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- Kilum-Ijim Forest Reserve — One of the last intact high-altitude montane forests in West Africa. You can hike old trails through cloud forest, see endemics (think Bannerman’s turaco) and meet communities that guard the forest—birding and quiet, mossy ridgelines you won’t find anywhere else in Cameroon.
- Mount Oku and Lake Oku — The plateau summit of the Bamenda Highlands, with a small, clear crater lake tucked into the rim. The climb isn’t technical but the views across the highlands, the cool air and the unique alpine-like vegetation make this a proper mountain day-trip that feels very different from the lowlands.
- Lake Nyos — Infamous for the 1986 limnic eruption, the crater lake is a sobering, visitable landscape: the lake itself, the memorial sites and the new degassing installations
- Kilum-Ijim Forest Reserve — One of the last intact high-altitude montane forests in West Africa. You can hike old trails through cloud forest, see endemics (think Bannerman’s turaco) and meet communities that guard the forest—birding and quiet, mossy ridgelines you won’t find anywhere else in Cameroon.
- Mount Oku and Lake Oku — The plateau summit of the Bamenda Highlands, with a small, clear crater lake tucked into the rim. The climb isn’t technical but the views across the highlands, the cool air and the unique alpine-like vegetation make this a proper mountain day-trip that feels very different from the lowlands.
- Lake Nyos — Infamous for the 1986 limnic eruption, the crater lake is a sobering, visitable landscape: the lake itself, the memorial sites and the new degassing installations tell a powerful human-geology story. It’s both a nature visit and a lesson in resilience from local communities.
- Bafut Royal Palace & Museum — A living Grassfields palace north of Bamenda where the Fon still plays a role in daily life. Visit the courtyard, see royal regalia and traditional masks, and catch drumming/dance if you time it right. It’s one of the clearest windows into Bamenda-highlands court culture.
- Nso (Kumbo) Palace and Stone Monoliths — Kumbo is the center of the Nso fondom: ornate palace compounds, carved chiefs’ stools and granite monoliths scattered around town. The architecture and ritual life here are distinct to the Nso people—great for people who like culture woven into everyday streets.
- Awing Crater Lake — Hidden gem. Small, peaceful crater lake surrounded by farms and short forest pockets. Locals ferry small pirogues, fish, and hold seasonal rituals here. It’s compact, photogenic and easy to combine with village walks; most guidebooks barely mention it.
- Oku White Honey cooperatives & beekeeping trails — Hidden gem. The Bamenda Highlands’ famous “Oku white honey” comes from beekeepers on Mount Oku’s slopes. Visit hives, watch traditional smoke-techniques, and taste honey you won’t find elsewhere—the entire process is very hands-on and rooted in local ecology.
- Bali-Nyonga Fondom — Hidden gem. A smaller, less-touristed palace town with lively markets, skilled potters and a distinctive palace culture. If you want grassfields traditions without the weekend tour crowds, Bali-Nyonga’s compound life and craft scene are genuinely local.
- Menchum Falls (Wum area) — A dramatic cascade tucked into the northern reaches of the highlands. It’s a proper waterfall hike: slippery tracks, river pools and great picnic spots. The landscape changes quickly from farmland to forest ravine—classic highland scenery.
- Mankon Fon’s Quarter & craft workshops (Bamenda) — Visit the Mankon palace area inside Bamenda for on-the-ground craft life: woodcarvers, mask makers and pottery stalls. It’s where urban and traditional life meet—good for seeing artisans at work and buying authentic items directly from makers.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.