Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines
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In Africa
Inspiring images from Brussels Airlines’ destination, Cameroon
Images Nature Picture Library, Alamy, Photolibrary.com
Rocky pinnacles in the Rumsiki mountains in Cameroon’s north province
The chameleon is one of Cameroon’s most fascinating animals
Weaver bird nests cover the trees in Waza National park
A round-up of exciting travel news from Brussels Airlines’ long-haul destinations, Yaoundé and Douala
Hotel with a view
Hilton Yaoundé
Where is it? Boulevard du 20 Mai, Yaoundé, -2-223-3646, hilton.com What’s the view? Whether you want to look out over Yaoundé’s urban skyline or the hotel’s outdoor pool and manicured garden, you are spoilt for choice with a selection of rooms and suites to tickle your fancy.
What to expect Rooms all feature their own balcony and in terms of décor they are all bright and airy featuring comfortable furnishings and a desk should you need to dig out that laptop and hook up to the internet. This is a Hilton after all.
Need to know The hotel has five different bars and restaurants so you can take your pick from à la carte dining to alfresco snacks. The poolside O Vive eatery is a popular lunchtime hangout for the capital’s young socialites. And for upmarket dining Restaurant Le Pachy serves up French brasserie-style dishes. Think bouillabaisse and beef bourguignon. There’s also a (nearly) rooftop bar, Le Panoramique, situated on the 11th floor of the hotel from which you can sip on a cocktail while savouring magical views of the city lit up at night.
Why go there? It might be the most expensive, but it’s also the best hotel in Yaoundé. Once you’ve arrived it’s easy to forget there’s a fascinating city to explore beyond the hotel’s doors. While away the hours lounging by the pool, playing a game of tennis or working out in the hotel’s gym. That said, it would be missing the point not to get out and explore and you are well placed for both the city’s business district and shopping at the National Craft Market or you can use the hotel as a base from which to discover the spectacular beaches southwest of the city.
Sea change
The southern coast of Cameroon can lay claim to some of the best beaches in Africa. If you go north, up towards Limbé (an hour from Douala), you’ll get beaches the colour of bitter chocolate surrounded by lush vegetation, but if your tastes run more towards the palm-fringed, white-sand variety, then head south. For more than 100km around Kribi, you’ll get broad sweeps of pale beach and warm, safe water. Along Kiribi’s shoreline there are some really good seafood restaurants, or you can get simple grilled fish at one of the fish stands along the beach. And 7km south of Kiribi there’s the Chutes de la Lobé, a series of dramatic waterfalls where the River Lobé meets the sea.
A mountain to climb
In the event of you tiring of lolling about on the beach (sounds ridiculous, we know), there’s also West Africa’s tallest mountain waiting to be conquered. Mount Cameroon, still a (fairly) active volcano, looms just outside of Douala. And although reaching the summit is a must do for most hikers, steep flinty paths and freezing weather at higher altitudes mean it’s no picnic, so if you’re planning to go, make sure you take a guide with you. The Mount Cameroon Ecotourism Board has guides with good local knowledge for a nominal fee that usually goes towards village development projects. If you want to do the climb in record time then your best bet is the Guinness Track (this is the one used in the annual Race of Hope marathon that goes up the mountain), but if you’d rather take your time then head back down the other side; you’ll see loads more wildlife that way. See www.mount-cameroon.org for more information.
Insider tip
Cameroun-plus.com
Whether you’re a regular visitor or it’s your first trip to this West African country Cameroun-plus.com is a brilliant resource providing upto-date information on restaurants, hotels, bars and tourist attractions as well as practical advice and information on travel around Cameroon. There’s even a section on local radio and TV stations that you can tune into. It’s definitely a website to add to your favourites list.
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