Located in the western region of Cameroon, the city of Foumban is only 70 km away from the capital of the region Bafoussam. Foumban is the capital of the Nun Department and Christianity and Islam are the main religions. With a population of 820,000 inhabitants and an area of 7700 km², it covers almost half of the western region. Thanks to its craftsmanship, Foumban enjoys an international reputation and is also known as the city of arts. Handicraft employs a good number of young people and is the main source of income for the population. Foumban has two major museums, the Palace Museum and the Museum of Arts. The Museum of Arts has more than three thousand works of art and historical pieces, some dating back over 600 years. They tell the story of the Bamoun people, one of the oldest kingdoms in Africa. Visitors will have the opportunity to contemplate the treasures, traditions, art and culture of the Bamoun Kingdom.
Foumban Palace
The royal palace was built in 1917 by the most famous Bamoun king the sultan “Ibrahim Njoya” who reigned from 1887 to 1933. The Palace has a museum that tells the history of the Bamoun kings’ dynasty. This magnificent palace is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The famous Sultan Ibrahim Njoya created around 1915 a secret language and an alphabet that initially consisted of 500 letters, and he committed himself to make it accessible to all. He also created a religion based on Islam, Christianity and traditional beliefs.
The Palace Museum
Built in 1920, the palace museum is famous for its long history, the remarkable quality of its art, the conservation and restoration of its magnificent collections. The museum houses a unique collection of its kind in Africa that belonged to the Bamoun rulers, of whom King Njoya Ibrahim was one of the most famous. The new museum was inspired by traditional symbols of the Bamoun kingdom such as the spider and the bee which represent hard work, and the two-headed Serpent. Thousands of objects often dating from previous centuries are preserved there such as traditional headdresses, clothes, shields, bells, dance masks which decorate the windows and several other objects which tell the history of the Bamoun people.
Mount and Lake Mbapit
Located in the western region of Cameroon, in the Bamoun country between Foumbot and Foumban, Mount Mbapit is an extinct red volcano which peaks at almost 2,000 m above sea level. It offers interesting Trekking tracks and a breathtaking magnificent Landscape. You will also discover the crater lake of Mont Mbapit which is surrounded by cliffs and which has become over time a popular tourist destination. The Mbapit massif is accessible on foot for spectacular hikes. A peaceful walk, allowing you to enjoy the green landscape, which you can reach by the installed stairs helping to climb the steep slope which rises to the edge of the crater lake. The circular lake occupies the bottom of a crater whose vertical walls dominate the lake. The legend says that stones thrown into the crater will never hit the water, the water will remain undisturbed.
Central Mosque
Located near the Royal Palace, the Foumban central Mosque was built in 1958. The population of the town of Foumban is 80% Muslim and the central mosque is the most important monument for the followers.
Other attractions
In addition to the above-mentioned attractions, the region around Foumban has other interesting tourist attractions, such as the Petpenoun resort which offers a luxurious setting in which to practice various activities. You can practice golf, go swimming, play tennis and badminton, go windsurfing and canoeing/kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, cycling and many more activities. Our guides will take care of you around this wonderful area and show you the beautiful sights.
