Yaounde is the capital of Cameroon and the second largest city after the city of Douala. Yaounde is located 750 meters above sea level in the center of the country.
Yaounde is located in the south of the country. The city is located close to the Gulf of Guinea.
When did Yaounde Become the Capital?
Yaoundé was founded in 1888 by German merchants as a center for ivory trade and a research center for agriculture. It was occupied by Belgian soldiers during World War I, and after the war became the capital of French Cameroon. After the establishment of the Republic of Cameroon, it continued to be the capital. Thus, the source of the country’s capital has grown throughout history.
Features of Yaounde
Yaounde has a population of 2,765,600 according to 2015 estimates. Yaounde has a surface area of 180 square kilometers. Yaounde is a typical tropical climate. Because there is not much variation in temperatures. However, it is a city with long-term rainfall. Rainfall occurs between February and November. The average annual temperature in the city is 25 degrees Celsius.
Its economy has been developed with tobacco, dairy products, beer, clay, glass products, and timber industry. It is also the regional distributor in the field of coffee, cocoa, dried coconuts, sugar cane, and rubber. The local people living outside the city center are engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.
City transportation is provided by buses in Yaounde. In addition, local residents prefer shared taxis. The city is also convenient for walking. Country cuisine includes regional differences. However, the habit that is common throughout the country is a one-way meal with a large portion. The most commonly used ingredients in food are cocoyam, corn, cassava, millet, wild banana, potato, rice, which are a tropical plant, and are usually filled into a dough called fufu. The main dishes in this way are served with a sauce, a soup or green plants, groundnuts, palm oil, and a stew.
Meat, chicken and fish are popular but expensive, so they are consumed on special occasions. Country dishes are often bitter and salty. Some restaurants also have interesting dishes such as roasted ants and grasshoppers. In the past, such interesting products include snakes, chimpanzees, antelopes, or gorillas. However, with a 2003 law, these products were banned.
Important Places to See in Yaounde
Like all capitals in African states, things in Yaounde are limited. However, the city is much safer than most African capitals. Mvog-Betsi Zoo Yaoundé is located in Cameroon and is managed by the Ministry of Fauna and Forests (MINFOF), formerly the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MINEF). The zoo has a wide variety of wealth. There are many kinds of animals such as big cats, reptiles and hunter birds. The NGO, Ape Action Africa, has been responsible for the protection of monkeys and primates. One of the best zoos in West Africa, Mvog-Betsi is the main place to visit.
The Cameroon Art Museum, whose original name is Musée d’Art Camerounais, offers visitors an excellent introduction to the history, art, and culture of the country. The magnificent collection includes bowls, masks, reliefs, wood works, bronzes and many more. It is located in the building of an old Benedictine monastery in the district of Febe.
The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Victoires is a building that is connected to the Roman Catholic Church and serves as the central cathedral of the Yaounde Metropolitan Archdiocese. Located in the very center of the city, the cathedral is very easy to access with its location in the vicinity of the post office.