Cameroon

Cameroon is called Africa in miniature, and for once the tourism slogan is not an exaggeration. Within its borders you will find Sahelian desert in the north, tropical rainforest in the south, volcanic highlands in the west, and mangrove swamps along the coast. It has gorillas and elephants, beaches and mountains, French-speaking and English-speaking regions, Muslim and Christian communities. If you could only visit one country to understand the diversity of the African continent, Cameroon would be a strong candidate.

Mount Cameroon, at 4,095 meters, is the highest peak in West Africa and one of the most active volcanoes on the continent - it last erupted in 2000. The country is also a football powerhouse. The Indomitable Lions, led by the legendary Roger Milla, danced their way to the 1990 World Cup quarterfinals and became the first African team to reach that stage. Cameroon has since produced a conveyor belt of global football talent, from Samuel Eto'o to Thomas N'Kono. The country's cultural life is equally rich, with makossa music, Bamileke art, and some of the most elaborate traditional kingdoms still functioning in Africa today.