When you know your passport and visa are alright, you should NEVER pay a bribe.
They'll always ask it, but DON'T pay it.
The other people in the bus, tro-tro or taxi will protect you when the officers get annoyed.
 | Cameroon Warnings or Dangers 
 
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Cameroon Travel Guide
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Popular Warnings or Dangers | Miscellaneous Warnings or Dangers Tips | All Tips (20)
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 | Passport controle |   |  |
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 |  on June 26, 2004 |
Be careful at the roadblocks, never leave your passport out of sight when you have to give it. When you know your passport and visa are alright, you should NEVER pay a bribe. They'll always ask it, but DON'T pay it. The other people in the bus, tro-tro or taxi will protect you when the officers get annoyed. |
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| Don't take pictures of official buildings | | |
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 |  on November 22, 2004 |
Taking pictures of official buildings or staff (government, military, police) but also of buildings of strategic importance (like bridges, ports, airports and so on) is strictly forbidden. When I took the picture of this street scene someone tried to interrupt me. At first I didn't understand. Later I was told that the high building in the back houses offices of several ministries. So if the police were around it could have got me into trouble. |
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| Beware of pickpockets | | |
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| on November 22, 2004 |
Cameroon is a poor country and a tourist who can afford to spend money only to visit a foreign country is a millionaire in the eyes of the locals. Many of them do not know how to make a decent living. So be not surprised if they are uninhibited in stealing. Use common sense if you walk in the cities. Avoid crowds if possible. Don't wear jewelry or expensive watches or cameras. Don't wear rucksacks on your back where you can't see what happens. And take along only as much money as you need. |
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| Don't drive during the night | | |
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| on November 22, 2004 |
Driving during the night outside of the cities is extremly dangerous. Not only do you risk to damage the car by driving into one of these big road holes. More dangerous are the technical conditions of other cars. During dawn most of the cars drive without light until it is totally dark. And some of them drive without rear lights even in total darkness. Furthermore a lot of people walk alongside the roads and it's not unusual that some domestic animals roam freely in the night. So if you can't avoid driving during night at least be very careful. |
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| Motivation money for the police | | |
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| on November 22, 2004 |
While travelling in Cameroon you'll encounter police controls very often. So it's a very good idea to have proper documents at hand at every time. But the police may find a problem anyway. And then it can happen that you are asked to give a bit 'motivation money'. You are not obliged to pay, because corruption is illegal in Cameroon too. But if they only ask for small amounts you may be better off to pay. It's not worth to save some CFA-Franc while having to discuss the (non-existing) problem for a long time. |
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| Watch out for reptiles and insects. | | |
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| on June 26, 2004 |
Check your tent or hut before you go to sleep. Its always possible that some animals prefer your facilities instead of the forest. When they bite, you're in serious trouble. Medical care isn't always available in these areas. GRrrrrrrrrrr. |
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| Always clean your drinking water. | | |
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| on June 20, 2006 |
When you’re trekking in the rainforests for several days it isn’t always possible to carry a lot of drinking water. So be sure you’ve got disinfectations tablets or a water filter to clean your water when you’re using the rivers. |
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| Dusty Roads |  | |
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| on February 4, 2008 |
During the dry season the roads become very dusty. In and around the bus stations you will find dust-mask for only 50 cfa’s. or just cover your mouth and nose. |
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| Elephant charges | | |
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| on June 20, 2006 |
When you're traveling in the forests and you're lucky to encounter a forest elephant. But the elephant isn't happy with your presence, than the roots of these trees can offer you protection, if he attacks you. |
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| local travel | | |
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 on August 31, 2004 |
Here's the latest warnings from the British Foreign Office We advise against all travel to the area bordering Nigeria in the region of the Bakassi Peninsula. The territory is subject to a dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon. The demarcation of the disputed border is on going. Tension in the area remains and localised skirmishes between Nigerian and Cameroonian police and security personnel have occurred with little warning. We advise against all but essential travel to the area bordering the Central African Republic, where armed banditry is common. If you chose to travel to this area, against our advice, you should inform the British High Commission in Yaoundé and the local security authorities before travelling. Visitors to the Lake Chad area in the Far North Province should report to the local authorities (the Prefet or Sous-Prefet) on arrival. The local authorities advise visitors to engage a reliable guide, such as one of those offered by the Hotel Porte-Maillhot in Maroua. The border with the Republic of Congo is closed. Overland travel out of Cameroon can be difficult. Gendarmerie detachments are posted along the road between Maroua and the Chadian border. Roadblocks set up by the police or gendarmerie are common throughout Cameroon. You may be asked to show your passport, driving licence or vehicle registration documents. There are regular reports of uniformed members of the security forces stopping motorists on the pretext of minor or non-existent violations of local vehicle regulations in order to extort small bribes. We recommend that you do not pay bribes. Where possible you should request the officer to provide a ticket payable at a local court. |
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More Cameroon Tips
| Overview | General Tips Tips: 34 - Photos: 27 |
| Restaurants Tips: 18 - Photos: 9 | Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 22 - Photos: 17 |
| Things To Do Tips: 73 - Photos: 64 | Nightlife Tips: 3 - Photos: 3 |
| Off the Beaten Path Tips: 31 - Photos: 27 | Tourist Traps Tips: 6 - Photos: 2 |
| Warnings or Dangers Tips: 20 - Photos: 8 | Transportation Tips: 21 - Photos: 12 |
| Local Customs Tips: 11 - Photos: 4 | Packing Lists Tips: 12 - Photos: 10 |
| Shopping Tips: 6 - Photos: 5 | Sports Travel Tips: 2 - Photos: 2 |
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