Duration: | 9 Day(s) - 8 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Bird Watching Tours |
Babanki Tungoh is set in a stunning volcanic landscape with three towering rock outcrops surrounding the village, which give their names to the three main families in Babanki. In the village, you can discover the crafts of traditional carvers, such as statues and masks. A trek to the lake of Babanki offers a way to see the surrounding countryside, with this stunning lake as the highlight.
The best way to take full advantage of the scenery this area has to offer is to undertake a homestay in Lower Babanki, where you will be served traditional meals and also find a museum owned by your host.
Accessibility & Transport:
The town of Babanki is situated approximately 2hrs by taxi from Belo. The lake of Babanki is located a further 1.5hrs by taxi from the main town, and an hour’s trek after that. If you wish to take the homestay option, it takes around 4hrs to trek to Lower Babanki where the house is. In the morning the walk to Bamessing is 1.5hrs, where you can arrange for a taxi back to Belo or spend the day in in the town.
Itinerary
Day 1: Douala - Bamenda
After breakfast we leave for Bamenda, visiting the sacred Mectchie waterfalls en route, where local Bamileke people come to make sacrifices in the hopes that their wishes will be granted. On arrival in Bamenda we visit the local markets and the chief’s palace at nearby Bafut, where we see traditional dances by the princes and princesses. Overnight Ayaba Hotel or similar.
Day 2-5: Wum - Okpwa
We continue on the ‘Ring Road’ to Wum, visiting Menchum Falls along the way. The scenery of this area is quite beautiful, with meadows, mountains, and lakes, punctuated with Fulani herders tending their livestock. At Wum we set off on foot to reach the village of Okpwa, our base for the next two nights. Overnight in tents or a village house.
Day 6: Okpwa
We spend today in Okpwa, settling into the rhythm of village life and learning about the traditions and customs of the Bororo people that live here. This is a fantastic insight into the intricacies of life in rural Cameroon, and one of the highlights of the trip. Overnight in tents or a village house.
Day 7 – Wum – Bamenda – Babungo
We say goodbye to our hosts and walk back to Wum, where we visit the beautiful crate lake. From there we drive to Bamenda and take a short tour of the city’s sights before heading to Babungo. We visit the museum at the Fon’s palace, home to more than 3000 traditional masks. Overnight at the Babungo Foundation guesthouse.
Day 8 – Babungo - Foumban
This morning we visit some of the projects of the Babungo Foundation, a village community initiative that includes a pig farm, a traditional and modern clinic, and a school. We then drive to Foumban. The town is renowned for its excellent traditional crafts and is rich in history, with good museums and a superb royal palace, and we spend time exploring the town’s key sites. Overnight Paradise Hotel, Koutaba, or similar.
Day 9: Departure
End of tour Shopping of craftworks and departure.