Cameroons'  World Heritage

 

Cameroon is one of the older countries of Africa and therefore has a lot of cites that can claim to be labeled as World Heritage Sites. However, as per UN sanctions, only one site has been declared World Heritage Site, while more await the status. There are other heritage sites to visit as well.

The Heritage Sites in Cameroon are:

Dja Faunal Reserve: This is a Natural World Heritage Site. Covering the South Eastern part of the country, this national park is one of the largest and best protected rain forests in the country. With about 90% of the area still undisturbed and bordered naturally by the Dja river the bio diversity and wide variety of primates from this reserve deserve special mention. Along with 5 threatened species, there are 107 mammal species in this reserve.

La Chefferie De Bafut: A requested Cultural World Heritage Site, this site is located near Bamenda. This area has about 50 buildings, most of which are terracotta structures, with tiled roofs. The central structure known as “Achum” is architecturally and religiously most important. This counts among one of the oldest traditional architectures in Cameroon.

Archeological Remains of Shum Laka: This site under the shelter of a huge rock of 1200 sq m lies close to Bamenda. An archeological heritage site has remnants of a typical forest land, where skeletal remnants of men living thousands of years ago were unearthed. Belonging to the Community of Baforchu, this site gives a view of how mankind evolved in this part of the world.

The Rupestral Engravings of Bidzar: Located on the road Maroua – Garoua lays a marble field with about 130 sq km of Cipolin outcrop. The flagstone comprises marble engravings of diagrammatic representations. These geometric diagrams have been proven to be man made and some are as old as 3000 years.

The Diy-Gid-Biy of the Mandara Mount: Meaning ‘Eye of the Chief at top', this archeological site is made of dry stone. This structure indicates that area had been inhabited more than three centuries ago by some tribes other than the ones which inhabit the land today. It is an architectural heritage.

Falls of the Lobe: 310 km from Yaoundé this falls is characterized by a whole set of small arms progressing in a series of smaller falls, some as high as 15 m and as broad as 100m, directly falling into the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Along the series of falls a large number of tribal populations can be found to reside.

National Park of Korup: Created in 1986, this park in located in the southern parts of the country. It is characterized by heavy rainfall. The four types of vegetation particular to this forest are - The Atlantic forest biafrèene, the marshy forest, the forest submontagnarde and the forest of piedmont. It houses 1700 species of plant, 410 species of birds representing 53 families, 480 species of butterflies, 82 reptilian species and 161 species of mammals.

Limbe Botanical and Zoological Garden: Internationally recognized as one of the most active gardens in tropical West and Central Africa, this garden as a natural gateway to the Mount Cameroon region.

Mount Cameroon: Located in Southwest Province of Cameroon, this active volcanic mountain is the highest in the West and Central Africa. Supporting Montane tropical forests and about 150,000 hectares of lowland, it is home to vast reserves of biodiversity.


Babungo Museum: Once the most important iron work centre in Cameroon, o bjects from the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Babungo are preserved in this museum. The art objects are clear indications of the various aspects of social life and the artistic heritage of the kingdom. Although a whole range of objects were not available for preservation, the remainings still talk of the rich tradition and heritage of the Babungos.

Musa Heritage Gallery: Named in the memory of Cameroonian artists Daniel and his son John Musa, this heritage gallery preserves works of the artists and then spread further to cover the arts and crafts of Cameroons westerns Grassfields. Over 400 diverse and varied objects are collected and preserved in the museum.

Mankon Museum: The cultural and artistic production of the Kingdom of Mankon of the high plateaux of Western Cameroon or the Grassland is preserved in this museum. The artifacts and objects demonstrated speak volumes about the culture of the kingdom and how it has contributed to the culture of the country. The objects speak a lot about their users and the usage.

Mefou National Park: Situated about an hour and a half away from the capital city, this national park covers about 1044 hectares of forest land. It houses chimps, gorillas, baboons and various other species of monkeys.

Museum of Bandjoun: Bandjoun was one of the important centres of artistic creation and tradition in the Cameroonian Grassland and the museum exhibits over a hundred important objects depicting this cultural heritage. Rare and wonderful remnants symbolizing African art can be seen in the museum.

Waza National Park: This park is the most accessible and rewarding wildlife viewing experience of Cameroon. Large numbers of elephants, giraffes, hippos, antelopes, monkeys and abundant birdlife welcome the visitors to this natural reserve. With some luck and a very early start, one can even have the good fortune of meeting a lion within the premises of the park.

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