Yaounde - Post Report Question and Answers
What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
It is really limited. - Jan 2020
The golf course right behind the embassy is well worth using. It is green and clean(ish) as well as offering amazing views of Yaounde. Visit the gorillas in Mefou for a weekend trip. Climb Mount Cameroon. - Jun 2018
Gorillas, beaches, mountains. - Apr 2017
A 4-hour drive to Douala or Kribi where there are beaches. There are a few hotels in those ares but they aren't American standard. - Apr 2014
The hidden gem in Yaounde is the Embassy pool and playground. It is seriously awesome. The pool is a huge lap pool with a larger square on the end (shallow end) for the kids to play. The playground has 3 slides, swings, a sandbox, etc. There are tables, lawn chairs, and a bar area at the pool with big fridges and charcoal BBQs. We would go and spend Saturdays at the pool and playground. The view from the pool is amazing. Lush hills covered in palm trees and it overlooks the golf course (so if you like golfing, there is a golf course). There is a horse club that offers lessons and horse rides to kids. The horse club (hippique) is also close to the Embassy. You can have kids birthday parties there too or just order drinks and sit on their veranda. Outside of town, we loved Kribi, the beach town about 3 hours out of Yaounde.Our favorite hotels to stay were Ilomba and Hotel du Phare. Our absolute favorite was going to grand Batanga beach in Kribi. All along the beach are outdoor kitchens (as in a fire and a couple of pots). You rent a private section of the beach for a day and the cooks will smoke and grill fresh fish, prawns for you. Fry plantains and bread fruit and finish off with a platter of fresh tropical fruit. (About US$40 per person plus you pay more for drinks.) It's great to go with a couple of families and enjoy the day together. Nothing tastes better than fresh fish on the beach. - Jan 2014
VERY limited: Primate Park and Ebogo. If you don't have a family you could go to the restaurants and be done with all of them within a week. - May 2012
Get out into the country. But take your own toilet paper and be prepared to be flexible. - Sep 2011
If you want to work on your golf game, this is the place. There is a lovely course that runs up the mountainside right behind the US Embassy that offers 18 holes and a driving range where you can take lessons. You can either purchase a membership to the club a year at a time, or just pay as you play. It is also interesting to take a day trip to visit a local pottery school or shop in the crazy markets. Yaounde has a city zoo and there is a gorilla sanctuary just outside of town. - Mar 2010
Mefou Park for a day trip to see animals. The closest beach is about 4 hours away. Not much to do in Yaounde besides eating and nightlife. If you are not good at entertaining yourself you will be bored. - Jan 2010
Visit national parks to see chimps, gorillas, monkeys, etc in their natural habitat. The Embassy is right next to a beautiful golf course. On compound there is now a nice walking trail, basketball courts, and a beautiful swimming pool. - Nov 2008
Visit gorilla reserve - buy local handicrafts - go to go-kart track where the only restriction is your own good judgement - visit beaches of Kribi and Limbe, do a challenging hike up Mt. Cameroon, see crater lakes, small villages, traditional chieftains homes, see traditional festivals, dancing, music - go fishing, go on safari in the northern part of Cameroon (giraffe, elephant etc) - there is LOTS to see, though distances can be long and conditions bumby. - Sep 2008
Kribi, gorrilla sanctuary, Douala, Limbe, swimming. The Embassy has a new, beautiful recreation center. Dinner parties and garden parties are also fun. That being said, you may grow bored quickly as the sight seeing and cultural activities are limited. - Jun 2008
There are gorilla sanctuaries and reserves around the country, and beaches near Douala. In addition the tallest West African mountain, Mount Cameroon is there, along with the beaches. You can play outdoor sports (tennis, soccer, golf)year round. One of the most fun and dangerous things we enjoyed doing was going to the go-cart track that was also a bar...There aren't a lot of nightlife opportunities, so most of the social outlets were theme parties, dinner parties, etc. - Jun 2008
