 THE NORTH WEST: MODERNITY AND TRADITIONS
The North-West Province flirts with modernity while holding on to its traditions. Bamenda, its chief town, is a perfect blend of both aspects.
The North-West Provincial capital captivates the visitor with its lovely landscape and mild climate, the originality of its architecture, which uses stones both for solidity and beauty, and its picturesque one-of-a-kind location.
Bamenda lies on huge escarpments ad is roughly bowl-shaped. It is divided in two parts: Up Station, the administrative and residential area; and downtown, the commercial and popular area. A high cliff separates the two parts of the town, which are linked by a steep road.
Bamenda is a hospitable town. The language barrier may momentarily daunt the non-English-speaking visitor. He ends up getting understood anyway.
As concerns eating, traditional dishes are served all day long is “eating-houses” and “achu eating-roomsé” while modern dishes are served in hotels and restaurants.
In the day, traditional ceremonies pull huge crowds. On such occasions, one can admire the work of traditional dressmakers who still make robes for chiefs, nobles and elders.
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Bamenda also has other tourist attractions
The magnificent Congress Hall birthplace of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) in March 1985.
The bustling market and the nearly two-kilometre long commercial avenue, which passes by it.
The vestiges of German rule and, in particular, the fort which is the seat of the Governor’s Office
The peculiarity of each quarter: old town, Small Mankon, Azire, Nkwen, Ntarikon…
The handicraft centre at the foot of the cliff
The imposing television antenna on the peak of the rock on which the administrative district is built.
Lastly, the tourist seeking adventure can discover the very heart of the Northwest by travelling through the Bamenda – Bambui – Ndop – Jakiri – Kumbo – Ndu – Nkambe – Wum – Bafut – Bamenda Ring Road. Along this route, the tourist will discover untouched tourist products most of which are unknown in international tourism. They include:
Traditional chieftaincies with feudal palaces that are sanctuaries of extreme beauty. The chieftaincies around Bamenda include Mankon Bafut and Bali Fondom (that is where “Fons” reign)
The enchanting landscape of Menchum and Donga-Mantung;
The mysterious Oku mountains (3,004 m) in Bui;
The vast Ndop plain
The Kimbi game reserve
The rivers with swirling waters
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