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Gabon
Even less is written or known about Gabon. Over three-quarters
of the country is covered in the Gabonese Jungle Belt rainforest.
It is the biggest intact forest area in Africa and one of
the largest in the world. Gabon also boasts Africa's second
largest freshwater delta - the Ogooue Delta. Thanks to these
two intense vegetations, Gabon hosts a huge range of wildlife
and plants with some great hiking trails.
Cash
The currency in Gabon and Cameroon is the CFA Franc which
is fixed to the euro.For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter.
Although you would probably expect Cameroon to be a
budget destination, it is actually fairly expensive for independent
travelers. If you want to live well you can expect to pay
$150 to $200 a day or more. By sticking to street vendors
dishes, drinking bottled water (soft drinks and alcoholic
beverages are expensive) and staying in basic rooms it is
possible to get by on $25 to $50 per day. This is the same
in Gabon where comfortable travel is mainly limited
to Libreville with its vastly overpriced hotels.
It is not customary for people to tip but they do expect presents
from wealthy visitors - and being foreign you will be deemed
wealthy. Therefore expect to pay 10% to 15% in restaurants
in the main cities.
When it comes to changing money, It's best to take euros with
you. You can change euros in banks and in some hotels, however
to get the best rate you've got to go to the echangistes
(money changers). Not quite illegal but not completely official
either, this is where you can make the most of your cash.
Don't go on your own but ask the hotel you're staying in to
call them in or your trustworthy driver if you have one. Don't
be foolish by asking any stranger in the street where you
can change money as you'll become a prime target.
Make sure you hang to your small change as it's very difficult
to get in Cameroon. It's indispensable to buy fruits, nuts,
little things from the market or on stalls by the side of
the road.
People
Cameroon is twice the size of Britain and has a population
of nearly 16 million people. It has a mixed Anglo-French heritage
but is also home to over 250 different ethnic groups from
across Africa. The oldest group is the pygmies who
have mainly settled in small villages although some still
live independently in the rainforest.
The people of Gabon, which has a much smaller population
of 1.3 million due to its extensive rainforest, are almost
exclusively of Bantu descent and the most prevalent
group is the Fang, who hail primarily from the north
and northeast of the country.
Travel
Getting There
The fastest yet most expensive way to travel is by plane.
Air Gabon flies between Libreville and all the major
towns or use Cameroon Airlines and Unitair in
Cameroon. Camair, the national airline, is having some
serious problems and their internal flights are not always
in action. It makes it really hard to visit the north and
extreme north. However, they now have one international flight
a week that stops in Garoua. Another alternative is to fly
to Ndjamena in Chad and to make your way to northern Cameroon
which is only 30 miles away. It's quicker and cheaper than
flying to Douala or Yaounde.
Getting Around
The train services are very good, cheap and fairly
comfortable, although in Gabon the stations are usually a
long way out of town and taxis are very expensive. Minibuses
are the most popular method of transport above bush taxis,
but the service and cost of both can vary greatly. Taxi drivers
usually accept US dollars or euros, but not always at the
best rates.
Be warned: driving in Cameroon is dangerous. Roads are in
poor conditions because of a lack of maintenance and at night
they're not lit or lit very poorly. There are risks of carjacking
in the north, although it seems to have calmed down in recent
years. The rules of the road as we know them in the West don't
seem to apply at all. Get a driver if you can afford it, or
stick to driving during the day and drive very carefully.
Use public transport with caution as the drivers are real
thrill-seekers on the road. If you brave the option to drive
yourself then petrol is cheap but counteracted by high rental
fees.
Food
Traditional food is not always easy to find as both countries
have such a diverse cultural mix. Restaurants in the big towns
serve a lot of continental food, especially French. In Cameroon,
street vendors are the guys to get your traditional fish and
grilled chicken dishes from, while Gabon's national meals
are stuffed crab and nyembwe, a chicken and palm nut
dish.
Language
The official languages for Cameroon are French and
English. In Gabon the official language is French but
more than half the population also speak Fang. A large
number of Bantu languages are also spoken including Zulu
and Swahili.
Dress
Clothing varies dramatically depending on whether you are
in the cities or more rural areas. A conservative Western
style is best adopted. Skirts should be below the knee and
clothes shouldn't be too tight or revealing. Although not
essential, it is best to have some kind of sleeve on tops
and take something to cover your head if you want to go anywhere
religious. The climate is very hot, even in the rainy season,
so light layers are advised.
Health
Protection against malaria is essential as the disease
is rife across Africa. You will also need to produce a yellow
fever vaccination certificate on arrival. cholera
and typhoid are also prevalent as well as AIDS.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, but bottled
water is available everywhere except small villages. Healthcare
is reasonable in the big cities.
Visas
Everyone, apart from African nationals, needs a visa to enter
Cameroon. This costs around $55 and can be obtained
from a Cameroon Embassy. They must be activated within three
months of issue and are valid for one month. Immigration officials
will ask you to show a return flight or proof of onward travel
and may want proof of funds - a credit card is usually fine.
It is notoriously difficult to get visas for Gabon
outside of Africa and expensive at around $180. Getting one
from a Gabonese embassy in a neighboring country will save
half the time and expense.
When to Go
The best time to visit Cameroon is November to February when
it is generally dry and cool. The only problem in this season
is the harmattan when winds blow sand over from the
Sahara Desert and visibility can become really bad. Still,
this is preferable to the rainy season (May to November) which
turns the country into a muddy mess. Major events to check
out include:
- The Race of Hope is held in late January and is a
grueling competition to reach the peak of Mount Cameroon.
- The feast of Ramadam signals the end of Muslim fasting
and is celebrated across Cameroon.
- The festival of Tabaski in February/March is the
most important holiday of the year for most African Muslims
and celebrates Abraham. Celebrations include a parade of marabouts
(wise men and fortune-tellers)
- Cameroon National Festival is held on 20 May and
is the country's major non-religious festival.
- Nso Cultural Week is held in mid-November. The best
known event is the horse races through the streets of Kumbo.
Travelers' Tips
Telephone
Cameroon hasn't got the best phone network. Landlines often
don't work or are really bad. The mobile phone network is
slightly better and two big suppliers are in competition with
each other: Orange and MTN. Not all the country has access
to their network, although it's improving fast. You can buy
a "pay as you go" SIM cards pretty much anywhere
there's a signal. You can buy units for as little as CFA1000
($2) up to CFA25,000 ($50). It is cheaper to use the mobile
phone than the landline.
Email
There are cyber cafes everywhere, often using broadband connections.
They're cheap and can be booked by the half-hour. Get yourself
a Yahoo! account as it seems to be the best working provider
over there.
Passport
As soon as you arrive in the country, make sure you get a
certified copy of your passport. You need to make a copy of
your passport and your visa on to one page. Go to the nearest
police station to have it stamped and signed by a policeman.
It costs CFA1000 ($2). It s very important as you will be
stopped by the police, the gendarme, or the military during
you stay and you must never hand over your actual passport
as they might retain it for a while or claim they have lost
it unless you pay them a bribe. Certified photocopies of passport
are legal and valid and will save you money and hassle.
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