www.bradt-travelguides.com Within the first ten lines author Ben West admits that his initial contact with Cameroon left him with two varieties of malaria, blackwater fever and filariasis. Swiftly recovering from these tropical afflictions, and becoming skilled in future avoidance, he has not yet shaken off an infectious fascination for a country that occupies an important position in West Africa and is so often overlooked by travellers. Bradtأ¢â‚¬â„¢s new title is the first dedicated English language guide to Cameroon and explores its diversity of peoples and landscapes: 275 ethnic groups, Christianity, Islam and Animist religions all meld with official English and French language, some Arabic and 160 African dialects. Cultural diversity is matched by topography ranging from fringes of the Sahara Desert in the north to 20 million hectares of equatorial rainforest in the south and east, with every African landscape in between, including dry grassy plains, volcanic ranges punctuated by crater lakes, rocky mountainous tracts and savannah.

Cameroon provides readers with a wealth of historical background allowing the context in which the latter-day state exists to be more readily understood. Practical information, useful for all travellers, includes getting there by air and overland, together with local transport between towns and cities by bush-taxi, train or car. Natural history, particularly avifauna, is given particular emphasis with a special ornithological section detailing localised bird lists and the inclusion of notes for keen birders from expert Keith Barnes. In-depth explorations of the countryأ¢â‚¬â„¢s primate-rich national parks and Cameroonأ¢â‚¬â„¢s numerous excellent hiking opportunities are also featured, including the ascent of Mt Cameroon (13,500ft) ? West Africaأ¢â‚¬â„¢s highest peak. The section on health reveals a disturbing variety of unfortunate tropical afflictions, though certainly forewarned is forearmed! Accommodation is no less varied though certainly more comfortable, with options from bush camping to villa rental and even mud-hut royal palaces all covered. Finally, West offers prospective visitors some timely advice, "Life in Cameroon, as in the whole of Africa, runs at a slower pace?So slow down, and you?ll take it all in and enjoy it so much more." Ben West is a freelance journalist and guidebook writer who has written on a variety of subjects for newspapers and magazines. His articles have included subjects such as travellersأ¢â‚¬â„¢ health in the tropics. No surprises there then!