You have javascript disabled in your browser. Either enable it via your browser's options or click here to bypass the detection.
Country Fact File : Cameroon
Research Cross River Gorillas in South West Cameroon
Cameroon, republic in western Africa, is bordered by Lake Chad in the north, and by Chad and the Central African Republic in the east; Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea are to the South; and on the west by the Bight of Biafra (an arm of the Atlantic Ocean) and Nigeria. The country is shaped like an elongated triangle, and forms a bridge between West Africa and Central Africa. Yaoundé is the capital, and Douala is the largest city.
| Location | Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria |
| Area | 475,440 sq km |
| Border Countries | Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria |
| Climate | varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north |
| Terrain | diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north |
| Highest Point | Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon) |
| Natural Hazards | volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes |
| Environmental Issues | waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing |
| Population | 18,060,382 |
| Ethnic Groups | Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1% |
| Religions | Indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20% |
| Languages | 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official) |
| Type of Government | republic; multiparty presidential regime |
| Capital | Yaounde | Currency | Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States |
Did you know?
Mount Cameroon, an active volcano, erupted six times in the twentieth century. The last eruption was in March 1999.
The Dja Faunal Reserve, a World Heritage site, is home to a population of pygmies who follow their traditional way of life within the reserve.
The name Cameroon is derived from "camaroes", the Portuguese word for prawns. The use of this name for the country was a reference to the availability of the shellfish.
In 1986 over one thousand seven hundred people died when lethal gas escaped from Lake Nyos, a volcanic lake.
1 888 653 6028
Duration and Costs
| Duration | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2 Weeks | US$1990 |
| 4 Weeks | US$2830 |
| Group Size |
|---|
| Four volunteers max, plus staff. |
Share this Page
Related Programs
Search World Map
