawa Region north of the capital city of Ngaoundere; and the East Region within 20 kilometers of the border with Central African Republic. There is high risk of kidnapping by non-state armed groups in the Southwest and Northwest Regions. There is high risk of kidnapping by terrorists in the Far North Region. Petty crime is common in Cameroon, especially in Yaoundé and Douala. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious crimes. Unrest Civil unrest is common, with the potential for political violence. Demonstrations related to the local political situation may occur with little notice. They may disrupt transportation and other essential services. Health Medical services in Cameroon are limited. Adequate trauma and ambulance services are not widely available. Even a minor health issue may require medical evacuation at your expense. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Cameroon. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Kidnappings by terrorist organizations are a significant risk in the Far North Region. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) IEDs exist in Cameroon, especially in the Northwest, Southwest, and Far North Regions. IEDs are unmarked and are actively used by terrorists in high-risk areas in the Far North Region. Do Not Travel to the Southwest, Northwest, and Far North Regions for any reason due to risk of terrorism, unrest, crime, kidnapping, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Do Not Travel to within 20 kilometers of the borders with Central African Republic, Chad, and Nigeria for any reason due to risk of terrorism, unrest, crime, kidnapping, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Read full advisory →Data current as of June 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data