Maroua is the capital of the Far North Region of Cameroon. In 2020, it was home to slightly over 1 million people.

Understand

Maroua is famous for its artisanal activity and its market where tanners, potters, tailors, weavers and blacksmiths gather daily.

The craft center at the entrance to the market brings together about fifty artisans who offer on their shelves embroidered or hand-woven tablecloths, leather rugs, slippers, crocodile skin handbags. or snake, etc. Another more modern craft center is found at the entrance to the city.

Maroua is known in particular for its imposing ginger fields, and for the manufacture of ginger liqueur.

Get in

• The N1 Highway is nearby. It connects Maroua with Garoua, Kousseri, Ndjamena and Maiduguri. This road is in bad condition which doubles the journey times.

• 1 Maroua Salak International Airport (MVR ^IATA), at Salak (15 km southwest of Maroua). (updated Oct 2021)

Get around

The easiest way to get around Maroua is by motorbike, locally called benskin (local English expression for: "trembling skin"). It is not allowed to share your motorcycle taxi. A trip within the city costs between 100 and 300 FCFA, more if the distance is important). A "deposit" (unshared motorbike taxi) varies depending on the duration and starts at 500 FCFA and goes up to 2000 FCFA (Sep 2021). Prices are to be discussed before getting on the vehicle. The city has thousands of motorcycle taxis, it is a very economical means of transport. It is nonetheless dangerous, in fact many accidents involving this means of transport.

Hiring a car at the airport or in town can also be a pleasant way to get around Maroua.

Do

• Maroua Sports Complex

Buy

• Marché central de Maroua, Highway P2. Su-Th 08:30-17:50. Central Market. (updated Oct 2021)

Eat

• Restaurant Le Baobab
• Safari (Apr 2016)
• Relais Porte Mayo (Apr 2016)

Drink

• Djarako Bar
• Le Dream's Domayo - Snack, Bar (Apr 2016)

Sleep

• Hotel Alpha
• Auberge Le Voyageur
• Mizao Hotel (Apr 2016)
• Maroua Palace
• Relais Porte Mayo (Apr 2016)
• Le Sare (Apr 2016)
• Hotel FETY (Apr 2016)
• Hotel du Sahel (Apr 2016)
• Savano (Apr 2016)

Learn

• University of Maroua
• Institut Superieur Du Sahel

Go next

• Garoua