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
12/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 31/100
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
Updated to reflect the addition of health and civil unrest indicators. Exercise increased caution in Cameroon due to armed violence, civil unrest, crime, health, kidnapping, and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do Not Travel to: Northwest and Southwest Regions due to armed violence, crime, and kidnapping. North Region and parts of East and Adamawa Regions due to crime and kidnapping. Far North Region due to crime, kidnapping, and terrorism. Country Summary: Violent crime, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, and carjacking, is common throughout Cameroon, especially in the regions listed above. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. Civil unrest is common, with the potential for political violence. Access to health care is limited. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North, Far North, Northwest, Southwest, and parts of Adamawa and East Regions of Cameroon due to current official travel restrictions.. Read the Country Information Page for additional information on travel to Cameroon. If you decide to travel to Cameroon: Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches, handbags, or jewelry. Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, help the Embassy contact you in an emergency, and help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Cameroon. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. North, Far North, Northwest, and Southwest Regions, and parts of East and Adamawa Regions – Level 4: Do Not Travel Violent crime, including kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, assault, and carjacking is a serious concern in Cameroon, especially in these areas. In the Adamawa Region north of the capital, Ngaoundere, and East Region, there is a heightened criminal threat within 20 kilometers of the border with the Central African Republic. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Far North Region– Level 4: Do Not Travel In the Far North Region, terrorists may attack with no warning, targeting local facilities and places frequented by Westerners. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Northwest and Southwest Regions – Level 4: Do Not Travel In Northwest and Southwest Regions, armed clashes between separatists and government forces, and other acts of violence, including violent criminality, kidnapping for ransom, sexual assault, arson, roadside ambushes and robberies, use of improvised explosive devices, illegitimate detentions, and murder have occurred. Security force operations, curfews and movement restrictions, and attacks by armed militants can take place at any time throughout these regions, including in urban areas. Ongoing violence has led to a breakdown in order and a significant decline in public services, including medical resources in large areas of both regions. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 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