Bamenda

Bamenda lies at the foot of a long escarpment in the North-West highlands, with the older upper town on the plateau above and the main commercial town spread on the plain below, and the road down the escarpment gives the view that everyone photographs: the whole town laid out under the cliff with hills beyond. It is an English-speaking town and the centre of the North-West grassfields, with markets, a handicraft cooperative selling carving, weaving and beadwork from the surrounding chiefdoms, and roads out to the Ring Road that circles the highlands past palaces, crater lakes and hill villages.

What you actually see

• The escarpment viewpoint - the town seen from the road above.
• The handicraft cooperative - carving, weaving and beadwork from the chiefdoms.
• Upper and lower town - the settlement split by the cliff.
• The start of the Ring Road - the route around the North-West highlands.

When to go

The dry season, November to February. A day, or as a base. The escarpment road is best in the morning before cloud builds.

Honest expectations

The North-West region has experienced serious disruption in recent years and travel there has been restricted; check current official guidance and local conditions carefully before planning any trip. Roads are rough and services can be interrupted.

Nearby

The Ring Road runs north; Bafoussam lies south.