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Cameroon: The Gem of West Africa

One of Africa's Best-Kept Secrets

By: Anna Mays

(page 1 of 4)

A look beyond the political, health and economic hardships that so often bring Africa to media attention reveals a burgeoning continent teaming with potential in the economic, professional and natural resource sectors. This emerging Africa is further fortified by its rich cultural heritage rooted in regional diversity, tradition and collective history.

Scanning Africa’s western coast a country stands out as the poster child for everything the New Africa has to offer.

Cameroon has it all. Significant economic growth, political stability, sunny beaches, rainforests and an award-wining wildlife preserve, bustling markets, nightclubs, haute cuisine, an international mountain-climbing competition, colorful local festivals, tribal kingdoms and a stock exchange.

Nestled between big-brother-oil Nigeria to the west, the Central African Republic to the east with its trade routes into Central Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of Congo to the south, with the glistening Atlantic Ocean lapping its southwest coast and furnishing a valuable commerce port, Cameroon is a well-placed gem primed for catapult into economic growth -- and onto the radar screens of the savvy destination traveler.

Often called “Africa in miniature”, Cameroon is one of the most culturally diverse countries on the continent and boasts a natural environment as diverse as its people, with tropical rainforests and sandy beaches in the south, volcanic peaks in the southwest, desert plains and savannah in the interior which give way to terraced hilltops and pastoral plains in the north. Sprinkled throughout the country are thermal springs with healing properties awaiting those who like an outdoor health spa retreat.

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