Centre · Cameroon
Yaoundé travel guide
Yaoundé is a city in Centre, Cameroon, home to about 2,440,000 people.
- Best months
- July
- Nearest airport
- NSI16 km · Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport
- Currency
- XAFCentral African CFA franc
- Time zone
- Africa/Douala
- Language
- English, French
About
About Yaoundé
Yaoundé (UK:; US:, French pronunciation: [ja.unde]) is the capital city of Cameroon. It has a population of more than 2.8 million, which makes it the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala.
A city of 2 million inhabitants, Yaoundé is the centre of political power in the country. The city is in the Centre province, and stretches along the small river Mfoundi, which flows through the city from north to south. At about 700 m above sea level, it is surrounded by hills, swamplands and small streams, on the homeland of the Ewondo and Eton peoples, though nowadays it's home to people from all over the country. Downtown is rather small and comprises some highrises around Boulevard du 20 mai and the Quartier des ministères.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Yaoundé
See
The city's not really set up for tourists, but some fun things to see are the Mvog Betsi Zoo (primates and lions, with a kid's playground), the Mokolo Market (very big and in-your-face), Mont Febe, or maybe the swimming pools of some of the hotels — see Buy and Do sections below. The city centre houses government offices, some hotels, and the central market. The Bastos quartier, with most homes owned by Cameroonians, is home to foreign embassies and the expatriate European community (drawn mainly from the diplomatic corps). The presidential palace and compound is in the Etoudi neighborhood.
- Cathédrale Notre Dame des Victoires
- Mary Queen of the Apostles Basilica
- Cameroon Art Museum
- National Museum
- Afhemi Museum
- Palais des Sports de Warda
- Monument de la Réunification
- Mont Fébé
- Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo
- Jardin zoologique de Mvog-Betsi
- Bois Saint-Anastasie
- Lac Municipal
Do
- Salon Promote
- Journée de la femme
- 20 mai
- YAFE
- Eid al Fitr
- Club Noah
- Club France
- Hotel Franco
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Yaoundé to stay in
There are hotels in all price classes in Yaoundé. Save for the hotels in the splurge category, don't expect western standards — matter of fact even warm water isn't available everywhere. Internet speeds are also far below what you might expect. While laundry is available as an official service at upscale hotels, at lower range hotels ask the employees to wash your clothes for a small sum. Clothes that have been dried on a clothing line outdoors have to be ironed afterwards to kill sand flies that the clothes may have caught. Hotel rates can almost always be negotiated, especially if you're staying several nights.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Yaoundé
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Yaoundé are July. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 288 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Yaoundé: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport (NSI), about 16 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Public city buses are operated by Stecy. As of July 2018 there's a total of 13 lines, most of which radiating out from the centre along the main streets. The company operates two lines to the airport as well, taking different routes but both going to the central post office. To see the network maps, go to Stecy's website and scroll down. Bus trips are paid for using "Tap & Go" magnetic cards, just like in many public transport systems in the world. You can buy and reload the cards at newsstands and other points of sale.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
NSI · Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Yaoundé
Eat
Yaoundé's restaurants mainly offer local and French cuisine. There are also some Chinese and North African restaurants. Toilets in restaurants are usually dirty, so if possible go to the toilet elsewhere, before or after you go to the restaurant. Good markets for food shopping are Mfoudi and Mkolo, listed above. At markets food are always not sold by kilogrammes or litres. It may be a good idea to hire a porter who can also help out with your shopping and protect you from pickpockets. Packed food is available at supermarkets. Bakeries are often the only places open on public holidays.
Drink
Yaoundé doesn't have a very lively nightlife, though there are still a couple of options. Concerts with African music often take place in night clubs — ask locals.
Stay safe
While there are many more dangerous places in Cameroon and Africa than Yaoundé, crime can still be an issue here. Basic precautions will reduce the risk of you becoming victim. Taxi sharing can be risky, even for Cameroonians, and you may wind up with your cell phone and wallet stolen. It's better to take a friend or two, rather than riding alone, especially in nighttime. It is recommended to hire a private taxi recommended by your hotel or a friend. Beware of pickpockets, they are rife. Be careful with your bags, wallet and such in the markets (particularly Marché Mokolo and Marché Central) and anywhere there are lots of people (including at nights when out drinking).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Yaoundé: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Yaoundé?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Yaoundé are July. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 288 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Yaoundé?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport (NSI), about 16 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Yaoundé?
Central African CFA franc (XAF).
Nearby
Destinations near Yaoundé
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.