Serving as the capital of Cameroon, Yaounde sprawls across seven hills in the country’s south. It’s a cultural hub, with numerous museums and art galleries scattered throughout the city. It’s also an important diplomatic centre, home to foreign embassies and global organisations working through Central Africa.
Things to do in Yaoundé
In the heart of Yaounde is the Cathédrale Notre Dame des Victoires, which is the seat of the Archdiocese of Yaounde and can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers within its cross-shaped design. Also of religious significance is the Basilique Marie-Reine-des-Apôtres, a contemporary church constructed on the site of the first church to be built in Cameroon by the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit.
Delve into the local history at the National Museum, which occupies a former presidential palace dating from the 1930s. In addition to artefacts from Cameroon’s various tribes, such as wooden masks, its exhibits detail the arrival of the Portuguese and the country’s musical traditions. Also on display are portraits depicting some of the nation’s most notable celebrities and politicians.
Another cultural institution not to miss is the Blackitude Museum, which was established in 1998 based on the private collection of Queen Nana Agnes. It showcases artwork that was bequeathed by her father and other chiefdom kings, as well as prehistoric Lithic artefacts uncovered in Cameroon’s Western Region. Highlights of the collection include sacred and musical objects and a reconstructed royal chamber.
Getting around Yaoundé
Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport is a 35-minute drive from the city centre and has flights to destinations across Africa and Europe. Long-distance buses connect Yaounde to towns and cities across Cameroon while shared or private taxis are the most popular means of getting around the city.