Electricity, Phone, Internet, TV, Radio, Public Transportation, Banking, Postal and Other Services in Cameroon
Cameroon, located within the central region of Africa, is dubbed the ‘African in Miniature’ due to its rich history, biodiversity, and geography. The country has had its challenges in the past but is now steadily growing politically, socially and mostly, economically. So if you intend to travel to Cameroon whether it is for holiday, business, work, studies or permanent stay, knowing a bit about the local services can help you have a smoother stay while you are there.
Transportation in Cameroon
Getting a flight to or from Cameroon is not as hard as many imagine. The country has several airports, two of which are international airports serving hundreds of commercial airlines from all over the world. It also has a national flag carrier, CamAir, which operates flights from Cameroon to major destinations in the world.
The two major international airports in Cameroon are the Douala international airport (DLA) which is the central hub for CamAir, and Nsimalen International airport (NSI). DLA is in Douala, and NSI is in Yaoundé (the capital city of Cameroon). And while most international visitors use one of these to get into Cameroon, there are over 30 other airports in Cameroon serving local and regional flights.
Cameroon taxi, Source
Local transport in Cameroon is also easy to find and cheap as well. Taxi is the primary means of transports. Motorbikes too, are taking over short-distance transportation in the country. One can either hire a shared taxi (share it with other passengers) or hire “solo.” Most taxis can also be hired exclusively for an entire day or more.
A typical taxi drop in any part of the Cameroon costs about 300 CFA. However, this can go beyond or above the price depending on the drop-off destination.
Buses are also prominent for out of town transportation. The roads are not that good in Cameroon, so it is not uncommon to spend over 3 hours on the road for a journey that could take 2 hours or less. However, with the ongoing road construction and reconstruction project by government, road transport in Cameroon should be better in no time. The development of the Yaoundé-Douala expressway, for instance, is expected to improve transportation from the capital to Douala significantly.
Apart from airports and roads, there is also a railway service in Cameroon that serves the Douala - Koumba - Yaoundé – N’Gaoundere routes. The railway does not go beyond Cameroonian borders, and CamRail Corporation manages all railway services in Cameroon. The Benue River and port of Douala also serve as necessary means of transport in Cameroon. River Benue is over 2000 km and proves useful to the regions through which it flows. Unfortunately, the river can only be used during summer as it becomes impassable during the rainy seasons.
The Douala port, on the other hand, takes up most of the country’s sea transportation. And although it is not fully exploited for passenger transport, tons of goods are loaded and offloaded at the port each day. Carriers operating at the port of Douala include MAERSK line, Mediterranean shipping company (MSC), Pacific international line, Mitsui OSK Lines, and OT African line.
Other seaports are the Limbe and Kribi ports that are used mainly for the exportation of wood, and palm oil.
Money and Banking in Cameroon
The advantage of Cameroon is that there is not just one currency to use. That is, while the Franc CFA is the official CEMAC currency, you can still use the Euro if need be. It is commonly accepted in Cameroon and can be easily exchanged for CFA in or outside Cameroonian banks. Note that the Franc CFA is pegged to the Euro at a standard a rate of 1 Euro = CFA 655.957.
Also, cash is the most common form of currency in Cameroon. However, in bigger cities like Douala and Yaoundé, credits cards are accepted. Some airlines, offices, supermarkets, hotels, and shops in Cameroon also accept both credit cards as well as debit cards. Visa, in this case, is the most accepted card, and there are a lot fewer places that take MasterCard. The larger cities also have ATMs where many cards can be used to withdraw cash. You can find ATMs all over Cameroon.
Popular banks include Citibank, Afriland, SBC bank, Atlantic bank Cameroon and BGFI bank Cameroon. All of these banks offer the standard banking services, i.e., cash deposit/withdrawal, standing orders, exchange services, loans, and overdrafts, etc.
The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) regulates all banking activities in Cameroon. BEAC has its headquarters in Yaoundé, Cameroon and is also the central bank for all the Central African countries. This includes Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo.
Bank hours in Cameroon starts from 0730-1530 or 0800-1700 hours. The times may vary depending on the bank branch.
Housing and Accommodation in Cameroon
If you wish to settle in Cameroon whether as an expat, student or permanent resident, finding quality accommodation should top your priorities. Unlike many other countries, there are not so many accommodation options in Cameroon. However, you can still find villas, apartments, and family houses. These can be furnished or unfurnished depending on your requirements.
You can rent a room for yourself, or share with another person. The latter is still less widespread in Cameroon although it is possible in some regions, especially in cities like Doula and Yaoundé. This practice is common with foreigners. So if it interests you, it is best to negotiate with foreigners living in the region. Expatriate forums and networking are the best tools for finding the ideal room-sharing solution.
For those considering long-term accommodation, leasing is a good option. You can lease a house or an apartment within which you’ll be bound by a lease of contract between you and the owner. These contracts usually detail basic things such as lease price, terms, and duration of lease.
Douala airport, Source
In many cases, Cameroonian home/apartment owners don’t bother with lease agreements. But then without a lease contract, you will not be eligible for any damage or cost in case of breach of contract. In this case, it is always best to insist on a written agreement with the owner to avoid any conflicts in the future.
Please note; although accommodation is scarce and not so good in Cameroon, rent prices are pretty affordable. A furnished apartment may range from CFA 180,000 to CFA 350000 per month. These vary according to the type of accommodation, size, and of course, level of comfort.
Hotel accommodation is also an option to consider if you’re visiting Cameroon for a few days or weeks. You can find the best hotels in Doula and Yaoundé, and some good chains to look for are the Hilton, Sawa, Akwa Palace, and IBIZ. These are kept at international standards and offer excellent service.
Healthcare in Cameroon
Health care in Cameroon is varied: it can be excellent in the Yaoundé which generally has well-trained doctors and nurses, but is often patchy off the beaten track.
There are two major general hospitals in Cameroon: Yaoundé general hospital and Douala general hospital. These two offer excellent public healthcare and have well-advanced equipment. Yaoundé general hospital is the main referral hospital in Cameroon. Other than these, there are mission hospitals like Mbingo, as well as private hospitals spread out across the country and offering quality and affordable healthcare in Cameroon
By and large, public hospitals in Cameroon offer the cheapest service but will have the least up to date equipment and medications. In fact, public health care services in Cameroon is free. Mission and private hospitals may be a bit pricey, but these tend to have better equipment and better-trained medical staff.
Mobile and Internet in Cameroon
No matter who you are, telecommunications are a part of everyday life. So whether you’re relocating to Cameroon, going to work, or to pursue your studies in Cameroon, you will want to keep in touch with friends, family, and acquaintances as well as browse the internet now and then. Luckily, Cameroon hosts many telecommunication service providers offering coverage in almost all regions. You have to decide whether you want a telephone, internet, or both.
When it comes to service providers, Camtel is the largest and primary telecommunications service provider in Cameroon. Others include MTN, NexTTEL, and Orange. All of these offer a variety of mobile services such as SMs, calls, mobile internet, mobile money, etc. All of these services are tailored to meet the individual needs of different customers.
Several companies provide internet services in Cameroon with Camtel still leading the list. Like with mobile phone services, all of the internet providers in Cameroon offer good network coverage. However, remote areas may experience inadequate coverage due to the country’s geography.
Internet services range from wireless connections, Cable TV connection, and USB modem services. These come at an installation fee that varies from provider to another. You will also have to pay monthly internet subscription fees that range between CFA 20,000 to CFA 95000 depending on the internet speed.
Postal Services in Cameroon
CamPost is the official postal service in Cameroon. It is headquartered in Yaoundé and has branches all over the country.
For mail and parcel delivery, CamPost can handle it at very reasonable fees. The best part is that the corporation has a fast delivery service known as Citi post that ensures delivery of mails and parcels within just 3 hours of reception. This service is however only available to destinations within Yaoundé and Douala.
For outside the city destinations and other remote areas, deliveries may take longer.
Note that there are other mail and parcel delivery services in Cameroon. However, as a foreigner with little knowledge about the ins and outs of Cameroon, it is recommended that you be cautious when using private delivery services.