Is It Safe to Travel to Cameroon in 2026?
Cameroon - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south.
Is It Safe to Travel to Cameroon in 2026?
Cameroon is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Cameroon due to risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, health, kidnapping, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Do not travel to the Southwest, Northwest, and Far North Regions for any reason due to significant risks.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- terrorism
- civil_unrest
- health
- kidnapping
- other
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: significant risks of crime, terrorism, unrest, health, kidnapping, and IEDs, high risk of kidnapping by non-state armed groups in the Southwest and Northwest Regions, common civil unrest with potential for political violence.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from violent crime and petty theft, particularly in urban areas like Yaoundé and Douala, where local police are often unable to respond effectively to serious incidents.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and limited healthcare services, which could impact travel schedules and emergency response.
Families with children face heightened risks from health issues, such as malaria and limited access to pediatric care, especially outside major cities.
Remote workers may find reliable internet in urban centers but should avoid rural areas due to connectivity issues and the risk of civil unrest.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Cameroon.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Southwest Region
- Northwest Region
- Far North Region
- Borders with Central African Republic, Chad, and Nigeria
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel4 regions
▶Borders with Central African Republic, Chad, and Nigeria
Do Not Travel within 20 kilometers of the borders due to risk of terrorism, unrest, crime, kidnapping, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
▶Far North Region
Do Not Travel due to risk of terrorism, unrest, crime, kidnapping, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
▶Northwest Region
Do Not Travel due to risk of terrorism, unrest, crime, kidnapping, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
▶Southwest Region
Do Not Travel due to risk of terrorism, unrest, crime, kidnapping, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Cameroon has 4 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Cameroon has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 6.0/10, and kidnapping risk 6.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 15/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Central African CFA Franc (XAF)
Language
French / English
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥1 year old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Cameroon
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Cameroon?
▶Is it safe to travel to Cameroon right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Cameroon?
▶What vaccines do I need for Cameroon?
▶Is Cameroon safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Cameroon?
More Cameroon Data
Not Free — 15/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.