Yaoundé
The capital on its seven hills, some 700 metres up, where government sets the pace and the Palais des Congrès fills with delegates.
- Arrival
- Yaoundé Nsimalen International · NSI
- To the city
- About 30 minutes by car
- Private jets
- At NSI, an airport of entry
- Best time
- December to February · July
The city
Seven hills and the seat of government.
Two German explorers set up a post here in 1889, and for six years a botanist ran it as a farm station called Jaunde. It became the capital in 1922 and kept the role at independence in 1960. Today about 3.7 million people live across the hills, and the city runs on government offices and the meetings held at the Palais des Congrès.
Height takes the edge off the heat. Days are 27 to 31 °C all year, and the dry season from December to February is the easiest time to visit; July brings a short lull between the two rainy seasons, which peak in May and again in October, when 300 mm can fall.
- Reunification Monument Built in the 1970s to a design by Gédéon Mpando and Engelbert Mveng, to mark the union of British and French Cameroon.
- National Museum Housed in the former presidential palace, a short way from the Hilton.
- Mont Fébé One of the seven hills, with a Benedictine monastery on it; the Cameroon Art Museum is kept in a former Benedictine monastery.
Arriving
South of the city, a long runway.
Yaoundé Nsimalen opened in 1991 south of the city, with a single 3,400-metre runway. The drive in takes about half an hour.
- Lagos 1 h 35
- Luanda 2 h 10
- Athens 5 h 30
- Beirut 5 h 40
- Frankfurt 7 h 00 long-range jet
When to go
December to February, and July.
Warm and humid, with two wet seasons. December to February is dry, with highs of 29 to 31 °C and little rain; July is a short dry spell. The heaviest rain falls in September and October.
- 30° J 19
- 31° F 49
- 30° M 141
- 30° A 180
- 29° M 209
- 28° J 157
- 27° J 83
- 27° A 107
- 28° S 250
- 28° O 302
- 29° N 113
- 29° D 22
Where to stay
Near the ministries and on the hills.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Hilton Yaoundé In the government and business district, near the Palais des Congrès, with a balcony to every room.
- Djeuga Palace On Avenue Narvick in the Warda quarter, with an apartment-hotel annexe on the Boulevard du 20 Mai.
- Hôtel Mont Fébé A large hotel of 218 rooms about ten minutes from downtown, with a golf course nearby.
- Hôtel La Falaise Yaoundé The Yaoundé house of La Falaise, the name also found in Douala's Bonapriso.
Where to dine
Where to book in town.
No MICHELIN Guide covers Cameroon. This is the best rated fine dining restaurant in the city on Tripadvisor.
- Le Bacchus Plus Rated 4.8 on Tripadvisor Swiss, French $$$$ Yaoundé
Flying to Yaoundé?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.