Visa requirements
Passport: is generally required for trips to Cameroon, the passport must be valid for 6 months after the expiry date of the visa.
Visa: Generally required.
Transit: Transit travelers who travel within 24 hours, can show valid flight tickets and do not leave the transit room do not need a transit visa.
Period of validity: Different.
Application: Consular section of the embassy or consulate (see Cameroon – important addresses).
Residence permit: applications to the Immigration Service.
Documents:
Tourist Visa: – Passport that is still valid for at least 6 months – A completed application form – A passport photo – Yellow fever vaccination certificate – Travel booking confirmation for return or onward flight – Confirmation of a hotel booking or, for private visits, a Certificat d’Herbergement confirmed by the local Cameroonian police – Proof of payment for the visa fees
Business Visa: additionally a company letter from the German company about the purpose and duration of the trip with a confirmation of the assumption of costs.
A franked and addressed envelope should be attached to the application.
Cost of issuing a Visa: 80.00 euros
Processing time: Personal: immediately, by post: 3 to 5 days. Express processing takes about 2 days.
Vaccinations: For information on international vaccination certificates that are required for entry, please see Cameroon Health.
Obligation to register: Registration is mandatory for stays of more than three months.
Entry with children:
Germany: Children need their own passport (children’s passport or electronic passport) to enter Cameroon.
Austria: own passport for children.
Switzerland: own passport for children.
The same visa requirements apply to the children as to their parents. Minors traveling alone should be picked up by an adult when entering Cameroon.
Money
Country-Currency: 1 CFA franc (Franc de la C ooperation F inancière en A frique Centrale) is divided into 100 centimes.
Currency abbreviation: CFA Fr, XAF. – ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG
Banknotes worth 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 CFA Fr are in circulation, coins worth 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 CFA Fr.
The CFA is issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC, State Bank of the Central African States) published and used by Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic. The CFA Franc (XOF) issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO, State Bank of the West African States) is not a legal tender in Cameroon. The CFA franc is pegged to the euro at a fixed exchange rate.
Currency exchange: by far the most commonly accepted currency is the euro. Even with US dollars, there can be difficulties in changing money. You can change in banks and exchange offices. Currency exchange can be more difficult in smaller cities, so always switch to larger cities.
Exchange rate CFA:
Currency converter at OANDA
Credit Cards: are hardly accepted.
Travelers checks: are reluctant to be accepted, travelers checks should preferably be in euros, fees are high (up to 5%). The proof of purchase of the checks must be shown upon exchange. Euro checks are not accepted.
ATMs: in larger cities you can usually find an ATM that accepts VISA cards.
Foreign exchange regulations: The import and export of national currency is unlimited. Declaration obligation. The import and export of foreign currencies is subject to declaration.
Bank opening times: Mon – Fri 8 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.
Health and Diseases
In Cameroon there are always cholera diseases, which can also take on larger proportions. A risk of infection can be prevented by observing careful hygiene when eating and drinking and thorough hand cleaning. Oral vaccination is the recommended vaccination for travelers in simple conditions.
The medical care is better in Yaounde and Douala, compared to the interior, but does not meet the Central European standard. In the state hospitals in particular, there are repeated bottlenecks in the supply of medicines, bandages and other medical consumables. Cameroon travelers should therefore carry an appropriately equipped first-aid kit with them. There are plenty of pharmacies in the larger cities, which usually carry all important medicines from French production. Outside of business hours (7.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.) you will find a reference to the pharmacy in night duty at every pharmacy.
Bird flu: The bird flu virus (H5 / H5N1) was detected in birds in Cameroon and confirmed by the World Animal Organization (OIE) on March 12, 2006. Travelers should therefore keep away from poultry and avoid any contact with live and dead animals. Raw poultry dishes and eggs should not be consumed. When cooked well, poultry dishes and eggs can be enjoyed without hesitation. As a precaution, a thorough cleaning of the hands with water and soap or alcoholic hand disinfectant solutions is generally recommended.
Health certificate: For long-term stays, a health certificate in French is required.
In addition to diarrhea, malaria represents the greatest health risk in the case of infectious diseases. The predominant, more dangerous form Plasmodium falciparum (85%) is said to be strongly resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine / pyrimethamine. Various prescription medications (e.g. malarone, doxycycline, Lariam) are available on the market for malaria prophylaxis. The selection and personal adjustment as well as side effects or intolerance to other medications should be discussed with a tropical or travel doctor before taking chemoprophylaxis.
Also, hepatitis A, typhoid and tuberculosis are not uncommon. Given appropriate risk behavior, the risk of HIV / AIDS infection should not be underestimated. Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis occur repeatedly in the north, especially during the dry season, and in 2000 also in the northwest for the first time. The drinking water treatment is poor. Tap water can be drunk after using a filter. Drinking water in sealed bottles is considered safe.
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry. In addition to the usual standard vaccinations for short-term trips, vaccination against hepatitis A, typhoid and for stays in the northern half of the country and the northwest against meningococcal meningitis with the vaccine ACWY are recommended. For long-term stays and for tourists with special travel risks, additional vaccination against hepatitis B and possibly rabies.
HIV / AIDS is a major problem and a great danger in the country for everyone who runs the risk of infection: Sexual contact, dirty syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can pose a life-threatening risk.
Nationwide there is an increased risk of infection for various infectious diseases (e.g. hepatitis A, typhoid, Bacterial dysentery, amoebic dysentery, lambliasis, worm diseases), which are transmitted through contaminated food or beverages. Therefore, careful food and drinking water hygiene measures should always be carried out. In general, water should either be boiled or otherwise sterilized prior to use for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice cubes. Milk is not pasteurized outside of urban areas and should also be boiled. Avoid dairy products from uncooked milk. Meat and fish dishes should only be cooked well and served hot. Avoid eating pork, raw salads and mayonnaise. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Before the trip, a consultation with an experienced tropical doctor should be held.
In addition to my general disclaimer, please note the following important note:
A guarantee for the correctness and completeness of the medical information as well as a liability for possible damage cannot be assumed. You stay responsible for your healthy.
Transportation options for trips to Cameroon
Plane: There are connections between Douala and Yaoundé to Garoua, Maroua and Bertoua on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Train: The train in Cameroon is relatively slow, but cheap. Only freight trains run from Douala to Yaounde and Kumba. The third line runs between Yaounde and N’Gaoundére.
Cars: The few paved routes in Cameroon run from Douala to Yaoundé, Limbé, Buéa, Bafoussam and Bamenda. In the rainy season, the other slopes (especially the Ring Road) are difficult or not accessible. There are numerous police checks. Right-hand traffic prevails. For safety reasons, night driving should not be undertaken. Drunk drivers must be expected especially on public holidays.
Buses from agences de voyages connect all major and most minor Städete the country together (eg Yaounde, Douala, Bafoussam and Bamenda and Fouban and Dschanga). Buses to rural areas run at irregular intervals, the driving style is often dangerous, and there are often regular races between the buses. In addition, so-called clandos and taxi brousse (mostly minivans or smaller Peugeots) travel to destinations that are not served by the larger buses. Rental cars are available in Douala, Yaoundé and Limbé. Documents: An international driver’s license is recommended, and a regional Central African insurance card is also required (usually available in the nearest major city after the border).
Urban transport: buses run at uniform fares in Douala and Yaoundé. Taxis and shared taxis (the main means of transport in cities) are of course also available, but they are not always in a safe condition. There are also moped taxis, so-called motos.
Tourist highlights in Cameroon
The center and the east: The capital, Yaoundé, is very diverse with its numerous markets, museums, shops and cinemas. To the northwest of Yaounde, mountains rise up to 1,000 m. On Mont Fébé there is a well-equipped hotel, a casino, gardens and a golf course. The climate is pleasant due to the altitude. The impressive nightingale falls of the Sanga river are worth seeing. There are still wild gorillas in the dense rainforests of this region, but these are very rare to see.
The west: Douala, 24 km from the coast, is the economic center of Cameroon. Douala is located near Mont Cameroun, the highest mountain in West and Central Africa at 4,070 m. In the city, the cathedral, the port and the museum are interesting. Shops for handicrafts and souvenirs can be found in the Artisanat National and in the Deido market. Buéa is a beautiful town at the foot of Mont Cameroun. The tourist office does not give permission to climb the mountain during the rainy season. Limbé, an attractive town on the Atlantic Ocean, offers a wonderful botanical garden.
The place Dschangenjoys a pleasant temperate climate due to the altitude of 1,400 m. The route to the south, via Douala, leads through a wonderful landscape.
Bamenda, in the highlands north of Dschang, offers an interesting museum and an arts and crafts market.
Northeast of Dschang, in Foumban, you can find historic buildings from the German colonial era. There is also the Fon Palace, a museum and a market. Foumban is a good starting point for tours in the Bamileke region, for example to the Bamoun Festival. South of Douala, Kribi is a port and vacation spot with one of the most beautiful beaches in Cameroon (Londji Beach). From here excursions to the pygmy villages and the Campo Game Reserve are possible. There are buffalos and elephants in the surrounding rainforests.
The north: Maroua is located near the Mandara Mountains. The market, the African quarters, the banks of the Mayo Kaliao and the Diamare Museum are worth visiting. There is a wildlife sanctuary near Maroua. The village of Rhumsiki is connected to the surrounding farms (Sarés) by a labyrinth of paths. The Kirdi people still keep their traditions and customs that have hardly changed over the centuries. Further north is the village of Koza. From here you come to the village of Mabas, with a unique panoramic view of the Bornou plain in Nigeria.
National parks: the Kala Maloue Reserve is home to several antelope and monkey species. Elephants are rarely seen. However, this reserve is not accessible to visitors.
The large Waza National Park (accessible from November to May) lies in the Sahel region and has some swamp areas. The park is home to a wide variety of animals, such as elephants, giraffes, antelopes, lions, cheetahs and porcupines. However, the big cats are rarely observed. Bird life is also very diverse here: eagles, cranes, maraboos and geese are just examples of this diversity. The Boubandjida National Park is on a river Mayo Lidi. Several national parks and protected areas in Cameroon are not accessible to visitors.