| Duration: | 8 Day(s) - 7 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Nature Tours |
Bamenda, also known as Abakwa, sprawling over the north-western plateau of Cameroon, is the capital city of the North West Region. The third-ranked city of Cameroon, Bamenda is situated 366 km north-west of the administrative capital of Cameroon
Belo, Boyo Division, NW Cameroon These 15m high waterfalls are hidden within Belo itself, a beautiful oasis close to the activity of the village. During the dry season, it is even possible to walk behind the falls.
Accessibility & transport: 2/5. The walk from the centre of Belo takes around 25 minutes, through sparse forest. Note that during the rainy season the waterfalls can only be seen from a distance as the rocks in the area become slippery and dangerous.
The time needed: Allow 2 days for the complete trip.
Other info: Take sufficient water for the duration of the trip.
Itinerary
Day 1: Belo
First, we pick you up from Douala airport, and then Belo will be your base for the duration. Belo features many shops, restaurants and a thriving market. It's a place where you can begin to get to know Cameroon while relaxing after your journey.
Day 2: Lake Oku
Day trip to Lake Oku. This day trip will get you to one of the most impressive crater lakes in the North-West Region: Lake Oku. Situated close to the village of Oku as well as the biggest mountain in the area, Mount Oku, this lake is a perfect place to enjoy nature as well as beautiful surroundings in a calm and relaxing atmosphere.
After a long journey to the lake, you can either jump into the lake and enjoy a swim in the clear and refreshing water of the lake or go for a little walk in the Kilum forest to see some of the endemic animals and plants.
The journey to the lake starts around 8 am on a motorbike. The bike ride to the junction of the lake will take about an hour, passing small villages and going mainly uphill. From the junction, the lake can already be seen in the distance. Now you will trek down little paths through the forest to get closer to it. The Kilum-Ijim Forest is a protected area and is state property.
Here you can find a huge variety of flora and fauna and especially if you like bird watching this will be the perfect place for you around Belo. The trek down through the forest will take between 1 and 2 hours before you get to a place where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery with the view of the lake, the nearby hills, and the surrounding forest. If you want, you can even swim in the lake and relax your muscles after the long journey.
This place will also be our lunch point where you can have some fresh fruits, drinks, bread and biscuits. At the latest, we will start walking back to Belo at 2 pm. If you don’t want to walk all the way back, you can take a motorbike back home from the lake. In order to reach your hotel in Belo, the walk would take around 4 hours. It is mainly downhill and you will pass larger parts of the forest, farms of local people, the Aboh Hills and finally bigger settlements like Aboh or Acha. In the late afternoon, you will reach Belo and your hotel.
If you don’t want to take a motorbike and decide to walk to Lake Oku, please be aware that it is mainly uphill and that the journey can take up to 5 hours. There is also the possibility to hire a car for the day, at additional cost. Please make sure that you inform us in advance if you want to customise your day.
The Ndawara Tea Estate is the biggest privately owned tea estate in the world and certainly the greatest in whole West Africa. Only situated around 16 km from the center of Belo, this little town surrounded by about 5000 hectares of tea plants is definitely a must-see in the North-West Region.
On your way up to the tea hills, you will pass the villages of Djichami and Afua, their local forest and many homes of the traditional Fulani land. In Ndawara a guided tour through the factory will teach you more about the world of tea. In the village, the palace of the founder of the Tea Estate and his little animal farm is waiting for you to be explored. Afterward, you can enjoy the view over the tea hills and soak up the special and very welcoming atmosphere.
Day 3: Ndawara Tea Estate
On day 3 you will leave Belo for a 4-hour walk up to the Ndawara Tea Estate. You should be aware that the hike is mainly uphill, but with beautiful views over the scenery of Belo and Boyo Division. After passing the village of Djichami and the steepest parts of the trek, you have a stunning overview of Belo and its surroundings including green hills, waterfalls, and a big valley. Afterward, you continue the journey along with forests, single houses and pass the traditional Fulani land and dozens of horses and cows. Fulanis are a different clan of people that mainly live in the hills of the North-West Region.
Day 4: Ndawara
About an hour before you reach the small village of Ndawara, you will start to see the first tea fields. Once you get to the tea plantation, the first sight to be visited will be the tea factory. A local guide will show you around and explain everything about the process of making tea.
After visiting the factory you will walk through the little village: mainly home to some of the hundreds of workers in the tea fields and the commercial heart of the whole area. It is also home to the palace of the founder of this estate. Although you can’t visit his shining white palace, a trip to the animal farm in this compound is definitely worth it.
Horses, wild gooses, ostriches and snakes are waiting for you. Now you can either decide if you want to walk back to Belo or take a motorbike. The journey on the motorbike will take about an hour and drop you directly in front of your hotel, where you can relax after the long journey.
Day 5: Babungo
The Fon Palace of Babungo: As Babungo is one of the major wood carving places in the country, the town has a long tradition in local arts and crafts. Every fon used to learn how to make wood carvings and developed his own masks and other wood items.
Day 6: Bamessing
Bamessing is one of the most famous places in the country for pottery. In a guided tour you will learn more about the process of pottery, from digging the clay to firing the finished articles.
Day 7: Sabga Hill
Sabga Hill and the Makon Palace. From the top of Sabga Hill, you will have a wonderful view over the whole area, with hills, valleys, and waterfalls dotting the beautiful landscape.
In Bafut, you can visit the Makon Palace, one of the best-preserved palaces and home to the traditional Achim: one of the oldest buildings in the whole of central Africa. A very well documented museum and a guided tour will give you more information on the kingdom, the traditional clothes and masks, the war with the German people during the colonization and historical as well as actual customs and traditions.
Day 8: Departure
Bamenda -Douala - Departure
