![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuRD2Dd90kgVA8gX8RqHS9P0uobNO250AaZUh9-kS28KPtSEbUheWmXietN3fGBFWbnJBIxzRpzACi7x8IHFDdHCsK_wSDLZ1MsbBaJwOIrpFv7hFG5-4mQranvRZo2AEYNjlwiFVzLw/s200/cameroon-map.gif)
Cameroon is a country of about 20 million people, apparently almost all quite friendly based on my sample. In the 1800s it was a German colony that was later
administered by the French (and partially by the English) prior to independence in 1960.
Cameroon shares the frustrating profile of many African countries: remarkable natural resources (e.g., petroleum, cocoa, minerals); economic development hindered by red tape, corruption, and high taxes; and one-party or one-man pseudo-democracy. Also, like many, it has a mix of strong and nominal Christians (of various denominations), plus residual if not intense elements of animism and
some Muslims mainly in the north.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXkY_i4Xp1R4HhzWqY2XAUx9F6bi-eKcpKrvruhzs0JQzgPKHTzhxuWxrRREInRNVHXU292iZ3vIeyVRWhbq1hd5RRVm7ij1hA10s1vAr4TfM99W69xIQvtNPrMi6dM0iwwAx-gwTRMQ/s640/C1.jpg) |
Early in the morning we went by canoe up the lush, peaceful river, managed to get through a thick tropical forest, and... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf8_fd_w35iyW4W3Q198v6NaFmXuQntlG7Qy7E5Brd9ubDtlBDQUyaC5HJC3cxWSRI6kgi3TkjawUu7T4SLwRj4_Q6ktJrR8MRPoSXftAdhRrCYQAt4pJ0-9b1vFIx1us34N9SbbbEdI/s640/IMG_1541.JPG) |
... visited a pygmy village that receives visitors from time to time. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmNsCL2xV6FaYN3eycsvpeAdYDp4pEwO-KAB2Hc3AkfUm7eMDqTkeTX_-YJJ57masLB9PpwmdZVlYYF4Ef1SXHU52Dha2He37ONC1LFj8giVi5uEsnvcluQg4RxQFn89jq3SRCjWWOaM/s400/IMG_1558.JPG) |
After a plantain, avocado, mango, seafood lunch, we walked along a long lovely beach. Above: Local boys practicing their flips. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhi8wFIUFnt_mJervLbRud0FVbwK4RIFKu7yhCcVpvDadYyi2OvJd0E2S87KYOljbd5KN_bPuGARiJ8ELW92upzHW4UwSO_Zyj9dvCqt7m96Jid9-dOta1pp4Oh6gmYnBEtGeUodCwqk/s640/IMG_1566.JPG) |
A rare waterfall that empties directly into the ocean. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxRzTgEOqL81m9228IFXQk9NosKU2HGjYD7KtuaSdj9UXo0vfHhGyMGXp-qvqegiQ6Dcps9hfg0lC8oHxglHCvm-E8urIlKx_athUCbJ5zcFSATeiNAEBgNWPzsYl0ooBkFhk-KwuslE/s320/IMG_1572.JPG) |
A celebratory wedding drive around town. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L6obxhne0UNcRqOYTFzn-ihfX77g3cmTesl9PiNJ9aH2D_xBGXKmqBX28gifHJ7gLHIsrDKRzABWggOzO2kNhK4WjQfDbqJ5Y-voSXcK_PCJ8Z1oFYqDvr65SlLsu993CDVOz8vKFsA/s640/IMG_1574.JPG) |
North of Kribi is Limbe, another of Cameroon's key coastal towns. Limbe is flanked by the highest mountains on the west side of Africa. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSXPpzOnp4WgMXnW5_tGcZpLImsTZa1-3TJwxJac5FnyeE_G1dZDo-hAM4UssWnuAhzetpikjuRfivPJGGUuLOubyEVZc-PEGJe2kYqAyg_tWpki9QPWmIBdqVqUtB6Bhto1d6GSzd94/s640/c4.jpg) |
As has been true everywhere we've been so far on this trip, people in Cameroon were exceedingly warm and friendly. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiwwkvBXRBwJSkMK17XB8zFzW5zBQwt_gEa6f2XB20_vJbl1QeH6cOZ8XUC05UXvuIM760NAYK5jCh_Qlolcuhvg3QXl4vehm6Ka-T7HODSOhRLh4lXkTYCvqXFI75mDUkAsndH-IIUs/s640/IMG_1650.JPG) |
At the Limbe botanical gardens, we saw a series of wonderful traditional dances performed by social groups whose members migrated from rural areas to the city but get together to continue their traditions. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSCSCQJI_JT7_Op3hDz1BkEzFozVE-rhg-SVV1ZDoLedMqaTpcZ6FP4XtBA7GXI6YlSoTUJ_amBGEXef5HZmopjBw32M4adhhnHuZDDyybEzLGBEnKqKnM-6i4cAmaCVvZZ4kv_5SQws/s640/c3.jpg) |
The Limbe Wildlife Center works to conserve endangered species, especially those threatened by, among other things, the popularity of "bush meat." Included were chimpanzees, gorillas, and certain types of monkeys. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd6m_LC1E6JaFfRN_07PJ_27psukSyjKtKGuxaJcwH0GoBoIaGbDHM33dWKtNlH0dlNMPeHVSDLJX2k4AmPCA5npLIirp2-F38TDW2lElDrdbCgdsB7AsmOWpXq8e60f4cGLD5B10u04/s320/IMG_1603.JPG) |
My favorites were the gorillas, but I also had an interesting face-to-face
encounter with this baboon who had slipped out of the habitat.
Here he was coming swiftly toward me, but I successfully
waved him away, and then made a strategic retreat. |