Cameroon: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Cameroon is a country in Central Africa, where West and Central Africa meet, with a coastline on the Gulf of Guinea. Its capital is Yaoundé, and about 29 million people live there. Cameroon is often called 'Africa in miniature' because it has almost every kind of African landscape: beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, savannas and dry Sahel land near Lake Chad.

On My Earth Toy you can see the Reunification Monument in Yaoundé, a tall spiral tower built to celebrate the joining of the French- and English-speaking parts of the country. Look out for the Goliath frog too, the biggest frog in the world.

Geography and nature

The south is covered by thick rainforest, home to gorillas, chimpanzees and forest elephants. Near the coast rises Mount Cameroon, an active volcano about 4,040 metres high, the tallest mountain in West and Central Africa. The centre is a high plateau, and the far north is hot, dry savanna reaching Lake Chad. In fast rivers of the southwest lives the Goliath frog, whose body can grow over 30 centimetres long.

People, languages and culture

Cameroon has more than 250 ethnic groups and languages. English and French are both official languages, a legacy of colonial times, and many people also speak Cameroonian Pidgin English. Christianity and Islam are the main religions. Makossa and bikutsi are popular music styles. Ndolé, a stew of bitter leaves with peanuts and fish or meat, is a national dish. The football team, the Indomitable Lions, is famous across Africa.

History in a nutshell

The Sao civilisation flourished around Lake Chad long ago. Portuguese sailors reached the coast in the 1400s and named a river 'Rio dos Camarões', meaning 'river of prawns', which gave the country its name. Germany colonised the area in 1884. After World War I it was split between France and Britain. French Cameroon became independent in 1960, and in 1961 the southern part of British Cameroons joined it to form one country.