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Cameroon
is Africa in One Country
by
Jerry W. Bird
"If
you dance, you vibrate - and he who
vibrates lives."
Popular quotation.
Mount
Cameroon, West Africa's highest peak,
stands like a giant sentinel, gazing out
over the Gulf of Guinea on Africa's
Atlantic Coast. Among it's legendary names
is "Throne of Thunder," a fitting tribute
to the powerful
gods
that are said to inhabit the mountain's
inner core. Our group of travel agents and
journalists approached the 'throne'
shortly after one of its frequent volcanic
eruptions, and the ribbons of cooled lava
resembled grey frosting oozing from an
enormous layer cake. The lava beds are
evident from the main highway to Kribi and
a hiking trail winds up and over them. The
warning signs advised us to pay respect
and to tread gently in this eco- sensitive
area. Mount Cameroon's rugged peak is the
crown jewel of a chain of volcanic
mountains that are strung like a giant
pearl necklace along the Cameroon Nigeria
border. The range stretches from here all
the way to the northern plains of Maroua,
gateway to Waza National Park - and that's
just part of the "Grand Tour of Cameroon,
Africa in One Country" a prestige edition
of Africa Travel Magazine making its debut
in fall 2004.
 Cameroon's
Minister of Tourism (at the time) , Hon.
Pierre Helé, puts "ecology first"
in his country's efforts to win an
important share of the tourist trade from
North America and other markets. Each
February the popular ' Course of Hope.'
attracts aspiring climbers to the area and
we're told that, while the ascent is
challenging, it's not dangerous or overly
strenuous. Many other sights would amaze
and impress us that day and in the week to
follow. Speaking personally, this trip was
by far the most complete tour of any ATA-
African host country I had experienced to
date. At its conclusion most travelers in
our group were tired - and somewhat
bedazzled - yet I enjoyed a feeling of
solid accomplishment. As a result I will
never forget Cameroon and always hunger
for more.
At
Home in Yaounde, Cameroon's Capital
After
spending several
fun weeks in Yaounde. Cameroon's capital
city, the place really started to feel
like home. Almost everyone we encountered
knew who we were and made us welcome, and
the local print and broadcast media were
anxious to record and publish our views on
the country and its potential for trade
and tourism. To say that I am yearning to
return at the drop of a hat is truly an
understatement - the Yaounde experience
stands out as one of the most
unforgettable periods of my life. Our book
of memories is full to the brim with
images of Cameroon and its people, and our
magazine's photo library is loaded with
great scenes. Having a background in audio
visual writing and production, one facet I
remember most vividly about Yaounde was
the endless number of superb cinemascopic
vistas, starting with the view from the
Hilton Yaounde's penthouse. Cruising the
winding road to the Mount Febé
Hotel is awesome, and the impressive route
that leads to the modern government
complex makes you think you're on the
Riviera. After all, like Rome, this
emerging Africa capital incorporates seven
charming hills, and each offers a
different set of perspectives.
More->
Road
to economic
success
This progressive country is already
high on the preferred list in terms of
business travel. Scan the financial pages,
or dig a little deeper in the Internet,
and you'll see what I mean - the country
is rich with potential in terms of
agriculture, forestry, marine life,
minerals and natural resources. And a word
to the wise, "Where business goes, tourism
flows" - and vice versa. Europeans
discovered long ago what most North
Americans have yet to learn - that
Cameroon is a Tourism Mecca in the raw.
Ministry officials agree with with the
popular expression that their land is
Africa in One country." In other words
Cameroon is a little bit of everything, or
as my Grade 9 Spanish textbook said in its
title, "de todo un poco."
 Douala
and The Cameroon
Story
Douala,
Cameroon's largest city with over 2
million inhabitants, has hosted two major
events
sponsored
by the Africa Travel Association since
2001. During post tours, we had many
opportunities to sample the hospitality
and feel the true spirit of the people,
who make up this land they call Africa in
One country. Nowhere was this feeling more
evident than in Douala during the Ngondo
Festival, a spectacle unlike anything I've
ever seen in Africa. Annual festivals and
gala events abound throughout West Africa,
but this one tops them all as a simply
outstanding spectacle that has deep
spiritual significance. Having read Wilbur
Smith's great book "The River God,"
concerning life on the Nile and Blue Nile
in ancient times, I have been keenly
interested in the rivers of Central Africa
and the mysteries they hold. In this case,
the Wouri River, focal point of the Ngondo
Festival in Douala, has its own River
Gods, it's a ceremony involving the "water
spirits," who communicate their message in
an unusual way.
More->
Editor's
Comment:
In addition to the Hon. Minister Hele, we
thank our tour supervisors Ebenezer
Elimbi, Jean Npombo and Boniface Piga.
They were great companions throughout my
30 days in the country. Our travels in
Cameroon will eventually be compiled in a
book that will help future travelers from
North America enjoy this fascinating
country to the fullest. It was a month we
will treasure forever, and even as time
passes, the images and voices of Cameroon
have not faded one iota - they've become
even more vivid in the theater of my mind.
What I truly love about the many
Cameroonians whom I've come to know - is
that to a person, they "Accentuate the
Positive."
About
Cameroon
Located
on the West coast of Africa,Cameroon
(population 15,000,00) is bordered by
Nigeria, Gabon, Chad, Central African
Republic, Congo and Equatorial Guinea.
While there are over 200 tribal groups,
the main languages of commerce are French
and English. Much of the architecture
remains from the country's days as a
German colony. Cameroon's Atlantic Ocean
coastline extends 400 km, offering long
stretches of beach. The varied climate
ranges from tropical rain forest to open
Savannah, with high mountain ranges on the
North West border. Throughout Cameroon
there are areas of thermal springs for
those who like an outdoor health spa
retreat. As they say, "A little bit of
everything."
Waza
National
Park.
Visitors
can observe elephant, giraffe, ostrich,
antelope, gazelle and lion - and a
variety of birds. Lions are best
observed during April.
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