Metche Falls

The Metche river drops into a narrow gorge south-west of Bafoussam, a fall of some tens of metres into a dark basin enclosed by rock and forest, and it is a striking place in its own right. It is also a site of memory: people were killed here during the violence of the years around independence, and the falls are treated locally as a place of remembrance, with commemorations held and a memorial established. Visitors are expected to be aware of that and to behave accordingly rather than treating the gorge purely as scenery. Access is on a rough track with a guide from the nearby community, and the path to the viewpoint is steep.

What you actually see

• The fall into its gorge - the drop into the enclosed rock basin.
• A place of remembrance - the memorial character of the site.
• Dense forest in the ravine - the vegetation along the walls.
• Community guides - the local people who take visitors down.

When to go

June to October, when the river is full. Half a day. Go with a guide from the community, and ask about what is appropriate at the site before arriving.

Honest expectations

This is a place of mourning for people in the area and visitors who treat it as a photo stop cause offence. The track and path are rough and steep. There are no facilities. Flow is much reduced in the dry season.

Nearby

Bafoussam is north-east; Bandjoun lies south.