Ndawara Tea Estate

Ndawara lies on the high grassland north-west of Bamenda at around two thousand metres, where the cool wet climate suits tea, and a plantation was developed there that grew into one of the largest tea estates in Cameroon, covering a wide area of hillside with the rows of clipped bushes that make tea country recognisable anywhere. Alongside the tea the estate runs cattle and other agriculture. The landscape is the reason to make the drive: rolling green ridges with plantation on the slopes, high open country beyond, and mist moving across it for much of the day. Access is by rough track and any visit to the estate itself needs arranging beforehand.

What to look for

• Clipped tea rows on the hillsides - the plantation across the ridges.
• High grassland at two thousand metres - the country around the estate.
• Mist over the ridges - the climate the tea depends on.
• Working agriculture - tea, cattle and mixed farming on the estate.

When to go

November to February in the dry season, when tracks are passable. Half a day. Visits to the estate must be arranged in advance; it is a private working operation.

Good to know

This is a private estate, not an attraction, and access is not automatic. Tracks are rough and need a capable vehicle.

Nearby

Bamenda is south-east; the Ring Road runs south.