Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Buea, Cameroon, capital of the Southwest region, was a German colony during the early 1900s. As it is located at the base of Mount Cameroon, the city holds a comfortable cool climate with just a small hint of humidity.

We started the morning at Heartland, a Western store selling everything from Snickers bars to Pantene Pro-V shampoo. The winning products that filled my basket? Nothing else but peanut butter and Ramen of course!

I wish all taxis had stuffed animals this adorable

We walked up the street to The Strand where Sean Denny ordered the spiciest white bean combination I’ve ever tasted. Note: When in the South of Cameroon, you always need to ask if the food is spicy! It usually is.

On a whim, we decided to head out to the tea plantations towards the beaches of Limbe. Luckily we stumbled upon a tour agency who told us it was only 200CFA (~$.40US) to Mermox Hotel and another 200CFA to the tea plantations. The taxi driver was extremely nice (as were we!) and we convinced him to drive us all the way to the tea plantations no questions asked.

Tea plantations on the way to Limbe

At lunchtime, we headed off to Red Lobster. Yes, there is a Red Lobster here in Cameroon, but no, it’s nothing like the ones in the US! I ordered fried rice and chicken for 1.000CFA (~$2US) before Sean and I headed off the University of Buea.

What impressed me about the University of Buea is that it strikingly resembles an American university from architecture to landscape. There are dorms (though they are for the more “spoiled” children according to Sean’s university friend), lecture halls, and tennis courts. Very impressive down to the wireless internet and all.

Faculty of Arts staff building at the University of Buea

Dorms - This is where the "posh" students live

University's quad

I wish we could have found out what this was for!

The rest of the evening was spent helping the Southwest Peace Corps Volunteers prepare for the HIV/AIDS awareness booth for the Race of Hope Marathon the next day. Can’t wait to see the runners!