Cameroon Travel Forum

Please read my itinerary and if you have any suggestions please advise. There are 3 of us, we don't have a car, we have a visa for the Republic of Congo and we hired a guide to accompany us.


Day 1) May 13th, Sunday

Arriving Douala, Cameroon (DLA) on May 13, 4:05 pm.

-Accomodation @German Seaman's Mission/Foyer du Marin, BP 5194; Rue Gallieni, off Rue Joffre, Akwa; tel. 342-27-94, email:douala@seamannsmission.org. Price=$39/night for a triple room.

Day 2) May 14th, Monday
-Centrale Voyages bus to Yaounde departs Boulevard du Presidente Ahmadou Ahidjo, near Place Ahmadou, just east of the center @0700 and arrived Yaounde @10am. Price=$15.
-Alliance Voyages bus departs Yaounde to Batouri -6 hours, Price=$10. Passing throught the Towns of Awa , Ayos , and many little villages, beautiful Landscapes , local markets , local people and houses .
-Accomodation @Bertoua-Hotel de L'Est, Poste Centrale Rond-point; tel 224-23-42/951-58-93, Price=$19/room.

Day 3) May 15th, Tuesday
-Bus from Bertoua to Yokadouma, Price=$10, length is 6 hours, passing through the Towns of Batouri , Gari - Gombo, -Accomodation @Yokadouma , Elephant Hotel, Price=$19/room, tel. 224-20-77.
-Arrange provisions for Congo.

Day 4) May 16th, Wednesday
-Arrange bus or bush taxi to Libongo. Take a motorised pirgoue down the mighty Sangha River to Bomassa in the Republic of Congo and Noua`balé-Ndoki National Park. Price of pirogue=$150.

Day 5) May 17th, Thursday
-From Bomassa transfer to a smaller pirogue by vehicle 1 hour driving and then go up the Mbeli River to Mbeli Camp approximately 1 hour, situated in the heart of the rainforest. Walk to Mbele camp is 3-4 kms. Overnight Mbeli Camp.

-This will be the base to explore sorrounding forest, track gorillas, visit baaka villages.The day will be spent at Mbeli Bai. .

-Visit At Mbeli Bai (3-4 km walk). Possibly see gorillas, chimps, elephants, leopards, and more.
Day 6) May 18th, Friday

-Stay in Mbeli Camp, and track gorillas, trek in the rainforest. Price=$50/Day

Day 7) May 19th, Saturday
-Mbeli camp to Guga Camp. After breakfast around 7:30 at Mbeli Camp, depart on foot for the river port and then upriver for about 3 hours to Guga Camp. Lots of chimps in this area. Price=$50/Day

Day 8) May 20th, Sunday
-Stay in Guga Camp and track animals and explore area. Price =$50/Day

Day 9) May 21st, Monday
-Depart Guga Camp to Guga Bai and back to Mbeli camp. Get to Guga Bai about 10:30. There was not anything in the Bai. Price=$50/Day
-Take boat to Mbeli camp. At Mbeli port walk the 3 km to Mbeli camp.

Day 10) May 22nd, Tuesday
-Depart Mbeli to Bomassa. Walk the 3 km to the port and take boat 1 hour to vehicle at Bomassa Port. Take vehicle 1 hour to Bomassa. Price=$50/Day
-Accomodation in Bomassa

Day 11) May 23rd, Wednesday
-Return to Bomassa transfer from Mbeli River and to Yokadouma by motorized boat. Price of pirogue=$150.

--Accomodation @Yokadouma , Elephant Hotel, Price=$19/room, tel. 224-20-77.

Day 12) May 24th, Thursday

-Return to Bertoua via bus or taxi. Price=$10
-Accomodation @Bertoua-Hotel de L'Est, Poste Centrale Rond-point; tel 224-23-42/951-58-93, Price=$19/room.

Day 13) May 25th, Friday
-Return to Douala via bus or taxi. Price=$10
--Accomodation @German Seaman's Mission/Foyer du Marin, BP 5194; Rue Gallieni, off Rue Joffre, Akwa; tel. 342-27-94, email:douala@seamannsmission.org. Price=$39/night for a triple room.
Day 14) May 26th, Saturday
-Free Day-May be spent returning from the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park depending on whether we spend an additional day in the National Park or if we are delayed on our return.
-Pending our return to Douala on this day we will visit the beaches west of Limbe. 1 hour taxi from Douala, Price=$10/Each way.
-Accomodation: Seme New Beach Hotel, Sonara Road, our@camnet.cm, Price=$37/Night. Hotel is located on the beach and has a natural rock spring pool for swimming.

Day 15) May 27th, Sunday
-Relax on beach and sorrounding areas of Seme New Beach Hotel during the day, and visit Bomana Falls.
-Return to Douala by taxi to airport. Price=$20.
Airline Itinerary for All: Depart Douala at 10:40 PM.

Thanks
Matt

Matt,
How did your trip go? (if you went in May 2008) My husband and I are heading to Cameroon November 21, starting in Limbe where my daughter will join us. I'm starting to figure out our itinerary. Our budget is as low as I can get by with, but our main interest is wildlife. Our daughter is spending four months volunteering at two wildlife sanctuaries and will travel with us at the end of her stay.
-Elly
(Samanabanaue)

Incredible-If you need any help please ask.

HEY MATT,

YOUR TRIP TO CAMEROON/CONGO SOUNDS TRULY AMAZING - I'VE BEEN PLANNING TO VISIT THIS REGION FOR SOME TIME AND AM HOPING EARLY NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE BEST CHANCE. THE MAIN PLACE I'D LIKE TO VISIT IS MBELI BAI AND READING YOUR POST IT SEEMS THAT YOU PRETTY MUCH GOT THERE UNDER YOU R OWN STEAM - ANY CHANCE YOU COULD CONFIRM HOW YOU GOT THERE AND THE COSTS OF TRANSPORT/GUIDES/PARK ENTRY FEES AND ACCOMODATION AT THE CAMP - DID YOU HAVE TO BOOK ANYTHING IN ADVANCE? THERE IS NO WAY I CAN AFFORD TO BOOK THROUGH A "ECOTOURISM" COMPANY AS I'VE LOOKED AT THE PRICES AND THEY ARE WAY BEYOND MY BUDGET BUT I DON'T MIND ROUGHING IT IF I CAN SAVE A PENNY OR 2 - IT MUST BE THE SCOTSMAN IN ME - THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR POST - ITS VERY INSPIRING

I took a course on rudimentary French, however realizing that this wasn't enough I pre-arranged a local independant guide recommended by another traveller on this forum. Via e-mail I worked out a contract with him and a general itinerary. I also researched other itineraries offerred from other travel agencies for ideas.

We arranged transport and eveyrhting else while on the ground. We made it to Mbeli camp but I was disappointed with things there. When we arrived by pirogue there were some scientists researcjers there that were very shocked to see us. They informed us that no one travels independantly there. They informed us that the camp was full with students from a university in Congo studying conservation. We advised them we had our own provisions and tents and they advised us the price was 200 or so per night US dollars. The Park Wardon was on his was from another community and we were goping to wait to discuss things with him, but the pirogue driver needed to leave and we were short on days and money so we decided to go with him since he wasnt due to return for another five days and we determined we would try visiting either the Cameroon or CAR Sangha National park instead for cheaper. Mbeli is huge and because it is foreign run very expensive. It seemed it was a scientific reserach station subsidized by very expensive eco tourism trips there. We went to Lobeke in Cameroon across the river instead and saw gorillas, elephants, snakes, buffalo, Bongo, eveyrhting pretty much up close and personal. It was much cheaper and very wild. Good luck