North

North is a region in northern Cameroon, a transitional zone between the forested south and the Sahel. The capital is Garoua, on the Benoue River. The region is known for the Benoue, Bouba Njida, and Faro national parks.

The dry season from November to March is the best time to visit the North Region, with hot days (30–40 °C), cooler evenings, and clear skies that make wildlife viewing in Benoué, Faro, and Bouba Njida national parks excellent as animals concentrate around shrinking water sources. The Harmattan wind blows in from the Sahel from December to February, bringing hazy mornings and dusty air but lower humidity — locals often consider it the most comfortable stretch within the dry window. The wet season from May to October is the off-season: heavy rains flood unpaved roads, parks become hard to access, and wildlife disperses into the bush, though the landscape turns lush and green. April and the first half of May form a brief shoulder period before the rains arrive; by September the floods recede and a second short shoulder opens into November. Time a trip around the annual traditional wrestling tournament (Lutte Traditionnelle) in Garoua, typically held in the dry season, for a major cultural spectacle drawing competitors from across northern Cameroon.

• Garoua — regional capital on the Benoue River
• Guider — market town on the Mayo River
• Benoue National Park — hippos, elephants, antelope
• Bouba Njida National Park — wildlife in the north