My Travel Diary: The Essence of Cameroun
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
I’ve heard the stories just like you have- Africa is a poor continent, it’s dirty and unsafe. Some of the same things they say about my country- Haiti. I can assure you that I am from one of the most beautiful islands on earth; but let’s not talk about that yet. They say that experience is the best teacher therefore I challenged myself to walk the streets of the motherland. Visiting Africa (Cameroun) for the first time was une expérience magique. I felt like I had stepped into a whole new world yet It felt like I was home away from home. I was blown away by the utmost respect I received from the people, the genuine love, and the tasteful food. I learned many things from the experience that I would love to share with you. So here they go:
Tickets: Price of tickets usually range between $900.00 to $2,000.00. Depending on the time of the year, the airline, and the amount of stops ( layovers).
Visa: Yes, you do need a visa to Cameroun. I’m not talking about a passport. I’m talking about an additional document from the Cameroun embassy. They must grant you access to enter the country. I was able to get my visa from VisaHQ.com. I highly recommend their service. It took less than two weeks for me to get my visa. I sent my passport to the company and they scanned the visa on a page of my passport sheet.
Vaccination: A month before I left to Cameroun, I received the following vaccinations: Diphtheria; Hepatitis A; Poliomyelitis; Tetanus;Yellow Fever. Hepatitis B; Meningococcal Meningitis; Rabies; Typhoid. Yellow fever is a huge requirement to enter the country. I was asked to show my yellow fever vaccination sheet at a few places (Can you say SERIOUS?)
Flight time: If I may be honest, The flight time was not so bad. I expected it to be longer. I traveled 15 hours on my way to Cameroun and about 18 hours coming back including layovers in Paris
Money (pictured on the right): The name of the Cameroun money is called Franc. 1 U.S. Dollar = 576.55 Central African CFA Franc ( this is subject to change)
Scenery: I felt like I was in Haiti. The natural smell in the air, greenery, plantation, traffic, the little kids going to school in uniform, the street vendors, it all reminded me of Haiti. I fell in love with Mont Febe- a beautiful mountain surrounded by tall trees with a hotel on top of the hill.
Music:I was so surprise when I found out that Camerounians listen to a lot of zouk- a style of music. It’s very popular in the caribbeans. They also listen to Congo beat, and Makossa.
Language: There are 230 languages spoken in Cameroun. Yes, you read that right- 230 languages. Two of which are French and English. As a traveler, I can’t stress the importance of language. It’s good to understand and be understood. So being fluent in both language made me feel like I was one of them.
Food: I remember clearly saying to my friend’s grandmother “ I’ve had enough food, please stop feeding me”. The food in cameroon is fresh, organic, and tasty. What I admire most is that one can grab the yams, plantains, or potatoes right from their backyard. They have great soil to grow whatever they please. I am not sure who reported that Africa was a poor continent; I can guarantee you that was false information.
Kribi beach (pictured on the right) : This is a MUST SEE in flesh. Kribi beach is about 3.5 hours away from Yaounde ( the capital of Cameroun). The best way to describe Kribi Beach is “little island”. This beach is clean, safe and has many cascades. It’s so peaceful.
Markets: From my experience as a traveler, I learn more about a culture from its traditional food, museums, and Market. Cameroon is rich in markets. In these markets, one can find everything- Jewelry, art, shoes, fabric, tailors, souvenirs, from the ceiling to the floor. My favorite is Le Centre Artisanal a Tsinga. My biggest regret is that I did not go with an empty suitcase to buy things to bring back.
Life in Cameroun is an adventure. It’s a secret book worth reading. It can’t be compared to any other place simply because it’s the original. The night showers, the singing birds in the morning, the motorcyle-taxis, the ability to live and not exist sets it apart. I dare you to walk the streets of CAMEROUN.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on my Cameroun trip. Please comment below.
