AfricaCameroonCentre
Yaoundé
Centre, Cameroon · Africa
About Yaoundé
Yaoundé sits on the route: 30 minutes from Okoa.
Yaoundé is in Centre, Cameroon, with about 1.3 million people. The nearest town is Okoa, about 16 km away.
Yaoundé (UK: ; US: , French pronunciation: [ja.unde]) is the capital city of Cameroon. It has a population of more than 2.8 million, which makes it the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region of the nation at an elevation of about 750 metres (2,500 ft) above seaRead more
level.
The outpost of Epsumb or Jeundo was founded between the Nyong and Sanaga rivers at the northern edge of the area's forests in 1887 by German explorers as a trading base for rubber and ivory. A military garrison was built in 1895 which enabled further colonization. After Imperial Germany's defeat in World War I, France held eastern Cameroon as a mandate, and Yaoundé was chosen to become the capital of the colony in 1922.
Douala remained the more important settlement, but Yaoundé saw rapid growth and continued as the seat of government for the Republic of Cameroon upon its independence in 1960. Most of Yaoundé's economy is still centred on the administrative structure but major industries in Yaoundé include tobacco, dairy products, beer, clay, glass goods and timber. The city has many striking monuments and buildings, such as the Presidential Palace and Palais des Congrès.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Yaoundé?
Yaoundé is in Centre, Cameroon, about 16 km from Okoa.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,299,369
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- Cameroon
- Region
- Centre
- Timezone
- Africa/Douala
- Coordinates
- 3.8667, 11.5167
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When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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