Trip to Cameroon: Gerewol Ceremony, tribes and kingdoms

Discover the highlights of this trip to Cameroon to experience the Gerewol ceremony

The Gerewol ritual: beauty, dance, and tradition

During this trip to Cameroon, we will have the opportunity to experience the Gerewol ceremony. This is an annual courtship ritual in which young Mbororo men from Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria display their elegance, endurance and charisma through hypnotic dances and ancestral chants.
We will attend this exceptional event for three full days, with ample time to photograph, observe and understand its deep social and cultural significance.

Living alongside the nomadic Mbororo

On this trip to Cameroon, during the Gerewol ceremony, we will sleep in camp alongside the Mbororo themselves. We will share their daily life and gain first-hand insight into their nomadic way of life, based on cattle herding, family ties and traditional trade. This is a rare opportunity to understand a culture that extends across the African Sahel.

From urban Cameroon to the most remote regions of Cameroon

The trip perfectly combines urban culture and adventure: Yaoundé, the political capital of the country, with visits to the National Museum and the Monastery of Mont Febe. A train journey to the north, an experience in itself. Ngaoundéré, a key Muslim city in the north, with its sultanate, markets, and traditional architecture. The Faro Valley and Poli, rarely visited regions where tribal life continues to set the daily rhythm.

Sultanates, markets, and local ethnic groups

During this trip to Cameroon, in addition to experiencing the Gerewol ceremony, we will encounter other peoples and traditions. We will visit the sultanates of Poli and Ndéré, as well as the Dowayo ethnic group in Kongle. We will also enjoy weekly markets where crafts, textiles and local products take centre stage.

Accommodation and responsible travel experience

We will stay in eco-lodges and camps, prioritizing respect for the environment and local communities. Last Places’ long experience in Cameroon and its close relationship with the Mbororo leaders ensure privileged access and an authentic, respectful experience.

This is not a conventional trip: it is a deep cultural immersion into one of Africa’s most unique traditions, in a little-explored region of immense human richness. Ideal for curious travelers, lovers of anthropology, photography, and living cultures.

© Photographs by Aníbal Bueno, Markus Mauthe, Ana Robles, taken during a trip to Cameroon focused on the Gerewol ceremony.

► Download the detailed itinerary of this trip to Cameroon to experience the Gerewol Festival

Click the button below to access the download form for the itinerary of this trip to Cameroon to experience the Gerewol Festival.