Travel Guide Bafoussam

Bafoussam is a hilly town surrounded by majestic hills covered in lush vegetation. It is still considered Cameroon's 4th largest urban center after Douala, Yaoundé and Garoua.Originally, the town's population was made up of 3 closely related ethnic groups: the Bafoussam, who gave the town its name, the Baleng and the Bamougoum. The town, which benefits from a crossroads location, has seen rapid economic development (even if the infrastructure has not really kept pace) and plays a significant commercial and industrial role in the Cameroonian economy. It is well served by the road network (the main arteries, particularly those to Douala and Yaoundé, are asphalted and in good condition) and the most common products and services are readily available. Bafoussam, like some of Cameroon's other cities, is a lively, student-focused town that radiates throughout the region as a hub of modernity and economic activity, while at the same time enjoying an atmosphere of authenticity and simplicity that is very much in keeping with African life. Apart from the main roads that cross the city from one end to the other, the red earth reigns supreme, as do the hills and vegetation, giving the city a peaceful aspect that counterbalances the intense hustle and bustle of activities of all kinds implied by being the main economic hub of a region as vast as West Cameroon. Not only does the city concentrate the surrounding businesses, but also student structures, transport agencies, hospitals and administrative offices. Bafoussam is a very lively town, and whatever the time of day, the streets are packed, especially in the vicinity of the market, where the colors and smells of fruit are a constant source of pandemonium. Grocery stores and stalls stay open late into the evening, so you can have a drink or a bite to eat at almost any hour, especially as the people of Bafoussam, and the West in general, have a reputation for being very welcoming. In the early morning, before the stores and banks open, it's not uncommon for queues dozens of meters long to form in the street. Bafoussam may not have many points of interest, but it's a must for anyone wishing to get to know western Cameroon, and the main stop-off point if you need certain services (banking, administration, health care or consumer goods). A starting point for many walks and excursions, the town's surroundings are full of pleasant surprises. Some ten kilometers from downtown Bafoussam, at the end of a laterite track that ends in a cul-de-sac, lies a peaceful lake surrounded by abundant vegetation. For centuries, the lake has been said to have supernatural powers. According to legend, all you have to do is drink a little of the water and your wish will come true..