| Travel Information - ICT for Africa 2010 | | Print | |
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Courtesy of the Commonwealth Secretariat Useful additional information on Cameroon such as entry requirements, traveling to Yaounde getting around and much more is placed below for the benefit of members. LanguageThe two official languages in Cameroon are English and French, but a multitude of more than 250 ethnic languages are also in circulation. Air Transport Yaounde within easy reach. Getting to Cameroon is really quite easy. There are frequent airline services from major European capitals and many African countries. At least once a day, there is a six-hour flight over 5000km to Europe. The major airline companies that serve Cameroon include: Other airlines include: Kenya Airways, Air Gabon, Air Ivoire, Afriqiyah Airways Cameroon, Bellview Airlines Ltd, Virgin Nigeria, Ethiopian Airways, Royal Air Maroc. The points of entry into Cameroon are the Nsimalen International Airport in Yaoundé, the Douala International Airport and the Garoua International Airport. However, the organizing committee strongly recommends that all participants should book their flights for the Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport. The journey from this airport to the city centre is covered in 30 minutes while the journey of 245 Km from Douala is covered in 3 hours. From Nsimalen International Airport to the city centre, The conference Organizing Committee shall provide transportation to delegates from Nsimalen International Airport of Yaoundé to the different hotels in the city centre. Getting Around in Yaoundé The organizing committee shall provide transportation to delegates from the various hotels to the conference venue and back throughout the duration of the conference and for the different tours. However, for conference participants wishing to discover Yaoundé, getting around is easy. There are different types of taxis with varied fares for movement in town. A taxi drop within town costs 200 CFA F ($0.60) during the day and 250 Cfa F ($0.75) at night (several passengers share the same vehicle). The cost of hiring a taxi within town is open to bargain though the normal rate is 2 500 CfaF ($6) per hour during the day and 3,000 CfaF ($7) per hour at night. The blue buses of Yaounde City Transport offer an extensive service network covering almost the entire city at a cost of 150 CfaF ($0.45) per drop. VisaA visa is compulsory to enter Cameroon. CATA delegates can obtain this visa from the Cameroon High Commission in their country by presenting the following documents:
However, for member countries in which Cameroon’s diplomatic mission is not established, visas shall be issued at the port of entry into the country. Airport StampThere is an airport stamp for departure from Cameroon to be paid by all airport users both for international flights and for local flights. The amount is 10 000 CFA F ($25) for international flights and 500 CFA F ($1.2) for local flights. Money* Currency The currency in Cameroon is the Communauté Financiere Africaine franc (CFA F) (1 $= 450 CFA F). The same currency is used by the other countries of the Economic Community of Central African States and in the Economic Community of West African States. The commonly accepted currencies include the Euro and US dollar. * Banks and money exchange Foreign currencies are easily exchanged to CFAF in authorized exchange agencies, banks, big hotels and some travel agencies in YaoundeYaoundeNsimalen International Airport. Facilities for cashing traveler’s checks in Cameroon are available at banks (opening hours 7.30 am - 3.30 pm), exchange agencies and at most hotels. Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Cash dispensers/Automatic Teller Machines are also available at most banks and operate 24/24. Many international banks have branches in Yaounde Please find out from your bank before traveling. city centre or at the TippingService is included in prices but tipping is encouraged. Practical Matters * Electrical current The electrical current in Cameroon is 220V. Plugs and sockets are the same as in Europe. Adapters are widely available in departmental stores. In case your equipment requires different voltage, an electrical transformer will be needed. * Weather Nature's gift to Cameroon is its two seasons, each providing unforgettable experiences. The climate of Yaounde is relatively cool, the air is fresh and clean. The month of December is generally sunny and humid. Temperatures range between 25O and 30O with the lowest temperatures experienced during the nights. Conference participants are therefore advised to carry some warm clothing. * Time zone West Africa Time (WAT), a time zone used in western and west-central Africa (though not in countries west of Benin, which instead use GMT). The zone is one hour ahead of UTC (UTC+1), which makes it the same as Central European Time. As most of this time zone is in the equatorial region there is no significant change in day length throughout the year, so daylight saving time is not observed. The exception to this is Namibia, which moves to West Africa Summer Time (UTC+2) in the summer months, September to April. *Immunizations A vaccination against Yellow Fever is compulsory (the international Health Certificate is required at the airport). Immunization against malaria is highly recommended and it is preferable to drink mineral water. Yaounde has first-class health structures. However there shall be a medical stand at the conference venue with stand-by nurses for first aid attention when required. Although, the Yellow Fever vaccination is the only required vaccine to enter the country. Some participants have some interests in other recommended vaccines. Please visit the following websites to learn more about travel vaccines: |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 June 2009 21:49 |
2010 Conference Travel Information