SPECIAL TOUR PACKAGE

Day 1
Douala - Maroua - Waza National Park. Hotel in Douala

Arrive at Douala airport in Cameroon and transfer to the hotel. Group briefing and diner.
Breakfast in the morning and transfer from the hotel to Douala airport for the flight to Maroua. From Maroua airport, the trip takes you through the beauties of a rocky landscape of the Kosa highlands.

The villages are almost identical with similar architectural patterns – loamy walls and pointed straw rooftops. The National park is something to discover for oneself with its rich flora and fauna. The splendid lodge perches on a cliff that gives a relaxed view of the landscape especially on a December moonlight night. The rooms at Campement de Waza are simple and comfortable. Diner is a one item menu.

Day 2
Waza National Park - Maroua. Hotel in Waza Park

150km of semi-paved road, about 3 to 4 hours drive over Mora and Oudgila to Maroua. An early morning safari drive through the park gives a different conception. Antelopes, elephants, ostriches, as well as many other varieties of birds such as Pelicans, and Marabous perching on trees.

After lunch, the journey takes you through the rocky highlands of the Kirdi clan; a proud animistic clan that had not subjected to the Islam faith. By late evening, (6.pm) we shall be comfortably relaxed in our hotel in Maroua (Porte Mayo Maroua).

Day 3
Maroua - Maga - Pousse. Hotel Porte Mayo.

After breakfast, the tour continues north-westwards over Maga to Pousse. Here, the proportionately tall Mousgoum clan (over 2metres tall) are known for their architectural ‘Obus’ clay/granite houses, which are today a relic of the past. The standing structures today are more of a museum and a living legend. Through the ‘Lamidat’, we arrive at the colorful Pousse market, a fine melange of peoples and cultures as you have Chadians and Cameroonians interacting both in cash and through barter trade.

The Logone river is the thin geographical line that separates otherwise the same people and culture in Cameroon and Chad. Back to Maga one enjoys an afternoon boat ride on the Maga Lake and its canal stretch in to a Hippopotamus pool. The variety of bird species on this ride is equally of great interest. Later in the day we drive back to the hotel in Maroua.

Day 4
Maroua – Rhumsiki, Hotel Campement de Rhumsiki.

Driving through Mokolo (Mafa clan) to Rhumsiki gives a wonderful landscape pleasure especially as one goes on the Mandara mountain range region that stretches into neighbouring Nigeria. The Kapsiki region seems to be the high point of tourism in the Country at large with its sharp volcanic mountains (stalactites) sometimes above 2.000metres high. In the Rhumsiki village visits will be made to a typical traditional Kapsiki ‘sare’, the village soothsayer, a local clay industry as well as cotton spinning and weaving industry. Diner and overnight stay in Rhumsiki

Day 5
Rhumsiki-Tourou- Kosa- Mokolo, Hotel Campement de Mokolo.

On this day the trip takes us through Mogode to the Mandara mountain chain which stretches in to Nigeria. We arrive Tourou after approximately 3 hours drive. The Tourou market is unique in its peculiar colorfulness and mixed cultures from Cameroon and Nigeria. The Naira (Nigerian currency) is more in use. Later in the day, over Kosa, we will be heading to Mokolo, seat of the ‘Mafa’ clan, one of the largest clans in the country. We stay the night in Mokolo.

Day 6
Mokolo – Oudjila – Maroua, Hotel Porte Mayo

Northwards one can get to Kousseri and subsequently to Chad Republic. However, this day’s drive takes us southwards over Oudjila to Maroua. This mountain village of Oudjila (Podoko clan) is an animistic population, which has a chief with 50 wives and close to 100 children. Later in the day, we shall be back in Maroua in the same hotel Porte Mayo. We have the opportunity on this day to visit Maroua city, the capital of the extreme north province.

Day 7
Maroua – Yaounde, Hotel Mont Febe/Hotel des Deputes.

In spite of the fact that more than 80% of the northern population is made up of Muslims, Maroua is one of those cosmopolitan cities, which has embraced peoples from different religions and cultures. A visit to the traditional leather industry, a stop over to the Smith’s and a last minute souvenir shopping in the handicraft centre near the main market leaves one with just enough time to take the 45min. drive to the airport for the flight to Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon.

Day 8
Yaounde – Bandjoun –Koutaba, Hotel Paradise Palace.

Yaounde is the political capital of Cameroon. Early the next day we shall be heading for the western high lands. A change of culture, of landscape and peoples, we shall drive past the Sanaga River. Later in the day, we shall arrive at Koutaba, a small military town, where we shall stay the night.

Day 9
– Jakiri ring road – Bamenda, Hotel Ayaba.

After visiting the famous Foumban palace with its historical German architectural design and its rich cultural museum, we shall drive through a fraction of the Bamenda ring road over Jakiri, the Mbam highlands, Babesi, Ndop and finally to Bamenda capital of the North West Province.

Day 10
Bamenda – Bafut – Saboga Botanic garden, Hotel Ayaba.

We are here in the English speaking part of the country. We shall visit the town centre of Bamenda, drive to Bafut palace where we shall be entertained with traditional mask dances. The beautiful Saboga botanic garden of Dr. Che Francis is spectacular.

Day 11
Bamenda – Metche/Ekom falls – Limbe, Hotel Seme New Beach.

On this day, we shall be heading to the Atlantic coastal town of Limbe (Victoria), still in the English zone of Cameroon. After making stopovers at the Metche and Ekom water falls ( famous for its Tarzan movie Greystroke), we shall drive through large agro-plantations to Limbe.

Day 12
Limbe botanic garden/ Zoo – Buea tea farms, Hotel Seme New Beach Hotel.

Another long day in the botanic garden and the Zoo, we shall travel to Buea, capital of the South West Province and abode of the Bakweri clan. Famous for all its German relics, the 4070metre high Cameroon Mountain, and the Tea estate, Buea is of fundamental historic relevance to the Country. Later in the afternoon, travel through Douala to Kribi. Hotel Ilomba

Day 13
Kribi – Lobe boat excursion to the pygmy campement.

With a boat ride on the Lobe River, some 3km upstream, we arrive at the pygmy camp. The quiet mangrove vegetation is quite a different experience. A stop at the Lobe water falls. The rest of the afternoon is for relaxation on the beach.

Day 14

Morning relaxation and departure to Douala for last minute shopping and eventual take off. END OF TOUR.

Day 15

Morning relaxation at the beach and departure to Douala for last minute shopping and eventual departure.