Perhaps I should explain a bit about the layout of the place I'm living in. Being part of West/Central Africa, the climate is usually very hot and very humid. I would probably describe the climate of this region as the most uncomfortable I have travelled in. Heat + Humidity= 1 sweaty Musungo. Beau is a fairly large and well known town in the southwest region of the country, about an hours drive from the economic heart that is Douala City. You make a steady climb of about 850 metres up to get to Buea from sea level and the comparable freshness and coolness is a welcome relief. I guess you could describe the town as a empirical hill station, almost temperate.
It is no surprise to find the region was colonised first by the Germans and then by the Brits. The Germans left their bakeries, beer and architecture, whereas the Brits left Soccer and the language. I wouldn't say that the main town is very attractive, more functional like a US style town built along the highway. This elongation lasts for several miles as you climb up slowly to the base of Mount Cameroon (or Mount Fako) and what the locals specifically call "Town"- the small place I live.
Buea Town is a very manageable size, with most of what I need. Even though I am not much higher than elsewhere, the conditions are disproportionately milder. It certainly has less mosquitoes. I like it up here in the mist and wouldn't want to live in anywhere else. Plus I get to say I'm right next to an active volcano- last activity about 2001.
When I summited last time we visited the after effects of this activity was very noticeable, and very impressive. You walk through the very lunar-like stretches that used to be larger parts of mountainside, now blown to smithereens and scattered across the region. As you descend, you follow the lava trail that snakes from the top all the way down to Limbe and into the sea. This has transformed into a pumice type rock that has maintained the appearance of a flowing river. It doesn't flow now, of course, and gives the appearance of water, suspended in time.
It is no surprise to find the region was colonised first by the Germans and then by the Brits. The Germans left their bakeries, beer and architecture, whereas the Brits left Soccer and the language. I wouldn't say that the main town is very attractive, more functional like a US style town built along the highway. This elongation lasts for several miles as you climb up slowly to the base of Mount Cameroon (or Mount Fako) and what the locals specifically call "Town"- the small place I live.
Buea Town is a very manageable size, with most of what I need. Even though I am not much higher than elsewhere, the conditions are disproportionately milder. It certainly has less mosquitoes. I like it up here in the mist and wouldn't want to live in anywhere else. Plus I get to say I'm right next to an active volcano- last activity about 2001.
When I summited last time we visited the after effects of this activity was very noticeable, and very impressive. You walk through the very lunar-like stretches that used to be larger parts of mountainside, now blown to smithereens and scattered across the region. As you descend, you follow the lava trail that snakes from the top all the way down to Limbe and into the sea. This has transformed into a pumice type rock that has maintained the appearance of a flowing river. It doesn't flow now, of course, and gives the appearance of water, suspended in time.
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