Waza Park is known as the best big-game park in West Africa, boasting most of the big game species for which East Africa is known, but receiving far fewer visitors. This makes for a much more relaxed, and one of a kind quality experience! However, please be aware that the tourist infrastructure for northern Cameroon is not well developed so accommodations are nice, but basic and some of the roads are in very poor condition. Your Itinerary: Days 1 & 2: Douala Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the Jet Hotel. Orientation session and then enjoy your first dinner at the hotel. If you wish to refresh yourself after a very long flight, treat yourself to a swim in the pool. Douala is located in the middle of Cameroon's Atlantic coast, a few kilometers inland on the southern shore of the Wouri River. Includes: (D). Day 3: Douala / Yaoundé / night train to Ngaoundéré. Travel to Yaoundé (picnic lunch), visit Mfou National Park and CWAF's gorilla and chimp rehabilitation project near Yaoundé; early dinner at the Maison Blanche, then board the night train for Ngaoundéré. Includes: (B), (L), (D). Day 4: Ngaoundéré / Ngaoundaba Ranch Arrive in the early morning in Ngaoundére where we'll be met by our drivers in 4X4 vehicles and sped off to the beautiful Ngaoundaba Ranch. Relax, swim in the nearby crater lake, or hike around the premises. Enjoy the friendly ambiance and beautiful views, as well as the great food and service! Lounge around the fireplace, share thoughts on the trip so far, and discuss upcoming days. Day 5: Ngaoundaba Ranch / Maroua Enjoy an early morning walk around the lake, then breakfast and departure for Maroua. We'll stop along the way in Ngaoundéré, where we'll visit the Lamido (Moslem chief) of the region and his beautiful palace. We'll also have lunch in Ngaoundéré and then continue on to Maroua. Night at Relais Porte Mayo. Includes: (B), (L), (D). Day 6: Maroua / Maga-Pouss / Waza Park Early morning departure for Pouss, where we'll visit the market and the museum featuring the traditional huts of the Obus and their customs. Lunch at the Safari in Maga and visit the Muzugum fisherman's port on the Logone River. On to the Park National de Waza. Enjoy an evening drive to view wildlife, with the possibility of seeing giraffes, elephants, hippos, lions, sable antelope, warthogs, baboons, monkeys, and many bird species. March through October is the absolute best time for wildlife viewing, but we still stand a good chance of seeing wildlife during our visit. Overnight at the Waza Campement, with its comfortable boukarous and good food. Includes: (B), (L), (D). Day 7: Waza Park / Oudjila / Mokolo Enjoy an early morning wildlife tour of the Park, then depart for the Podoko of D'Oudjila, whose animist chief has 40 wives and more than 150 children. Visit his house to learn more about animist beliefs and customs. Continuing onward you'll arrive in Mokolo, the center of the Mafa people. Wednesday is the big market day for the Mafa people of the Mokolo area. They come down from their mountain villages to sell their local craft and produce (millet, peanuts, beans, traditional oil), and also to buy provisions to take back to the mountains (soap, salt, matches, fish, etc.). Overnight at the Campement Flamboyant Hotel, the most comfortable in town just off the main road in the center of town. Traditional Cameroonian food for dinner! Includes: (B), (L), (D). Day 8: Mokolo / Tourou / Rhumsiki Depart in the early morning for the Thursday market in Tourou, where the Hide and Gre wear calabash hats, reminding one of soldiers with their helmets. These hats contain markings which provide information such as whether the woman is married and whether she has children. This is a typical traditional small market of northern Cameroon, with a beautiful view over the Savannah to Nigeria. Continue on to Rhumsiki, with its moonscape terrain of ancient volcanic "needles", and the home of the Margui or Kapsiki people. Overnight at the Campement of Rhumsiki, one of the more upscale places with nice views and comfortable air-conditioned boukarous. Keep in mind that air conditioning and electricity may not always work in Cameroon. Includes: (B), (L), (D). Day 9: Rhumsiki / Gamba After breakfast, you'll go trekking in the Mandara Mountains. Approximately 5 hours of hiking will bring you to Gamba. Here you will pass by the villages of Gova and Kila, in the heart of Kirdi country. The Kirdi are known to be staunchly animist, refusing to be "islamized" by Moslem immigrants. Spend the night in Gamba with families in traditional Margui huts. There is no electricity, bath is by bucket, no modern toilet, and sleeping is on a grass mat or sleeping pad (if you bring one). If you do not wish to do the trek, you may opt to stay in Rhuminsiki. Optional activities for those who choose to stay in Rhumsiki are seeing traditional pottery demonstrations, visiting a local school, traditional bronze working in the village of Amsa, or visiting the small village market at Mogode where the Lamidat de Kapsiki (traditional regional chief of the Kapsiki region) resides. Includes: (B), (L), (D). Day 10: Rhumsiki / Garoua Depart for Garoua, passing through numerous villages which have changed little over the last centuries. Rest stop at the dam at Dzahoura, where you'll have a beautiful view across the border into Nigeria. Special surprise lunch! Overnight in Garoua at the Relais St. Hubert. Includes: (B), (L), (D). Day 11: Garoua / Ngaoundaba Ranch. Travel to Ngaoundaba Ranch, with stop in Ngaoundéré for lunch. Relax in comfort again at the Ranch and have the opportunity for an afternoon swim and/or hike. Includes: (B), (L), (D). Day 12: Ngaoundaba / night train. Morning walk, swim, boat ride, or just relax on the veranda. Good chance that monkeys will pay you a visit! Afternoon departure for Ngaoundéré and the night train to Yaoundé. Includes: (B), (L). Day 13: Night train / Yaoundé / Kribi. Arrive in Yaoundé in the early morning, leisurely breakfast and then off to Kribi, a beautiful seaside village. Installation at Jully Hotel, lunch at hotel, then relax on the beach for the pm. Dinner and night at Jully Hotel. Includes: (B), (L), (D). Day 14: Kribi / Douala / Departure. Options of just relaxing or heading down the coast to visit a Pygmy village and have a fresh seafood lunch on the beach, then its back in the car for the drive to Douala and the airport for your flight home. Note: Please be aware that this trip is rugged in that accommodations are basic, though clean and charming, in outlying areas. Don't count on having hot water or electricity daily. Roads are very, very rough and some days may involve a lot of driving. Choose this trip only if you wish a very unique cultural experience and are willing to put up with some inconveniences. Notes: Prices and itinerary are tentative and subject to change according to Euro-USD exchange rates and any circumstances beyond our control. 
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