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Europe has the best air connections with Cameroon. Most carriers fly only to Douala, though Swissair has flights to both Yaoundé and Douala from Zurich and Geneva. Travellers from North America will have to connect in Europe or an African hub such as Dakar (Senegal) or Lagos (Nigeria). The only rail connection is from the Central African Republic, which puts you at Belabo, about 200km (124mi) north-east of Yaoundé. There's a departure tax on international flights of around US$15.

Bush taxis and minibuses are the most common way of arriving by land. The most common border crossings for vehicles are Mora from Chad, Mamfé from Nigeria, and Ambam from Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Douala is a popular port with European freighters, and there are boats making daily runs between Oron, Nigeria, and Idenao, near Limbe, in Cameroon. The quickest and most reliable are speedboats, which take about four hours.

Money & Costs

Currency: CFA franc (CFAf)

Meals


• Budget: US$1-2

• Mid-range: US$2-8

• Top-end: US$8 and upwards
  
  Lodging
  

• Budget: US$15-25

• Mid-range: US$25-100

• Top-end: US$100 and upwards

The value of the US dollar in Cameroon has more than doubled since the CFA franc was devalued in 1994, but Cameroon is still not a budget destination. Travellers staying in first-class accommodation and dining out on European cuisine should expect to pay US$150-200 a day or more. Travellers on a moderate budget who grab the occasional beef brochette from a street vendor and take minivans instead of Peugeot station wagons can keep their costs down to US$50-100 a day. By sticking to simple African dishes (preferably from street vendors), drinking water (soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are expensive) and hiring rooms with bucket showers, travellers on a small budget can get by on between US$25-50 a day .

Big-city banks offer the best exchange rates, followed by the airport banks in Douala and Yaoundé. Taxi drivers usually accept US dollars or French francs, but not always at the best rates. American Express is the most widely accepted credit card, followed by Diners Club and Visa; the first two are easiest to use for cash advances at local offices. Traveller' cheques denominated in French francs are a far better way of getting cash in Yaoundé and Douala, but can be harder to change elsewhere.

Cameroonians aren't in the habit of tipping, but they do expect cadeaux (gifts) from the wealthy, and as foreign travellers tend to look rich to the locals, they're usually expected to give cadeaux. Plan to tip 10% at better restaurants in Douala and Yaoundé, but check first to see if service has been included in your bill.