2025 shows a feeding trough at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia
Pushed through the "Gate of No Return," thousands of Africans were shipped from the Port of Slaves in Bimbia
to a life of slavery in Europe and the Americas
with fishing boats drifting on the sea beside a mangrove-lined beach
Bimbia harbors a brutal past as one of the busiest hubs for slave traders from the 17th to 19th centuries
Enslaved Africans captured inland were held in dungeons for weeks or months until the arrival of slave ships
said the conditions in the dungeons were grim
"About 100 to 200 chained slaves were crammed into dark
"The slave masters would pray to God in the church upstairs and then descend to the dungeons to torture and kill slaves and rape women
and the site has become a sacred place of remembrance
such as the chains and dungeons where enslaved people were kept
According to a report by French media outlet France 24
more than 8,000 African Americans have identified their origins as Cameroonian
with ancestors who likely departed from the Bimbia slave port
Among them is renowned music producer Quincy Jones
African Americans regularly visit the site to connect with their ancestors who were sold into slavery
As the world marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on Tuesday
the people of Bimbia continue to grapple with slavery's inhumanity and are determined to preserve the site
an 81-year-old lifelong resident of Bimbia
lives about a kilometer from the slave trade site
"The Bimbia slave trade heritage is part of history
she acted in plays about the plight of enslaved people when tourists visited the site
it was very emotional because it made us remember the suffering of our ancestors," she added
the centuries-old Bimbia slave trade site is a deeply symbolic monument of "our collective historical experience."
"It serves as a reminder of a painful yet decisive period in our history
It tells of the wickedness of man toward man," said the 38-year-old
who was buying fish from fishermen near the site
While some advocate for its development to attract tourists
many locals fear that any major project could compromise its authenticity
a respected traditional leader of Bonangombe
one of the three villages that make up Bimbia
the site became a point of contention between a local company and the community
The company claimed it had received government approval to restructure and develop the site
including building a monument to commemorate this dark chapter of human history
vowing to resist any attempt to alter the site
Any development should take place outside the site," said Musuka
and you cannot take a mother from her children
Trying to develop or alter the site is like leading a group of people toward extinction," added 46-year-old Oscar Menken
the Cameroonian government declared Bimbia a National Cultural Heritage site and has since been working toward securing its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
"We have been informed time and again that if we change the nature of the site
That is why it has remained as it was," said Nseke Dibotti Luma
any development plans have been put on hold
and the dream of transforming Bimbia into a flourishing ecotourism and World Heritage Site remains uncertain
Often described as a "forgotten historical site of the slave trade," hidden deep in the rainforest
many hope Bimbia will not be lost to history
2025 shows the "Gate of No Return" at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia
2025 shows the remains of the building that served as a passageway and prison for slaves before their boarding
at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia
2025 shows the remains of a palm oil factory where slaves were subjected to forced labor
2025 shows a plaque indicating the Slavery Weighing and Inspection Station at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia
You don't have permission to access the page you requested
What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed
found with deep wounds from a machete attack
has required urgent medical attention from our long-term partners at Limbe Wildlife Centre
Mbolle-Annalies is now recovering (c) Limbe Wildlife Centre
Despite all she has endured, Mbolle-Annalies is a remarkably trusting and kind chimpanzee. Found with terrible wounds in western Cameroon and thought to be an ex-pet, thanks to the swift intervention and expertise of Born Free’s colleagues at Limbe Wildlife Centre
the youngster is now on the road to recovery
The adolescent female chimpanzee was discovered near a village on the outskirts of Bakossi National Park
in western Cameroon – a hotspot for biodiversity including chimpanzees
sent to Limbe Wildlife Centre from local wildlife officials
showed Mbolle’s familiarity around people – which led their team to suspect she’d been kept as a pet
the youngster was found to have deep cuts on her arms and legs – probably caused by a machete
Mbolle was immediately transferred to the Limbe Wildlife Centre for urgent medical attention
“Our dedicated veterinary team conducted an extensive five-hour surgery to address her injuries,” explains their Fundraising & Communications Manager Laura Praill
we remain vigilant in monitoring her recovery to assess any long-term mobility issues she may face because of the attack.”
plays a crucial role in rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife affected by illegal bushmeat and pet trades in Cameroon
Born Free has supported their life-saving work since 2004
not least helping care for orphaned chimps
it’s likely Mbolle had witnessed her entire family being killed for their meat
then was sold as an infant to be kept as a pet
“As part of Mbolle’s ongoing rehabilitation
we recognise the crucial role of her psychological well-being,” Laura explains
we are committed to implementing a comprehensive enrichment programme tailored to meet her needs
This includes diverse activities such as foraging tasks
which are designed to encourage natural behaviours and promote recovery
“Thank you to Born Free and all supporters for your continued support and trust in our mission at Limbe Wildlife Centre
The care and rehabilitation of chimpanzees like Mbolle-Annalies is only possible because of the dedication of partners like Born Free.”
Laura also shared a wonderful update on Chinoise
a playful and cheeky 12-year-old chimpanzee
who Born Free has helped look after since her rescue in 2013
Chinoise is especially close to another rescued chimp called Jojo
Limbe Wildlife Centre is currently undertaking a significant expansion project
CHIMPANZEE CONSERVATION LIMBE WILDLIFE CENTRE
Unveiling Tomorrow's Cameroon Through Today's News
Delegate of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education (MINJEC) in Limbe
was found hanged in his office on Thursday morning
leaving behind a troubling note that raises many questions
The discovery of his body has plunged the local community into shock and concern as the circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery
Freddy left a handwritten note saying: "I DON'T KNOW WHAT I GOT MYSELF INTO
I DID THIS TO PROTECT MY FAMILY." These words
hint at a situation of intense distress but do not provide clear answers about what drove him to take his own life
no definitive information has been released about the true reasons for this death
authorities do not rule out the possibility of a disguised crime
A thorough investigation has been launched to clarify the circumstances surrounding this tragedy
was known for his dedication to serving the youth and promoting civic education
His colleagues and close ones remember him as a committed professional and a loving family man
His sudden death leaves a significant void in his community and raises many questions
local authorities are calling for calm and vigilance
They encourage anyone with information that could shed light on this case to come forward
This tragedy underscores the importance of mental health and the need to support those going through difficult times
Freddy's death is a heavy blow for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education in Limbe
and more broadly for the Cameroonian community
his colleagues and close ones hope to obtain answers and pay tribute to his memory appropriately
Freddy's death raises crucial questions about the pressures and challenges faced by public servants and community leaders
It is essential to redouble efforts to ensure their well-being and provide them with the necessary support to prevent such tragedies in the future
Cameroon’s Societe Nationale de Raffinage SA (Sonara) has let a contract to a consortium of French firms Suez SA
and Ingenica to provide technology licensing
and construction for a project to modernize and expand the effluent treatment plant of its 2.1 million-tonne/year refinery in Limbe
As part of its scope of work under the contract
Suez will equip the plant with its proprietary Poseidon technology for pretreating refinery effluent
The joint consortium also will build a 18,500-cu m storm basin designed to collect polluted rainwater before treatment to prevent runoff of surface water containing high levels of hydrocarbons
Scheduled to be completed in September 2018
the modernized effluent plant will be able to treat 9,600 cu m/day of industrial water and rainwater at the site
Suez said its share of the total €22-million contract will amount to about €6 million
As part of its program to improve fuel production and maximize processing of crude produced in Cameroon
Sonara also is executing an ongoing project to expand capacity of the refinery to 3.5 million tpy
Alongside addition of a new vacuum distillation and hydrocracking units
the expansion will include revamps of existing units
Sonara has yet to release a definitive timeframe for when it will commission the fully expanded refinery
Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected]
The Clinton Health Access Initiative with funding from Unitaid is preparing to implement a liquid oxygen (LOX) supply chain model in order to explore the effectiveness of an alternative supply chain in Douala to supplement existing oxygen sources
This supply chain comprises sourcing LOX from a cost-effective source
trucking/shipping it to Limbe Teaching Hospital
transfilling it into a bulk liquid storage tank
and then using the LOX in a newly procured VIE system (bulk liquid storage tank
vaporizer and pressure regulation devices)
CHAI invites interested and capable vendors to submit bids for the supply of one or more of the following products required for the supply scheme proposed above: medical LOX delivered to a selected facility
and maintenance of the VIE system as detailed in specification package (Annex B) of this ITB
and CHAI code of conduct and ethics for suppliers in Annex C for guidance
Download the RFP
Download Annex A
Download Annex B
Download Annex C
Quotations submitted after the deadline will not be considered
All products must be assessed against CHAI’s quality and procurement policy as described in Annex C
Vendors may be requested to submit additional information and/or cooperate with a site visit from CHAI to the production site prior to finalizing a purchase order
Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress
Metrics details
Malaria and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection constitute public health problems in Cameroon including the South West Region (SWR)
This study determined the prevalence of malaria parasites and haematological abnormalities in HIV positive patients in Limbe
The study was cross-sectional and involved 411 participants who were administered structured questionnaires to record socio-demographic and clinical data
Three hundred and nine (309) HIV positive patients and one hundred and two (102) HIV negative individuals were examined clinically and venous blood collected for malaria parasite detection
HIV infection diagnosis and full blood count analysis
Overall malaria parasite prevalence was 14.1% (58/411)
This prevalence was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the HIV negative participants (33.3%
34/102) compared to the HIV positive patients (7.8%
malaria parasite prevalence was significantly higher in female patients (P = 0.003)
anaemic patients (P = 0.015) and in patients who were not on antiretroviral treatment (ART) (P = 0.03) when compared with their respective counterparts
malaria parasite prevalence was higher in females
febrile and anaemic patients when compared with their respective counterparts
Overall anaemia prevalence was 52.1% (214/309) and was significantly higher (P = 0.004) in HIV positive patients (56%
173) than in HIV negative participants (40.2%
Malaria/HIV co-infected patients had a significantly lower mean value of Hb (P = 0.002)
RBC (P = 0.002) and Hct (P = 0.001) when compared with HIV-infected patients
HIV negative participants had a higher prevalence of malaria parasites than their HIV positive counterparts
Anaemia prevalence was higher in HIV positive patients than in HIV negative participants
Malaria/HIV co-infected patients presented with more red blood cell abnormalities than HIV-infected patients
there are 141 new HIV infections per day in Cameroon
which means six newly infected persons each hour
Considering the enormous impact of these diseases on each other in the affected individuals
it is necessary to constantly generate epidemiological data on them in different settings in order to ascertain the likely changes in these parameters
The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of malaria parasites and malaria/HIV co-infections as well as to assess the variation in haematological parameters in malaria infected patients and HIV/malaria coinfected patients attending the Regional Hospital Limbe
Its climate is typically equatorial with annual rainfall exceeding 4000 mm
temperatures ranging from 23 °C to 32 °C and 80% relative humidity as reported by the Cameroon Development Corporation
Limbe is characterised by two distinct seasons; a rainy season running from mid-March to October and a dry season running from November to mid-March
The study participants included HIV positive patients registered at the Voluntary Counselling Testing and Treatment Centre of the RHL and presumed HIV negative individuals presenting themselves at the Out Patient Department of the hospital for consultation during the study period
Participants were recruited irrespective of their age
and with or without malaria-related signs and symptoms
Only those who gave their consent for blood collection and answered the questionnaire were enrolled in the study
This cross-sectional study was conducted from March–June
An information sheet and a brief talk were given to the participants
explaining the objectives and benefits of the study
Participants were then invited to participate in the study by signing an informed consent form
In the case of children (≤ 16 years) their parents signed a proxy consent form on their behalf
a clinical examination was carried out followed by the administration of structured questionnaires to the participants
HIV-sero-negative individuals were persons at the hospital Out Patient Department who consented to be screened for HIV during the process and who tested negative for HIV
the malaria prevalence in HIV patients on ART and those not on ARV
The optimum sample size calculated was n = 380
The Determine Rapid Test Kit (Abott Laboratories
Tokyo Japan) was used to test the supposed HIV negative subjects for HIV-1
Test results were read after 15 min from corresponding colour changes on the strip according to the manufacturer’s instructions
All HIV positive results by the test kit were confirmed using the HIV-1 and 2 BISPOT assay (ORGENICS
After bringing all components of the test kit and plasma samples to room temperature
50 μL of each specimen and controls was dispensed into separate wells of row A of the developing plate and gently mixed
The comb was then introduced into the wells of row A and incubated for 10 min
The comb was later introduced into other wells serially with incubation and results were read by recognition of black dots on the comb teeth
In the overall population, participants not using insecticide treated nets (ITNs) had a higher prevalence of malaria parasites (16%, 26) than those who used ITNs (12.9%, 32), but the difference was not significant (χ2 = 0.57, P = 0.27). Participants using IRS as their preventive measure had a non-statistically higher prevalence of malaria parasites (16.3%, 17) than those not using it (13.4%, 41).
Malaria parasite prevalence with respect to implementation of malaria preventive measures
With respect to anaemia severity, 51.9% (111) of the anaemic patients had mild anaemia, 42.5% (91) had moderate anaemia and 5.9% (12) had severe anaemia in the overall study population.
Mean Haemoglobin level (g/dl) with respect to HIV status
This decrease could be as a result of the sustained malaria control strategies put in place by the Cameroon government over the past years both in HIV positive and HIV negative population
These strategies include the sensitization campaigns on how to better use LLINs
free distribution of ART to patients together with cotrimoxazole
increased number of care and treatment centers for HIV/AIDS patients and the use of Artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT) as recommended by World Health Organization
That is the case with Cameroon where cotrimoxazole is continuously given to all HIV patients irrespective of their viral suppression levels
especially when the weather is hot and during farm work
those who implemented two different preventive measures against malaria had the lowest malaria parasite prevalence
This is an indication that combination different preventive measures against malaria helps to better combat this infection
This finding give credit to the efficiency of possible integrated vector control measures against malaria
This aspect needs to be encouraged among both HIV positive and HIV negative individuals and emphasis made to HIV positive patients during their daily lectures at the HIV Centre
This can be attributed to the combined effects of RBC destruction caused by the malaria parasites and the administration of Zidovudine which has been reported to cause anaemia
malaria parasite prevalence was higher in HIV negative than in HIV positive participants attending the Regional Hospital Limbe
The prevalence of anaemia was high in the overall population and was the main haematological abnormality observed amongst HIV positive patients
Hct) were significantly different between malaria/HIV co-infected patients and HIV-infected patients
These findings also revealed that malaria may not be the primary cause of haematological abnormalities in these patients
a community-based cross-sectional study needs to be carried out to have a clear picture of the malaria parasite prevalence of HIV negative subjects in the community; which could be later on compared with their HIV positive counterparts
The study had as limitation the fact that both categories of participants visited the hospital for different reasons; one to seek for medical attention at the OPD while the other for normal routine follow-up
So these different reasons to some extend could have contributed to the difference in malaria prevalence and other clinical parameters
prospective studies with large sample size from other settings are needed to substantiate these findings
All datasets on which the conclusions of the research rely are presented in this paper
data is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration
Office for Institutional HIV Co-ordination
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
World Health Organization. World Malaria Report 2018. http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/world-malaria-report-2018/en/ 2018
Malaria prevalence and treatment of febrile patients at health facilities and medicine retailers in Cameroon
Ossono EN, Fosso MY, Missoko P. HIV AIDS in Cameroon-An update, 2013. The Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation. https://www.foretiafoundation.org/hiv-aids-in-cameroon-an-update/ 2013
Effect of HIV-1 antiretroviral drugs on cytoadherence and phagocytic clearance of Plasmodium falciparum parasitized erythrocytes
Manyanga VP, Minzi O, Ngasala B. Prevalence of malaria and anaemia among HIV infected pregnant women receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in Tanzania: a cross sectional study in Kinondoni municipality. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2014;15:24. https://doi.org/10.1186/2025-6511-15-24
Kimbi HK, Njoh DT, Ndamukong KJN, Lehman LG. Malaria in HIV/AIDS patients at different CD4 T cell levels in Limbe, Cameroon. J Bacteriol Parasitol. 2013;4:164. https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9597.1000164
Low malaria prevalence in HIV-positive patients in Bamenda
HIV/AIDS and malaria in pregnant women from Cameroon short running title: HIV
Stage-specific susceptibility of human erythroblasts to Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection
Haematological and clinical indices of malaria in a semi-immune population of western Thailand
Impact of malaria on haematological parameters in people living with HIV/AIDS attending the Laquintinine Hospital in Douala
Profile of haematological abnormalities of Indian HIV infected individuals
United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (UCCC), National Bureau. http://www.cvuc.cm/national/index.php/en 2014
The design and analysis of research studies
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1992
District laboratory practice in tropical countries part1 and 2
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2009
and malarial anaemia in children at presentation to hospital in the Mount Cameroon Area: A cross-sectional study
World Health Organization. World Malaria Report 2018. Cameroon, African Region https://www.who.int/malaria/publications/country-profiles/profile_cmr_en.pdf?ua=1 2018
Higher prevalence of HIV and malaria co-infection in urban Douala
Burden of malaria among adult patients attending general medical outpatient department and HIV care and treatment clinics in Oromia
Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study
Epidemiology of malaria in HIV infected Ugandan patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) – a prospective cohort study
Malarial infection among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and not on ART: a case study of Federal Medical Centre Makurdi
Prevalence and predictors of malaria in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients in Beira
Guidelines on Postexposure Prophylaxis for HIV and the Use of Co-Trimoxazole Prophylaxis for HIV-Related Infections among Adults
Adolescents and Children: Recommendations for a Public Health Approach
Bouyou-Akotet M, Offouga C, Mawili-Mboumba D, Essola L, Madoungou B, Kombila M. Falciparum malaria as an emerging cause of fever in adults living in Gabon, Central Africa. Biomed Res Int. 2014:Article ID 351281. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/351281
Ebai CB, Kimbi HK, Sumbele IUN, Yunga JE, Lehman LG. Epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Ikata-Likoko area of Mount Cameroon: a cross sectional study. Int J Trop Dis Health. 2016;16:1–12. https://doi.org/10.9734/IJTDH/2016/25890
Malaria infection in HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative individuals in Jos-Nigeria
Malaria and haematologic parameters of pupils at different altitudes along the slope of Mount Cameroon: a cross-sectional study
Kimbi HK, Nana Y, Sumbele IN, Anchang-Kimbi JK, Lum E, et al. Environmental factors and preventive methods against malaria parasite prevalence in rural Bomaka and urban Molyko, Southwest Cameroon. J Bacteriol Parasitol. 2013;4:162. https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9597.1000162
Factors associated with use and non-use of mosquito nets owned in Oromia and Amhara regional states
Risk factors for presentation to hospital with severe anaemia in Tanzanian children: a case–control study
Malaria infection in pregnancy and its effects on haemoglobin levels in women from a malaria endemic area of Fako Division
usage and malaria transmission in the highlands of western Kenya
Blake M, Sherer R. Management of the adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy and medication adherence. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;30(Suppl 2):S96–116. https://doi.org/10.1086/313859
Malaria infection and anaemia in HIV-infected children in Mutengene
Southwest Cameroon: a cross sectional study
Ojurongbe O, Oyeniran O, Alli O, Taiwo S, Ojurongbe T, Olowe A, Opaleye O, Adeyeba O. Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum Parasitaemia and its correlation with haematological parameters among HIV-Positive individuals in Nigeria. J Trop Med Hyg. 2014:Article ID 161284. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/161284
Some haematological parameters in Plasmodial parasitized HIV-infected Nigerians
Comparative study on the haematological characteristics of malaria infected and malaria non-infected persons referred to art/HIV laboratory
Sahle T, Yemane T, Gedefaw L. Effect of malaria infection on haematological profiles of people living with human immunodeficiency virus in Gambella, Southwest Ethiopia. BMC Hematol. 2017;17:2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12878-017-0072-1
Download references
The authors are so grateful to the participants (both children and adults) who took part in the study as well as to the staff of the Voluntary
Testing and Treatment Center (VCTTC) and the laboratory of the Regional Hospital Limbe for letting the practical aspect of this study go on smoothly with no incidents
for their guidance and critical comments concerning the care given to their patients
This work was supported by the special fund for research and modernization given to authors by the Government of Cameroon
the authors conveniently designed the work
The funds supported transportation to the field for sample collection
purchase of supplies and equipment for sample analyses
Interpretation of the data and writing of the manuscript were done by the authors
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology
data collection and analysis as well as the write-up of the manuscript
participated in data analysis and revision of the manuscript
interview of the participants and data analysis
data collection and analysis and revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content
All authors read and approved the manuscript
an administrative clearance was obtained from the South West Regional Delegation of Public Health
followed by an ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Board hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Buea (2014-07-0293/UB/FHS/IRB)
Inform consent and assent forms were given and explained to the adult participants and parents/guardians of children (≤16 years) at presentation
All participants were informed about the objective and benefits of the study
The amount of blood to be collected from each participant was clearly stated on the consent/assent forms
Only participants who gave written consent or assent for children took part in the study
Pre- and post-HIV counselling was done by competent personnel
All test procedures were done free of charge with confidentiality maintained
Participants could ask questions and their decisions not to participate in the study were fully respected and this did not affect the services provided to them in any way
They were also free to withdraw from the study at any time that they wished
All information collected from the field remained strictly confidential
The authors declare that they have no competing interests
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
Socio-demographic and clinical data of the participants
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-4629-4
Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:
a shareable link is not currently available for this article
The impacts of Malawi’s balance-of-trade crisis were visible in late March even to an infrequent Western visitor who could afford to stay at an upscale hotel
Certain items on the room service menu were consistently out of stock
while getting around Lilongwe required queuing for gasoline and hoping the petrol station would not run dry before the driver reached the pump
Because Malawi imports more goods and services than it exports
it suffers a chronic shortage of hard currency
the latest year for which figures are available
the country’s import bill was $2.8 billion
according to the National Statistics Office
many foreign-made goods were simply unavailable
For Malawi’s well-heeled international guests
the shortages represent mere inconveniences
they will be able to generously make up for the missed food items and travel without worrying about fuel
the trade deficit represents a real problem
the dearth of foreign currency prevented the nation from importing enough fertilizer for its Maize and other crops this year
spelling trouble for food security and social cohesion
While Malawi was peaceful during Tobacco Reporter’s visit in late March
“It’s coming,” warned an industry veteran
One cause of Malawi’s economic problems is the fact that it relies too heavily on a single commodity
Tobacco accounts for between 12 percent and 15 percent of Malawi’s gross domestic product and between 40 percent and 70 percent of export earnings
depending on who you ask and on the season
Cultivation alone employs nearly half a million people
Those figures make Malawi the world’s most tobacco-dependent country
They also leave Malawi vulnerable to factors outside its control
including climate change and global cigarette sales
and you will see how people’s lives change when the tobacco markets open,” says Nixon Lita
describing the influx of cash at the start of each selling season
they are acutely aware that the industry should start preparing for a future with less tobacco
especially as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control measures to discourage cigarette consumption start to bite
Malawi tobacco growers benefit from structured markets
which give them access to customers worldwide
Such infrastructure does not exist for many of the country’s other commodities
The video shows leaf being auctioned at the Lilongwe sales floors
stakeholders have stepped up efforts to develop other sectors
Originally established to represent only tobacco farmers
the organization is now helping its members produce other crops as well
Tobacco merchants such as Limbe Leaf Tobacco Co
(LLTC) and Alliance One Tobacco Malawi (AOTM)
Leveraging their existing farmer-support structures
they are now also disseminating inputs and agronomic advice for nontobacco crops to their contracted growers
Another big push comes from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW)
nonprofit organization that is funded by annual gifts from PMI Global Services
Established to “end smoking in this generation,” the FSFW focuses its grantmaking and charitable activities in three categories: health and science research aimed at helping smokers quit or switch to less harmful products
industry transformation and agricultural diversification
The foundation’s agricultural diversification objectives include ensuring that smallholder farmers in Malawi impacted by the declining demand for tobacco are supported to find sustainable alternative livelihoods
the FSFW has made grants to set up two institutions—the Centre for Agricultural Transformation (CAT)
an independent agricultural policy think tank that conducts research to inform and improve agricultural-related policies
FSFW vice president and country director in Malawi
stresses the importance of developing multiple value chains simultaneously
“We should not make the same mistake as with tobacco by developing just one,” she says
Nakhumwa urges Malawi to prioritize both exports and import substitution
“We are spending precious foreign exchange on importing things that we should be producing domestically,” she says
we can make cooking oil from soya beans or sunflower and use that as an import substitute.” Soya beans and sunflower
along with traditional Malawi crops such as groundnuts
Malawi will need to replicate some of the factors that have allowed tobacco to thrive
notably infrastructure and a deliberate focus on productivity
the Malawi government gave lots of support to tobacco at the expense of other crops that also had potential
the markets for those other value chains remain underdeveloped
“The fact that tobacco has a structured market in Malawi
with auction floors and contracting companies
means that leaf growers have access to buyers worldwide—something that is not necessarily the case for producers of other crops,” says Nakhumwa
producers of nontobacco crops will simply be trading in Malawi kwacha instead of earning hard currency on the global market
A structured market also gives confidence to financiers
“Tobacco farmers are not paid in cash; they receive their payments through the bank—so the lenders know they will recover whatever they loaned to the farmer,” says Nakhumwa
Access to finance in turn means access to agricultural inputs
tobacco has benefited from research and agronomic advice
both through the leaf merchants and the government’s Agricultural Research and Extension Service Trust
Such services have historically been provided at much lower levels to other crops
although this is starting to change as stakeholders adjust to evolving market conditions
nontobacco farmers in Malawi are producing at only 30 percent to 40 percent of their potential
The country’s soils suffer from high acidity and low nutrient levels
These can be fixed using both organic and inorganic fertilizers
with commercial banks charging interest rates of 20 percent to 30 percent
such as agricultural lime and inorganic fertilizer
remain out of reach for many smallholder farmers
Low productivity means that even though there is demand for Malawi’s nontobacco crops
the country is in many cases unable to satisfy it sustainably
“When a customer in South Africa signs a forward contract
he will want assurance that the goods are going to be delivered consistently,” says Nakhumwa
“If we can supply for only two months and then run dry
we are no longer an attractive supplier for them
The customers may in that case prefer to deal with a seller in Brazil or elsewhere who can guarantee supply.” This is why the FSFW is focusing on enhancing productivity at the farmer level and creating new markets through the CAT
The CAT aims to boost agricultural productivity through science
technology and innovation while helping innovators turn their ideas into sustainable agribusinesses to create new markets for the alternative commodities produced by smallholders
At a demonstration farm on the outskirts of Lilongwe
the organization offers a platform for a wide range of private sector partners to showcase technologies to help farmers optimize their operations
Alongside technologies such as irrigation and ground sensors
the farm features different varieties of maize
It also works with agronomists to transfer knowledge: What happens if you plant 10 cm apart or practice double-row planting
What happens if you tweak the amount of fertilizer
According to CAT Executive Director Macleod Nkhoma
such demonstration plots are an effective way to disseminate information to smallholder farmers and promote the adoption of technology
especially in a country with low literacy rates like Malawi
the CAT helps agricultural entrepreneurs with skills that enable them to access finance and grow their agribusinesses while providing markets to smallholder farmers
“Banks tend to be wary of unstructured markets,” says Macleod
“They view those value chains as very risky.” By supporting the development of these agribusinesses
The CAT is helping Hortinet to expand its farmer base from 200 to 700 contracted growers
we would not have had the capacity to supply that many growers with our banana plantlets,” says Hortinet Executive Director Frank Washoni
JAT Investments benefited from CAT assistance in procuring seeds (spawn) and infrastructure in support of mushroom production
allowing us to grow our growers’ network from two to seven farmers club.” says JAT Investments Operations Director Temwani Gunda
the nontobacco crops will also need better policy frameworks
According to MwAPATA Executive Director William Chadza
export bans and foreign exchange quota currently disincentivize production
“Farmers are often unable to access hard currency to import agricultural inputs in time for the growing season,” he says
frequent policy reversals and the unpredictable business environment limit private investments in the agricultural sector
Contradictory policies relating to land and crops present a hurdle as well
Malawi’s leadership increasingly appreciates the need to broaden Malawi’s economic base
Whereas the government in the past may have been reluctant to acknowledge the changing situation on the global tobacco market
it now appears more cognizant of the new realities
At the opening of the 2022 marketing tobacco season
Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera openly called for a diversification strategy
“The tone at the top is important,” says Nakhumwa
“If the leaders cannot acknowledge that there is a problem and we need to pivot
helping its contracted farmers increase yields and quality with improved varieties
the company opened a groundnut processing facility in Lilongwe with the capacity to process 50,000 tons per year
The merchants’ investments in productivity
have enabled tobacco farmers to double their yields
allowing them to produce the same volumes of leaf on fewer hectares and release land for food and other cash crops
Tobacco industry leaders see no contradiction between their support for nontobacco crops and their primary business
arguing that farmer livelihood sustainability is in their interest
“Diversification makes sense,” says Simon Peverelle
the company’s contracted farmers already produce four times more food than tobacco
But even with government and industry behind diversification
it will take time for Malawi to overcome its heavy reliance on tobacco
Tobacco Commission CEO Joseph Malunga believes the golden leaf will remain a major crop in Malawi for years to come
“It took us more than 50 years to develop the tobacco industry to where it is now,” he says
“There is no way other crops will all of a sudden replace tobacco.”
Malunga acknowledges that Malawi needs to spread its eggs over more than one basket
“It is dangerous for us as a country to rely on one thing because if something goes wrong
Rather than looking for commodities to replace tobacco
Malunga urges Malawi to promote crops that work alongside it
just like the leaf merchants have been integrating food crops into their tobacco operations
industry and nonprofit initiatives currently underway
it should be able to gradually develop a more diverse economy with multiple crops and livestock generating income
so that a bad season in one sector won’t automatically reverberate across the entire country
witnessed by the economic difficulties in the wake of last year’s short tobacco crop
Success will mean not only greater food security but also more hard currency to import the items that Malawi cannot produce at home
as the country’s struggling hospitality sector will be able to stock more of the items its foreign customers expect
Even as cigarette sales stagnate in many markets
An important component in the toolbox of the tobacco blender
burley is a key ingredient not only in the popular American blend cigarettes but also in roll-your-own and make-your-own products along with pipe tobaccos
leaf merchants are anticipating strong interest this season
the country produced only 69.2 million kg of burley—against an estimated demand of 150 million kg
the Tobacco Commission is expecting 106 million kg
While burley is produced in several countries
industry representatives are confident that Malawi can hold its own against other suppliers
“Malawi is still a preferred origin of burley,” says Joseph Malunga
our burley is better than that from other origins.”
Malunga suspects that demand for Malawi burley will increase as the country tackles concerns raised by customers about agricultural labor methods
in which a farmer provides workers with food and housing during the season but pays them only after the harvest
or requiring children to help out on the family farm
are frowned upon in Western countries where many tobacco buyers are headquartered
Customs and Border Protection (CPB) that their supply chains were free of forced labor when the agency temporarily prevented Malawi tobacco from entering the United States based on concerns about forced labor
Impressed by the leaf merchants’ responsible supply chain management
CPB swiftly lifted its ban on tobacco imported by those companies
some customers who left due to compliance issues are now coming back
“They see that we have been doing our homework.”
But while the tobacco produced under contract with leaf merchants generally complies with the standards expected by Western governments and customers
the picture is less clear for the independently cultivated tobacco sold at auction
which accounts for approximately 10 percent of Malawi tobacco production
The country’s tobacco industry is dominated by smallholder farming
With nearly half a million individuals cultivating leaf in Malawi
many of them living in remote areas and many of them illiterate
it will take a while for the message to reach everybody
“We have made big strides—to the extent of having laws,” says Malunga
“But you cannot expect these practices to stop overnight
The commission has done a lot to communicate what customers want
but some farmers will get the message very late
managing director of Limbe Leaf Tobacco Co.
hopes the change will come sooner than later
For Malawi to maintain its appeal on the global market
it will be essential for the noncontracted growers to meet ESG targets
“Any perceived concerns about sustainability or ESG issues in Malawi create a reputational risk to the Malawi brand and could impact Malawi tobacco regardless of the percentage that is contracted and compliant.” –T.T
tobacco growers in Malawi have suffered from the rapidly rising cost of production
In addition to domestic headline inflation of 26 percent
farmers had to contend with a significant increase in the price of fertilizer
which more than tripled over the past three years to four years
this was due more to Covid-19-related shipping disruptions than to the war in Ukraine
Malawi imports most of its fertilizers from the Middle East rather than eastern Europe
he says—but the result is the same as for countries relying on Russian and Ukrainian fertilizers: substantially higher prices
Because virtually all inputs for Malawi tobacco production are imported
there’s little the industry can do about this part of the equation—so it focuses on the factors it can control
Contracted farmers enjoy an advantage over their noncontracted colleagues because they benefit from the tobacco buyers’ scale and global reach
we can get fertilizer on time in Malawi and price it competitively for farmers,” says Simon Peverelle
managing director of Alliance One Tobacco Malawi
The other way to offset rising production costs is by boosting farmers’ incomes
asking them to increase the farmers’ margins based on cost of production,” says Joseph Malunga
“That doesn’t always go well because the buyers
are in business and want profit—but we try.”
Under pressure from their customers to control costs
the merchants prefer to focus on boosting output
The leading leaf dealers employ or contract significant agronomy departments to help their contracted growers maximize both the quality and the yield of their tobacco
which in turn improves the net return on their crops
managing director of Limbe Leaf Tobacco Co
Peverelle says that scaling up is necessary for farmers because it is increasingly difficult to earn a living income from smaller plots
is promoting natural solutions to improve farmers’ margins
it encourages flue-cured tobacco farmers to establish woodlots and use “live barns”—curing facilities built using living trees—so they don’t have to buy wood for curing or construction
“This not only reduces costs but also promotes sustainable development,” says Malunga.—T.T
©2025 Nicotine Resource Consortium
The page you are looking for has either been moved or no longer exists
Please use the search box to find the information you are looking for
la page que vous cherchez a été déplacée ou peut-être effacée
Vous pouvez accéder à l'information désirée grâce à notre moteur de recherche
Запрошенная страница была перемещена или удалена
La página a la que intenta acceder ha sido cambiada de lugar o no existe
use la herramienta de búsquedas para encontrar la información deseada
The heavy rains which started on Wednesday 19 July 2023 in Limbe resulted in floods and landslides that affected several neighborhoods in Limbe
Limbe is one of the towns under the Fako Division in the South West Region of Cameroon; mainly described as a coastal city considering its boundaries with the Atlantic Ocean
Due to the intensity in the amount of rainfalls which is an obvious characteristic of the ongoing rainy season in Cameroon
the city of Limbe witnessed incessant rain fall
which contributed to the destruction of properties (schools inclusive) and the loss of lives
FIED team made a field visit and attended to some nine (09) schools that are affected by the flood in some localities in limbe
school playgrounds were flooded with water
learning and teaching materials have been greatly damaged
chairs and desk has been equally destroyed as well
Access to the classrooms is very difficult
given the fact that most of the schools are still surrounded by the flood
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)
carried out a humanitarian intervention in Limbe
a city that was severely affected by the floods
UNICEF distributed school materials to 1500 children who had lost their belongings by the disaster
The beneficiaries included 54% (806) girls and 46% (694) boys
The project was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which supports UNICEF’s efforts to promote inclusive and quality education for all
UNICEF collaborated with the Foundation for Inclusive Education and Development (FIED)
FIED was responsible for delivering the school materials to the children in need on behalf of UNICEF
The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) with funding from Unitaid is preparing to implement a Medical Gas Piping System (MGPS) in Limbe Regional Hospital
CHAI seeks interested and capable vendors to submit quotations for the supply of a medical oxygen piping distribution and manifold system for Limbe Regional Hospital as detailed in the specification package (Annex A) of this RFP
please use the form attached as Annex B and CHAI code of conduct and ethics for suppliers in Annex C for guidance
Any queries or clarifications on RFP should be submitted via the email chaicameroonprocurement@clintonhealthaccess.org quoting ITB/CHAI/PIP/CA/0123 in the subject line by 12 midnight WAT
Responses will be shared via all RFP solicitation channels
Download the RFP
Download Annex A
Download Annex B
Download Annex C
the Democratic Progressive Party's Shadow Member of Parliament for Mulanje Central
• Five persons reported dead as of 23 July in Limbe because of landslides caused by heavy rains
• An estimated 2,000 individuals affected in several neighborhoods in Limbe 1 sub-division
• Over 13 patients hospitalized at the Limbe sub-divisional hospital either discharged or referred to other hospitals due to the flooding of the hospital wards and offices
• The City Council has announced the evacuation of persons in risk zones to a temporary shelter
The town of Limbe is located along the coastal area of Fako Division
Limbe is characterized by a low-lying coastal plain
rising to a chain of hills with slopes of varying intensities in the northeast and east of the town
with some points as high as 362m above sea level
small streams flow into larger drainage beds that converge into two main rivers (Limbe and Jenguele) that empty into the Atlantic Ocean
These rivers frequently overflow their banks during rainy season causing floods in the low-lying areas which are just some metres above sea level
The hills that surround the city are made up of loose ferralitic and volcanic soils that easily disintegrate when they absorb a lot of water
The situation has been exacerbated by the high population density
and poor maintenance of existing facilities
This has resulted in regular floods and simultaneous landslides in Limbe for over 10 decades
In June 2001 the city was engulfed in heavy rains that led to a combination of floods and landslides resulting in over 70 deaths
heavy rains led to the death of a women and a man
They were killed by a landslide in the Upper-Mawoh neighborhood in Limbe
OCHA and UNFPA deployed a team to Limbe to assess the situation
The team met with administrative and municipal authorities in Limbe
but they could not visit the affected communities as the water level was high
it was still raining and there was a high risk of additional landslides
resulting in another two deaths (an older woman and a baby) in the Cassava Farm neighborhood
another female adult was discovered in a decomposed in the Upper-Mawoh neighborhood in Limbe
Fako divisional authorities including municipal authorities and humanitarian partners continue to monitor the situation
This work, UCT-ONE Seabees complete boat ramp in Cameroon, Africa, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright
devastating floods in Buea impacted roughly 160 households
the government conducted a demolition exercise of homes near the flooding areas due to the fact that they were built in areas not deemed suitable for construction and at risk of additional flooding or landslides
5 people were killed and approximately 2000 people were affected by flooding and landslides in Limbe
The elevation profile of the area is connected to Mount Cameroon
and one of the most active volcanoes of the Cameroonian Line of Volcanoes
In addition to the geographic characteristics of these affected areas is also the relative affordability to build in areas that are not suitable for construction
Cameroon recognizes these “no-build” areas as being within 5m of roads and waterways
it is also common to see houses precariously constructed on steep gradients
The incentive for construction in these areas is their relative affordability for property owners
that has been accentuated by an increased economic deterioation in incomes expressed by internally displaced persons
and other persons impacted by the crisis in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions
our long-term colleagues at Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon celebrated three decades of wildlife rescue
Born Free’s Dr Andrea Donaldson looks back at what this world-class facility has achieved
the mission of Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) has been to protect Cameroonian wildlife by rescuing and rehabilitating victims of poaching
inspiring people to connect with nature and improving local communities’ wellbeing
Born Free has supported this highly respected organisation since 2004
not least the sanctuary’s life-changing work to rescue chimpanzees
orphaned by the illegal ‘bushmeat’ and pet trades
the Co-Founders of the Pandrillus Foundation*
conducted a survey of drills (a short-tailed monkey related to baboons and mandrills) across western Cameroon
Their fieldwork took them to remote wild areas and villages in several provinces where they frequently saw wild born chimpanzees kept as pets in terrible conditions
Forming a unique partnership between the Pandrillus Foundation and the government of Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife
it was agreed that converting the old Victoria Zoo in the seaside town of Limbe
would be the ideal location for a wildlife sanctuary
water and electricity supplies and plenty of potential
The team had to put in many long hours converting the facility into a sanctuary
ensuring each animal was cared for in according to their species needs
providing privacy and comfortable ‘off view’ areas for the animals
then educating staff and public alike about the difference between a zoo and a genuine sanctuary
Limbe Wildlife Centre is a world-renowned animal welfare and conservation organisation
providing care to any wild animal in need of a second chance
They are also a founding member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance – a coalition of sanctuaries and wildlife centres devoted to the rescue of Africa’s apes and monkeys
Born Free has helped fund LWC’s work – including the care of rescued gorillas and grey parrot rehabilitation – for 20 years
not least via the support of our animal adoption programme
our supporters have been able to adopt Chinoise
a young chimpanzee rescued from a Chinese restaurant in Douala
Chinoise’s fur is a ginger-brown colour
which is quite unusual amongst chimpanzees
and certainly makes her stand out amongst the group
who mostly have the more usual black fur coats
She has wonderful chimpanzee-freckles all over her face and ears
She is beautiful and it is a pleasure to see her flourish
thanks to the support provided by Limbe Wildlife Centre and our adopters
“We are all incredibly proud of LWC’s accomplishments over the last 30 years,” explains Jerry Aylmer
“This includes the rescue and release of an estimated 4,000 African grey parrots
educating tens of thousands of school children and community members on the importance of conservation
and providing the highest standard of care to the animals under our care – rescued from the illegal bushmeat and pet trades
Congratulations on three decades of rescuing wild animals in need
It is an honour to join your celebrations and to support your remarkable
LIMBE WILDLIFE CENTRE 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY: READ MORE
*Founded by Liza Gadsby & Peter Jenkins in 1988
Pandrillus works to protect drill in Nigeria and Cameroon
This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks
The action you just performed triggered the security solution
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked
Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page
Moussa Doumbia (R) of Mali competes during the round of 16 football match between Mali and Equatorial Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Limbe
Equatorial Guinea got qualified for the quarter final at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after beating Mali
27 (Xinhua) -- Equatorial Guinea got qualified for the quarter final at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after beating Mali
at the penalty shoot-out (6-5) at the Limbe Omnisport stadium in the South-West region
The competition is being organized from January 9 to February 6 in central African country
A fan of Mali is seen before the round of 16 football match between Mali and Equatorial Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Limbe
Yves Bissouma (R) of Mali competes during the round of 16 football match between Mali and Equatorial Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Limbe
Cholera cases in Cameroon have increased significantly since early 2021
Cameroon’s health authorities declared a cholera outbreak
That region’s cases account for about three-quarters of Cameroon’s cases nationwide
As Advocacy Adolescent Health Promotion (ACAP) has reported
40% of health centers in the Southwest region closed before 2020 due to an escalation of political tensions and presidential elections that were likely to intensify deteriorating health conditions for more than 4 million people living in the English-speaking regions
the majority of internally displaced persons have moved to major towns such as Limbe and Buea
The subsequent overcrowding led to a rise in cases
as documented in Southwest Regional Situation Report 23
which reported a cumulative number of 4,980 cases identified at the end of April 2022
with 49% (2,469) in Limbe and 31% (770) in Tiko health districts
One factor behind Cameroon’s cholera outbreak is the dry season and resulting shortage of water
which has also heightened risks for waterborne diseases
the high lethality rate indicates a gap in early detection and case management
The following challenges have been identified by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH):
UNICEF and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) have already provided some support
such as boats for maritime areas and vaccination support
more than $1.3 million is required to support the pillars of the response to the cholera epidemic in Cameroon’s six affected regions
The WHO and the MoPH have requested that International Medical Corps support the response in the Southwest region
specifically in the Limbe and Buea health districts
They also have asked for support in surveillance and preparation for an outbreak in the Northwest region
Located in the South-West Region of Cameroon
the city of Limbe was drenched by continuous heavy rains from 18 to 19 July 2023 that resulted in flooding (in the DOWN BEACH and CHURCH STREET neighborhoods) and landslides (MAWOH neighborhood)
The flooding was largely due to run-off water and unplanned construction
which prevent water from circulating normally
The neighborhoods' worst affected are CHURCH STREET (700 people)
MAWOH (400 people) and DOWN BEACH (500 people)
making a total of about 1,600 people directly affected by the flooding
These floods caused the destruction of one dwelling house and various degrees of damage to around 250 homes
damaging household equipment (sleeping materials
Other damage included the destruction of goods in shops
It should be noted that Limbe lies on the shores of a bay at the southern foot of the Mount Cameroon volcanic chain
The town is in a plain that is highly exposed to flooding whenever there is a regular heavy rainfall
as well as to landslides from the mountainside
As some vulnerable populations built their homes in swampy areas
the risk of flooding has increased in the region
the report from the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Situation Room for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) classified Cameroon as a Level 2 alert overall
with a moderate level of risk for certain regions
The multi-risk meteorological bulletin published on 14 July 2023 indicated that the period from 14 to 17 July 2023 would be marked by heavy rains accompanied by strong winds
particularly in certain towns in the Littoral (Douala and Nkongsamba)
as the current rainy season will last until August
water levels in these coastal areas are likely to reach up to 100 mm
According to initial information received from the Fako Divisional Committee of the Red Cross
the locality of Limbe 1 suffered flooding in the Church Street and Down Beach neighborhoods and a landslide in the Mawoh neighborhood due to the torrential rains of 18 July
The damage recorded by volunteers put the number of people affected at over 1,600
The figures are likely to increase given the difficult access to most of the affected areas due to water levels
the Limbe 1 district has 93,255 inhabitants with a density of 1,167 inhabitants per Km²
around 40% of those affected have taken refuge in host families in neighborhoods spared so far by the floods
the Limbe 1 District Medical Centre was also flooded
making access to this health facility difficult for patients and staff
causing the partial destruction of goods (foodstuffs
etc.) and posing supply problems for these populations
The town of Limbe is no stranger to such damage
several neighborhoods are flooded with various material damages and sometimes loss of life
these include 2 deaths recorded during a landslide in 2022 and 4 deaths in the 2018 floods
and this situation is exacerbated by the population movements from villages where insecurity reigns as a result of the socio-political crisis that has been raging in the region since 2016
These vulnerable populations build their dwellings in marshes
The main groups at risk of flood damage are people who are already economically vulnerable
The Divisional Committee has mobilized 20 volunteers and is continuing to assess the situation
The impact of the disaster is being felt mainly in the following sectors:
Blocked drains led to waste and rubbish being dumped on public roads and neighborhood streets
exposing these communities to the risk of disease
which had an upsurge in 2022 in the area to which the National Society responded through a DREF
Although water is supplied in the town by the national water corporation
some of the population in the affected neighborhoods continue to fetch water from open wells and a few private boreholes
Other supply sources (rivers and streams) are patronized by displaced persons
and the dubious quality of this water makes these people more vulnerable to water-borne diseases
household furniture and kitchen utensils destroyed by water and mudflow slides
Cameroon minister ambushed in restive region
Our intrepid Wander Woman discovers that the best place to see primates in Cameroon is Limbe
I’d circumvented the tricky muddy roads over the deep green Cameroonian mountains by taking the ferry from Nigeria to Limbe
and I didn’t have anything pressing to do today
it occurred to me that I really should leave the hotel at some point
at least to find out how to get from Limbe to Yaounde in the morning
I went to the front of the hotel and hailed a shared taxi into town
where other passengers and the driver carefully deposited me into another shared taxi
to have given the locations being measured in miles much thought
the taxi driver pointed me to some shacks behind a muddy parking area
to an open area full of more ramshackle wooden buildings
and sorted out that the bus leaves at 8:30
I caught the shared taxi back to town (to “Half-Mile,” of course)
It’s a gorilla and monkey reserve featuring rescued primates
I’d arrived late – only an hour to closing time
But what I soon discovered is that by arriving late
and even a few grand old mountain gorillas
After all the trouble I’d gone to in Uganda in 2001 to see his relatives
how dare he laze about here so casually and cheaply
I felt like I’d just been let in on a secret
This one had been found half-dead as a baby in the back of a bush taxi
What kind of person steals a mountain gorilla from the wild
The monkeys eating mango were starting to get to me
And wild mango fruit hung from trees all around the reserve
But I had to hurry to get to Yaounde in the morning to apply for onward visas
and I had to get out of the city as soon as possible
Cameroon was the place for visas for the Congos and Gabon
Travel-lore said I was supposed to get it in Abuja
but that embassy only gave out five-day transit visas
And racing across a huge country chasing a five-day deadline is tough enough with your own wheels
Yaounde wasn’t going to help me with my Angola problem
But I did have to get there for the other three visas I needed
“Hurry up,” I thought as I sat at the Mile 4 Motor Park in Cameroon
“We’re late today,” said the ticket agent sheepishly
Not many people are going from Limbe to Younde today.”
The bus staff carefully puzzled together the cargo under the bus
The rain started again as we drove past little girls decked out in frilly dresses and it occurred to me that today was Sunday
As in a holiday when embassies would be closed
I swore silently at my oversight as I drifted off to sleep
Follow Marie’s journey across Africa and around-the-world | Blogs… More
Check out our Cameroon travel guide to plan your own trip | Plan a trip… More
The pros and cons of bus travel in Africa | Blogs… More
How to get to Senegal in ten not-so-easy-steps | Blogs… More
Want to travel the world solo? Check out our solo travel guide | Plan a trip… More
Fancy taking a career break? 7 reasons you CAN take one | Advice… More
Sign up to our newsletter for free with the Wanderlust Club
In a quest of transparency and accountability
a grouping of CSOs in the country have demanded the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)..
Lire aussi : Volley-ball féminin : un ticket pour les Jeux africains
AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals
representing a diversity of positions on every topic
We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons
Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content
which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct
Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy
please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you
There was a problem processing your submission
In an exciting development for travelers in the Gulf of Guinea region
Sea ExpressTransit Ltd has introduced a new boat transport service between Limbe in Cameroon and Calabar in the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The initiative aims to provide a comfortable
and stress-free travel option for passengers traversing the sea route between these bustling coastal cities
the branch manager of Sea Express Transit Ltd in Cameroon
highlighting the company's commitment to offering the most comfortable and convenient boat service on the Limbe-Calabar route
Sea Express Transit Ltd promises a travel experience that combines comfort
Key Details for Next Limbe-Departere (Boat) on Tuesday
Comfortable Seating: SeaExpress Transit coaster boats feature individual
and luxurious seats to ensure passengers' ultimate comfort during their journey
Entertainment Systems: Passengers can enjoy television and radio entertainment systems onboard
enhancing their traveling pleasure and making the journey more enjoyable
and beyond are invited to experience the convenience and comfort of Sea Express Transit Ltd's boat service
Whether embarking on a business trip or a leisurely voyage
Sea Express Transit Ltd promises a memorable and enjoyable travel experience on the Gulf of Guinea.