Cheap flights to Yaoundé

Quick summary

Why track Yaoundé with SniperAir

You do not need to compare prices every day

Yaoundé, also known as Ongola in Ewondo and called the 'city on seven hills', is Cameroon's political capital, according to Wikipedia (FR) and Wikivoyage (EN, FR). It houses the country's institutions and administrations and stands at about 700 m above sea level, among hills, wet valleys and small streams. Wikivoyage (EN) says its people come from all over the country, with a rather small downtown, some high-rises around Boulevard du 20 Mai and a ministries quarter. Population figures differ between sources, so we do not publish one.

Wikivoyage (EN) adds that the city suits travellers used to Africa and that tourist infrastructure is limited beyond hotels and restaurants. It is a calmer and greener destination than Douala, visited for its institutions, its museums and a climate softened by altitude. SniperAir tracks fares to NSI and alerts you; it does not sell or book tickets.

Airport and getting into town

Nsimalen, south of the city

Sources disagree on the distance between the airport and the centre (22 to 27 km) and give no reliable travel time, which depends on traffic. We do not quote fares.

Wikivoyage (EN) and German Wikipedia describe taxis to the airport, with the price negotiated before getting in; we do not repeat their figures, which are dated. German Wikipedia says the city's old airport is now used only by the military.

Another way in is Douala airport (DLA), from where Yaoundé can be reached by train, bus or domestic flight according to Wikivoyage (EN). You may therefore want to create an alert for DLA too.

Landmarks

Reunification Monument, cathedral and basilica

Yaoundé reveals itself through its hills, its large religious buildings and its places of memory. The places shown below are described according to our sources; figures and dates differ between sources, so we stay cautious.

The Reunification Monument

Wikivoyage (FR) presents it as an essential symbol recalling the union of French and British Cameroon, with symbols of the country's four cultural areas and a flame of freedom; Wikipedia (ES) places it near the National Assembly. Seen from above, it rises as a spiral in a garden planted with trees.

Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Cathedral

Wikivoyage (EN) explains that this seat of the archdiocese, at Rond Point de la Poste, was begun in 1951 and consecrated four years later, with a cross-shaped interior and room for about 5,000 worshippers; German Wikipedia also gives 1951 for the start of works. Its wide staircase and pointed roof dominate the centre.

The National Museum and its esplanade

Wikivoyage (EN) places the National Museum, in the Quartier du lac, in the former presidential palace built under French colonial rule; Wikipedia (ES) ranks it among the city's main museums. A long lawn lined with flagpoles leads to the white building.

The centre seen from the sky

The city centre is small: Wikivoyage (EN, DE) mentions a few high-rises around Boulevard du 20 Mai and the ministries quarter, surrounded by residential districts mixed with craft workshops. In this view, the cathedral and its surroundings appear among yellow taxis.

Other places named by Wikipedia (FR, DE, ES) and Wikivoyage (FR, EN): the Mary Queen of the Apostles Basilica in Mvolyé, built on the site of the country's first missionary church and consecrated in 2006, with a roof supported by twelve pillars (Wikivoyage EN); Mont Fébé, with the best view over the city, a hotel and a golf course (Wikipedia DE); Charles Atangana square and its 1982 statue (Wikivoyage FR); the German colonial station; the Mvog-Betsi zoological garden, with primates and lions (Wikivoyage EN); and Mokolo market. Wikivoyage (EN) warns that photographing sensitive areas, including military sites, is forbidden, and that embassies may also cause problems.

Museums and culture

Museums of art, history and tradition

National Museum

According to Wikivoyage (EN), the National Museum, housed in the former presidential palace, shows both traditional and modern aspects of the country: traditional art and clothing, archaeological finds, and an exhibition on the independence period with photographs and national emblems. We give no hours or fees, which change.

Museum of Cameroonian Art

Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (DE, ES) name the Museum of Cameroonian Art, set in a former Benedictine monastery on Mont Fébé. According to Wikivoyage (EN), its three rooms show masks, bronzes and woodwork, that is, traditional art of the country.

Afhemi Museum, crafts and music

Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (ES) also mention the Afhemi (Blackitude) Museum, devoted to traditional art from the west and north-west; the craft market at Rond-point de l'Intendance sells local art, mainly Bamoun, such as wooden masks. Wikivoyage (EN) notes that concerts of African music take place in some nightclubs, so ask locally.

Food and drink

Ndolé, poulet DG, grilled fish and big markets

Cameroonian dishes

French Wikipedia's article on Cameroonian cuisine lists ndolé, with bitter leaves, groundnut paste and meat or prawns; poulet DG, fried chicken and plantain; koki, a black-eyed pea cake steamed in banana leaf; and skewers called soya. Wikivoyage (EN) says Yaoundé's restaurants mainly offer local and French cuisine, with a few Chinese and North African options.

Markets and districts

Mfoundi market, near Rond Point de la Poste, is the city's biggest grocery market according to Wikivoyage (EN); Mokolo is the largest general market, and Wikivoyage (DE) names the food market of Nkol-Eton. Wikivoyage (EN) advises watching your belongings in these crowded places.

Quick bites

Wikivoyage (EN) mentions street stalls around Nlongkak roundabout, the La Briquetterie quarter, known for its barbecue but described as risky, and bakeries, often the only shops open on public holidays. We name no brand and quote no price.

Getting around

Yellow taxis, motorbikes and streets without names

Shared taxis and private rides

Wikivoyage (FR) explains that roughly one car in two is a yellow taxi; the most common option is the shared taxi, where you state your destination and the price you will pay, while a 'dépôt' is a ride for yourself, to be negotiated before leaving. Wikivoyage (EN) warns that sharing a taxi can be risky, especially alone and at night, and recommends a driver suggested by your hotel.

Motorbikes, walking and orientation

Motorbike taxis serve short trips and, according to Wikivoyage (FR), may not leave their district. Walking is difficult: crowded pavements, missing manhole covers. Wikivoyage (EN, DE) points out that most streets have no name: people navigate by junctions, landmarks and neighbourhood names.

Train, buses and to Douala

Wikivoyage (EN) says the Camrail train links Douala and Yaoundé in about 3 h 45, with an overnight train to Ngaoundéré that is often delayed. The Douala-Yaoundé road is very congested and, according to Wikivoyage (EN), best avoided at night; the so-called 'prestige' bus service is judged safer. We quote no fares.

Budget and precautions

Budget and precautions

Price level

The sources do not give reliable, dated and cross-checked prices for Yaoundé, so we offer no range. Wikivoyage (EN) advises knowing the exchange rate and haggling.

Currency

The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF). Wikivoyage (EN) notes that cash machines are few and queues can be long at the start and end of the month, so carry more than one means of payment.

Flights, safety and health

SniperAir tracks fares to NSI and compares them with the route's price history, but it does not sell or book tickets. To compare, you can also follow Nairobi or Kigali. Wikivoyage (EN) judges that Yaoundé is not the most dangerous city in the country, but warns of pickpockets in markets, robberies and badly lit streets to avoid at night. Official travel advice varies widely depending on your country of departure, sometimes advising against certain regions of the country, so check your own government's advice before booking. For health, ask a doctor or a vaccination centre well before departure: yellow fever, often required, and malaria prevention.

When to go

A tropical climate softened by altitude

For more comfortable visits, the dry season, from December to February, is the one most often recommended. We do not give full monthly averages, because the sources do not cover the same stations or years.

By length of stay

What to do in Yaoundé depending on how long you stay

In pictures

Yaoundé in pictures

You might also like

Similar destinations

Kenya

Nairobi

Discover

Rwanda

Kigali

Discover

Ethiopia

Addis Ababa

Discover

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Yaoundé