 THE NORTH: THE NEW REVOLVING CENTRE
With the opening of the Garoua international airport, the North Province can be considered today as the centre through which tourists travelling to the Adamaoua and Far-North Provinces transit. But, apart from this new role, the North Province has its own tourist assets, in particular, the rich and ancient civilizations, as well as sightseeing tourism which is especially recommended to those who can afford the time.
To discover the North Province, on generally starts by way of Garoua, with its gigantic and magnificent bridge over the Benue river, the Grand Mosque, the lamido’s palace, the zoo, the market and, should the occasion arise, the fantasia.
Then comes the conquest of Rey Bouba, the famous palace. Many travellers have alleged that the palace is like a citadel, as inaccessible as René Caillé’s Timbuktu, or the old Forbidden City of Peking. Rey-Bouba has its tradition, its protocol, and its sultan, a legendary figure, rarely receives visitors. Some adventurers have had to wait for an audience for days, weeks and even months – unsuccessfully! Today, things have taken on a relatively faster pace. But a good measure of patience is always necessary and the suspense lasts to the last moment. To keep people waiting, it seem, is part of the tactics used to discourage inquisitive people. In any case, those who are allowed into the kingdom of Rey Bouba never forget their encounter with the sultan. The reception is warm, the ceremony solemn. This visit often remains the best memory of a long stay in Africa. Yet, one goes away without having penetrated the mysteries of this kingdom where a reclusive monarch live behind the walls of his palace, yet seeing everything and deciding on virtually everything. |
There is a great deal more to discover while visiting the North Province.
Benue national park: of a surface area of 180,000 ha, a river of the same name, with wooded banks, flows across it. It is a maze of paths. The park’s fauna is extremely rich with antelopes, magnificent Derby mooses, monkeys, and crocodiles in the rivers and hippopotamuses in the ponds.
Boubandjida national park: it has a surface area of 220,000 ha. Situated in Tcholliré Subdivision, Boubandjida is drenched by many rivers, which is why it generally has the outlook of a forest-park. More than 90 % of Cameroon’s black rhinoceroses live there; elephants and mooses stay in the park all year long.
Faro reserve: with a surface area of 330,000 ha, it is the kingdom of buffalos, rhinoceroses, Derby mooses and big antelopes.
Lagdo dam: the impressive dam produces electricity for the entire Northern region and also permits the irrigation of surrounding lands.
The picturesque, rich and shaded Pitoa market is where one goes either to sell, to buy or just simply to stroll. Whatever the case, no one will regret the trip.
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