Cameroon operates two international airports with regular service. Douala International Airport handles the majority of international traffic as the country's economic hub, with direct connections to Paris, Brussels, Istanbul, Addis Ababa, and multiple West African cities through carriers including Air France, Brussels Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Camair-Co. Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport serves the capital with fewer international routes but consistent connections to regional destinations. Both airports lie approximately 25 kilometers from their respective city centers. Garoua Airport in the north receives domestic flights and limited regional service. Ground transportation from airports consists primarily of registered taxis and private hotel shuttles, as neither Douala nor Yaoundé maintains airport rail connections or reliable public bus service to terminals.
Overland entry points exist at multiple borders but present varying levels of accessibility. The western border with Nigeria sees crossing traffic at Ekok-Mfum and Idenau-Akwa, though security concerns in Nigeria's northeast affect northern crossings near Lake Chad. The eastern borders with Central African Republic remain largely unstable with official crossings at Garoua Boulaï seeing irregular service dependent on CAR's internal security situation. The southern border with Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Republic of Congo offers more stable crossing points, particularly at Kye Ossi for Equatorial Guinea and Abang Minko'o for Gabon. The Transcamerounais railway connects Yaoundé to Ngaoundéré over 885 kilometers, completed in 1974, operating passenger service approximately three times weekly with journey times exceeding 14 hours. Camrail operates this line along with the Douala-Yaoundé route covering 305 kilometers.
Visa requirements depend strictly on nationality and purpose. Citizens of Economic Community of Central African States member nations enter without visas for stays under 90 days. Most other nationalities require visas obtained prior to arrival through Cameroonian embassies or consulates, as visa-on-arrival service exists only for select African Union member states and remains inconsistent in practice. Electronic visa applications launched in 2020 through the official government portal but processing still requires substantial time, typically 10-15 business days. The official government portal for visa information is www.consularcameroon.org, though embassy websites for specific countries often provide more current procedural details.
Currency is the Central African CFA franc, shared with five other CEMAC member states and pegged to the euro at 655.957 XAF per euro. ATMs exist in Douala and Yaoundé with reasonable frequency, primarily operated by Afriland First Bank, Société Générale, and Ecobank, but withdrawals face daily limits typically between 100,000-200,000 XAF and machines frequently run empty or offline. ATMs become scarce outside major cities, with Garoua and Bafoussam having limited machines and smaller towns often having none functional. Credit card acceptance remains minimal outside international hotels and a small number of restaurants in Douala and Yaoundé. Cash transactions dominate all commerce. Currency exchange occurs at banks and official exchange bureaus in cities, with banks offering rates closer to official pegs while street exchangers operate openly but at variable rates. The euro exchanges more readily than US dollars outside airports.
Mobile money systems through operators MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money have achieved substantial penetration since 2010, with agents located even in rural areas enabling transfers and bill payments. Mobile network coverage by MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun reaches most populated areas though data speeds drop to 2G in rural zones. Tourist SIM cards can be purchased at airports and in cities for 1,000-2,000 XAF with identification, requiring passport presentation and registration under 2016 regulations. Internet cafes exist in cities but have declined in number since 2015 as smartphone adoption increased. WiFi availability remains inconsistent, present in higher-end hotels and select restaurants in Douala and Yaoundé but largely absent in budget accommodations and outside major urban centers.
Road conditions vary dramatically by region and season. Paved roads connect Douala to Yaoundé and extend to Bafoussam and Bamenda in the west, but degradation affects even these primary routes with potholes expanding during rainy seasons from March to June and September to November. The road north from Yaoundé to Garoua and Maroua transitions from paved to partially paved with long unpaved stretches near Ngaoundéré. Laterite roads dominate rural areas and become impassable during heavy rains. Travel by bus occurs through multiple private companies including Touristique Express, Binam Voyages, and Central Voyages, with varying vehicle quality. VIP buses on the Douala-Yaoundé route take 4-5 hours and cost approximately 5,000-7,000 XAF. The Yaoundé-Maroua journey exceeds 15 hours with buses often traveling overnight. Shared taxis operate both intercity routes and urban transport, with intercity vehicles departing when full and urban taxis negotiating per-passenger rates of 200-300 XAF for short distances in cities.