Things to Do in Cameroon in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Cameroon
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + December is the sweet spot in Cameroon when the punishing October rains have stopped but the dusty harmattan wind hasn't yet arrived, leaving skies clear enough to see Mount Cameroon from 80 km (50 miles) away.
- + Hotel rooms in Douala and Yaoundé drop 30-40% after the UN and diplomatic conference season ends in November, making this the cheapest month to stay at the landmark Hilton and Mont Fébé properties.
- + Wildlife viewing peaks in December - the savanna grass around Waza National Park has been cropped short by months of grazing, so elephants, giraffes, and the elusive Kordofan giraffe are visible from 100 m (328 ft) instead of hiding in tall grass.
- + The Atlantic beaches from Limbe to Kribi finally lose their brown runoff color by mid-December, turning that impossible tropical blue that makes the volcanic black sand beaches photograph like postcards.
- − Harmattan dust starts drifting south around December 15th - it's subtle at first, just a hazy film that makes Douala's port cranes fade into the distance. But by Christmas Day you're tasting grit in your throat.
- − December 23rd through January 2nd sees a sudden increase as the Cameroonian diaspora returns for holidays - hotels that were empty December 1st suddenly require booking two weeks ahead.
- − Some rural roads in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions become impassable after 4 PM due to security checkpoints that weren't there in November.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December mornings start cool enough - 19°C (67°F) at the base - that you won't be drenched in sweat by the time you reach Hut 1 at 2,850 m (9,350 ft). The laterite red soil has firmed up after November rains, making the 4-day ascent to 4,095 m (13,435 ft) less slippery. You're above the mosquito line by 1,500 m (4,921 ft), important when malaria rates spike during humid months.
December's clear mornings mean the drill monkeys are active by 7 AM instead of hiding from rain. The center's 75 rescued primates - including the world's rarest gorilla subspecies, the Cross River gorilla - are fed at 9 AM and 3 PM, making these the optimal viewing times. The Atlantic breeze cuts through Limbe's famous humidity, so you won't need the industrial-strength DEET required during wet season.
December is when Baka and Batanga fishermen bring in massive barracuda and red snapper using traditional pirogues painted with spiritual symbols. The river at Lobe Falls - one of Africa's few waterfalls that drops directly into the ocean - runs clear instead of chocolate brown, revealing the granite boulders underneath. Buy fish directly from boats around 4 PM when they return, then watch women smoke it over coconut husks.
December's cooler evenings make walking Mfoundi Market tolerable - you won't be dripping sweat while trying ndefo (fermented cassava) or eru soup with smoked fish. The dry air intensifies smells: wood smoke from grilling plantains, palm oil bubbling with bitterleaf, dried shrimp powder that locals mix with fresh peppers. Markets start winding down by 6 PM instead of staying open until 9 PM during rainy season.
December is harvest season for Arabica coffee grown at 1,400 m (4,593 ft) elevation. The red clay roads are finally dry enough for 4WD access to family farms where beans are still hand-sorted on raised beds. You can taste the difference between December's sun-dried beans versus mechanically dried ones - the natural process gives hints of cocoa and citrus that disappear in commercial processing.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Cameroon's biggest cultural festival happens mid-December in Yaoundé, gathering 3,000 performers from 250 ethnic groups. The opening parade at the 20th May Boulevard features Bamileke feathered masks that tower 3 m (10 ft) high, followed by nights of makossa music that spill into the streets until 3 AM.
Douala's Sawa people stage this ancient ceremony where spiritual leaders dive into the Wouri River to retrieve messages from water spirits. December 15th sees the main procession of dugout canoes painted with white kaolin, accompanied by traditional juju music using instruments made from bamboo and calabash.
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Essential Tips
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Top-rated things to do in Cameroon this December
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