Cameroon

Places in Cameroon

• Bafoussam

  Bafoussam is the capital of Cameroon's West Region and a major hub for Bamiléké culture, especially French Bamiléké culture. While not the cleanest or most picturesque city in Cameroon, its central location in the Grand West makes it a practical base for exploring the Northwest Highlands.

  Atlas entry

• Bamenda

  Bamenda serves as the main urban hub in Cameroon's Northwest Highlands, offering access to traditional Tikar kingdoms, colonial history, and the scenic Bamenda Ring Road circuit. The city has ties to the Tikar people, was colonized by Germans in 1884, and later passed to French and English administration, creating a layered cultural heritage with hilly backdrops and the Bamenda University of Science and Technology.

  Atlas entry

• Buea

  Buea served as the capital of German Cameroon from 1884 to 1916, leaving behind colonial-era buildings that still dot the cityscape. The city sits at the foot of Mount Cameroon (Mongo ma Ndemi), an active volcano that offers challenging hikes and spectacular views.

  Atlas entry

• Douala

  Douala is Cameroon's largest city and commercial center, sitting on the Wouri River Delta with the country's main port handling 95% of industrial activity. The city has a hot, humid climate year-round and a gritty, rapidly urbanizing character.

  Atlas entry

• Kribi

  Kribi is Cameroon's most popular beach destination, attracting both international tourists and Cameroonian locals seeking sun and sea. Unlike many West African coastlines, Kribi offers relatively accessible beaches with coconut palms framing the Atlantic, plus the unique Lobe Falls where a river plunges directly into the ocean.

  Atlas entry

• Limbe

  Limbe is Cameroon’s “clean city” and one of its most cosmopolitan coastal destinations. The city blends Bakweri, Christian, and Muslim cultures with western influence, offering a relaxed beach atmosphere distinct from Cameroon’s inland cities.

  Atlas entry

• Maroua

  Maroua is the capital of Cameroon's Far North Region and a gateway to the Sahel. In 2020 it held slightly over one million residents, making it the third-largest city in Cameroon.

  Atlas entry

• Ngaoundéré

  Ngaoundéré is the capital of Adamaoua region in Cameroon's central highlands, serving as the northern terminus of the Camrail railway line from Yaoundé. The city offers a rare glimpse into traditional Lamidom culture with the Lamido Palace and Grand Mosque, plus mountain hiking opportunities at Mont Ngaoundéré.

  Atlas entry

• Yaoundé

  Yaoundé is Cameroon's political capital and second-largest city, home to about 2 million people from across the country. Called the 'city on seven hills,' it sits at 700m elevation along the Mfoundi River, offering a cooler equatorial climate than coastal Douala.

  Atlas entry