Bamenda

Understand

Bamenda, also known as Abakwa or Mankon Town, has ties to the Tikar people and then was colonized by the Germans in 1884 before being passed onto the French and English. Also in this city you'll find the Bamenda University of Science and Technology and some hilly backdrops.

Getting there

There is an airport in Bamenda servicing charter flights but no daily scheduled flights. There are highways to Douala and Yaoundé, where major airports are located. The roads are good, but with some big pot holes. By road, it takes around 6 hours from Douala by car and 8 by bus.

See

1 Mankon Museum. Art and cultural museum describing the rich history of the Mankon fondom, a traditional kingdom. The museum is located in the former royal palace. 2 Nkwen Fon's Palace. daily 08:00-17:30. A new cultural heritage museum and venue space. (updated Aug 2020)

Do

A popular itinerary is to do the "Bamenda Ring Road" that involves traveling north to see the Bafut Palace in Bafut followed by the Menchum Waterfalls near Wum, then taking in the volcanically active Lake Nyos where many died in a gaseous release in 1987 and on to the Kings Palace in Misaje. From here, one continues on to see the crater lake, Lake Oku, and biodiverse second-highest Cameroonian peak, Mount Kilum Ijim, and then completes the route by seeing the palace museum in Babungo, pottery in Bamessing, and Sabga Hills en route back to Bamenda. This is likely a multi-day excursion since it is ~465 kilometers, with potentially unimproved road conditions at times, but it allows one to experience Cameroonian landscapes and kingdoms in detail.

Buy

1 Bamenda Main Market (Marché central de Bamenda), ☏ +237 674295210. M-Sa 08:00-17:00. Bamenda's main market. Noisy and congested, with lots of stalls: may require a strong constitution. (updated Aug 2020) 2 Nkwen Market (Marché Nkwen). M-Sa 06:00-17:30, closed Su. Just like Bamenda's main market. Not too sanitary. (updated Aug 2020)

Eat

1 New Century Restaurant (near Bamenda's main market). daily 08:00-19:00. (updated Aug 2020)

Drink & nightlife

1 Dreamland Snack Bar. Bar. (updated Feb 2023) 2 Watson Bar, ☏ +237 6 75 09 94 75. Bar. (updated Feb 2023) 3 Le Biberon, N11, Funcha Street Junction. Bar. (updated Feb 2023) 4 Awesome Quiet Bar. Bar. (updated Feb 2023) 5 Dreamland Nkwen, ☏ +237 6 81 73 86 19. daily 24 hr. Bar. (updated Feb 2023) 6 Nganda bar. Bar. (updated Feb 2023) 7 Buea-Bamenda street Bar, N6. Bar. (updated Feb 2023) 8 Behindche Tap. daily 24 hr. Bar. (updated Feb 2023) 9 Akebe Bar, ☏ +237 6 71 68 96 94. daily 24 hr. Bar. (updated Feb 2023) 10 Blue Bar Jonction. daily 07:00-23:00. Bar. (updated Feb 2023)

Sleep

There are a few hotels in Bamenda. The largest being the faded Ayaba Hotel. There are various other commercial places that may be better options.

1 Ayaba Hotel (Eastern side of town), ☏ +237 77 83 96 96. This is the biggest hotel in Bamenda. When it was built, it would have been very smart, but now is looking well worn. Expect peeling paint, cold water and furniture that is falling apart. Rooms do have air conditioners. Wireless internet is available in reception. There is a swimming pool, but the water does not look too clean. 2 Hotel Mondial. 3 Pelican Hotel Bamenda, Ntarikon Bamenda (200 m from Ntarikon Market on Wum Road), ☏ +237 233363793, [email protected]. Lodging, restaurant, bar. Budget. 4 Top Star Hotel, Cow Street. Restaurant, close to busy road. 5 Blue Pear Hotel, Bamenda, S bend mile, 3 nkwen (off of N11), ☏ +237 672528258. (updated Aug 2020) 6 Mawa Hotel, Mile 6 Nkwen (on northeast edge of town), ☏ +237 676845019. Multi-floor hotel with a bar, pool, and wifi. Pool may not be that clean. ~$56. (updated Aug 2020) 7 Admiralty Serviced Apartments, off New Road GRA, ☏ +237 233363636. With a bar and clean quarters and dining area. (updated Aug 2020)