Maroua

Maroua is a less chaotic city than Yaounde, has almost no white people and is not cosmopolitan. It does not give an impression of much wealth but there is also less evidence of poverty (in the city itself) and there are fewer beggars. Its market is very lively and apart from this, shops are very small and restricted. There are not so many cars and motorbikes. The latter are the main form of taxi and often carry two passengers in addition to the taxi man. It is not very unusual to see a bicycle or motorbike carrying a huge load, even a bed, through busy traffic. Maroua is on the edge of a very large flat plain and has long straight streets lined by trees. It has a river which is dry at this time of the year but people dig holes in the river bed to get to water for washing themselves and their clothes.

I have spent a week training here at this stage and have liked Maroua’s atmosphere better than Yaounde’s although there is very little to do here besides going to restaurants and bars. In Yaounde there is night-life if you want it and we did spend an evening in a bar with very good music, much of it Cameroonian or of other African origin. Such entertainment is less in evidence here but the restaurants and bars are very lively. There are a few hotels, some of which have swimming pools.

Walking around Maroua at night is hazardous since there are virtually no street lamps. On one occasion I stepped into a hole just after crossing a bridge and tumbled down to the river bed. I was more or less OK but my trousers, shirt and mobile phone were not.