Navigating through the high plains dominated by mountains,

The North West region is one of the most visit town of Cameroon. Because, it has beautiful sites as the Mount Oku at over 3,000 meters.

The North West has an average altitude of 1,550 meters above sea level. Eventually, making it pretty fresh and seemingly cold with temperatures hovering around 22°C. With the exception of the rainy season (July to October), the region offers a climate conducive to tourism and travel all year round.

These mountains are covered with lush vegetation and grasslands, making for a fascinating landscape. The North-West region is characterized by the panoramic contrast of plains surrounded by mountains. Thereby,  containing crater lakes and deep valleys through which streams and rivers often flow over majestic waterfalls.

Bamenda being the capital city of the region, having a population of  over 1,968,578 people spread on an estimated hectare of 34,263 km2. The region comprises of 7 departments which are;

• Bui (Kumbo)
• Donga – Mantung (Nkambe)
• Menchum (Wum)
• Mezam (Bamenda)
• Momo (Mbengwi)
• Boyo (Fundong)
• Ngo – Ketunjia (Ndop).

Bamenda, the capital town and main urban area is a modern yet traditional city. Bamenda’s major road junction leads to most of  the divisions and sub-divisions. Also, it has the important commercial center of the town. A 350 km highway, also known as the Ring Road, enables visitors to visit and admire the region. Having all its tourist diversity, traditional chieftaincies, landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, game reserves, etc.

The North-West region combines its ancestral heritage with the influence of British and German colonization, and shares an authentic lifestyle with Nigeria. The population of the North-West region is very attached to its cultural values, and  local customs. Beside, their elaborate and singular styles of clothing and cuisine are particularly respected.

CHIEFDOMS AND MUSEUMS

Under its cultural heritage, it is dominated by chiefdoms and museums. Englobed with beautiful palaces and structures. The Mankon chiefdom is in the Mezam department. It is one of the oldest monarchies of the grassland inhabitants of the North-West region. Consequently, ruled by Fons and preserving important relics from colonial times, is a must-see attraction in the region. The Bafut chiefdom founded by King Mfor Feurlu, by unifying the Bukari and the Mbebili community is over 500 years now. Bali chiefdom (20 km from Bamenda), generally known as the cradle of local culture. Bafut chiefdom (about 20 km from Bamenda, on the road to Wum), with its architecture blending traditional and colonial heritage. Babessi chiefdom, with its rich museum of antiquities, Fundong chiefdom and the Laîkom chiefdom.

MOUNTAINS AND LAKES

The North West region is encompassed with lakes, waterfalls and mountains like, the Lake Awing in the Santa district, about 7 km along the road from Santa to Bamenda, Lake Oku, a crater lake in the Oku district, Mount Kilum (Oku), the second highest peak in Cameroon and West Africa, culminates at 3,000 meters above sea level, the Menchum Falls, on the Bamenda-Wum road(about 20 km from Wum), Lake Wum, in the town of Wum, Lake Bambalang, in the Balikumbat district being the result of the Bamendji dam which was rebuilt with the help of the Germans.

OTHER TOURISTIC SITES

Not limited to its sumptuous crafty sophisticated areas mention above, other very interesting sites are made available for its visitors like the Oku Reserve which is a forest reserve with a number of indigenous species, the Ring Road major road network linking all the divisions in the region, offering fantastic panoramic views of the area, the Ndu tea plantation and the last but not the least the Ndop Rice plantation are also well worth a visiting.

NORTH WEST MEALS

Not forgetting its delicacies proposed by these regions, Achu is the Master food cooked and enjoyed by most of the sub-divisions. It serves other meals like,

• Fufu and Kwati Kwati
• Nangtaru (stewed Cocoyam with red oil and bitter leaf)
• Fufu and Vegetables
• Pounded Irish and beans
• Pounded Cocoyam and Vegetables.