Cameroon operates two primary road classifications: national routes and regional roads. The Trans-African Highway segments connecting Douala to Yaoundé and Yaoundé to Ngaoundéré represent the most maintained stretches, though pavement quality declines significantly outside these corridors. The 918-kilometer Sanaga River creates infrastructure challenges across central regions, with bridge crossings limited to specific points. Between Douala and Yaoundé, travel time averages three to four hours under dry conditions on the 250-kilometer route. North of Ngaoundéré toward Garoua and Maroua, roads transition to laterite surfaces with seasonal washouts common during June through September rains.
Camrail operates the single rail line running from Douala through Yaoundé to Ngaoundéré, covering approximately 885 kilometers. The service maintains two train classes: first-class sleeping compartments and second-class seating. Departure frequency stands at one train daily in each direction. Douala to Yaoundé takes roughly four hours, while the full journey to Ngaoundéré requires between fifteen and eighteen hours depending on cargo loading delays. This northern terminus serves as the practical limit for rail infrastructure, leaving Garoua, Maroua, and Far North destinations accessible only by road.
Douala International Airport handles the majority of international traffic, with Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport serving as secondary entry. Domestic carriers including Camair-Co operate routes connecting Douala to Yaoundé, Garoua, and Maroua, though schedules change with minimal advance notice. Flight time from Douala to Garoua runs approximately ninety minutes. Regional airports at Bafoussam and Bamenda maintain infrastructure but experience irregular service. Bush taxis dominate inter-city transport, operating on departure-when-full models from designated motor parks. A Douala to Bafoussam bush taxi departs from Bonabéri motor park and covers 280 kilometers in five to seven hours depending on road conditions and checkpoint delays.
Within Douala and Yaoundé, motorcycle taxis called moto-taxis or bend-skins provide primary urban transport. Metered taxis exist in both cities but meters rarely function, requiring fare negotiation before departure. Standard Douala taxi fares range from 500 to 2,000 CFA francs for cross-town trips. Yaoundé's hilly topography extends journey times compared to distance alone. Both cities lack formal public bus systems, instead operating informal minibus networks called clandos that follow fixed routes but stop on demand. Fare collection occurs during transit with conductors calling destinations.
Road travel between southern forest regions and northern savanna zones requires passing through the Adamawa Plateau, where elevation reaches 1,500 meters near Ngaoundéré. This transition involves prolonged ascents on roads with limited passing zones. Commercial trucks frequently create convoys moving at twenty to thirty kilometers per hour. The route from Yaoundé to Bafoussam and onward to Bamenda encounters similar topographic challenges across the western highlands. Buea sits at Mount Cameroon's base at approximately 1,000 meters elevation, requiring steep access roads from Douala via Limbé.
Security checkpoints operate on all major routes, with frequency increasing in Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest. Military and gendarmerie units conduct vehicle inspections and document checks. Checkpoint encounters add fifteen minutes to two hours depending on official discretion. Night driving faces official discouragement outside urban centers due to limited road lighting and increased banditry risk between cities. Most intercity bush taxi services cease departures after 17:00.
Coastal access between Douala and Kribi follows a 180-kilometer route requiring four to five hours. The road passes through Edéa before reaching the beach resort zone. Limbé connects to Douala via a 70-kilometer coastal route manageable in ninety minutes under optimal conditions. Access to Korup National Park from Limbé requires specialized 4x4 transport due to unpaved final approaches, adding three hours minimum. Dja Faunal Reserve entry points near Lomié and Somalomo demand four-wheel drive vehicles during any season, with wet-season access sometimes impossible.
Lake Chad northern border areas near Maroua remain subject to access restrictions due to Boko Haram activity since 2014. Waza National Park reopened to tourists in 2017 after security improvements, but route selection from Maroua requires current security assessment. The Far North Region maintains visible military presence along roads approaching the Nigerian border. Fuel availability declines in northern areas beyond Garoua, with stations spacing exceeding one hundred kilometers between Maroua and border zones.
Vehicle rental services in Douala and Yaoundé require drivers to be minimum 23 years old with international driving permits alongside home country licenses. Rental agencies include agencies operating European vehicle brands, though 4x4 availability stays limited outside specialized tour operators. Daily rates for compact sedans begin at 35,000 CFA francs before insurance additions. Four-wheel drive vehicle rental starts at 60,000 CFA francs daily. Most rental agreements prohibit travel into Far North Region without explicit authorization.