Cameroon lies on the Gulf
of Guinea, the Atlantic Ocean. It became independent in 1960, the 'Year
of Freedom'. Cameroon has an area of 465,457 square kilometres (179,714 square miles).
It is bordered by Nigeria,
Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, the Central African Republic, and Congo. The
official languages are French and English but other local languages are also
used. Cameroon has an amazing 200+ ethnic groups. The major groups are Fang,
Bamileke and Bamum, and Douala. Pygmies live in the southern forests.
The hot, humid south has
dense tropical rain forests with beautiful mahogany, ebony, and obeche trees.
The central region has a mixed forest of deciduous trees and evergreens while in
the north you'll find wooded savannah. Animal life includes buffalo, elephant,
hippopotamus, antelope and many different types of birds.
