In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Cameroon
Rhumsiki
Skip Rhumsiki in 2026: the Far North is under a no-go advisory. If you do go, one night is enough to see the volcanic plugs, the crab fortune-teller and the craft village.
Rhumsiki is a village in the Mandara Mountains, famous for its lunar landscape of volcanic plugs and basalt outcroppings. André Gide called it one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. The village has adapted to tourism with a circuit of craftspeople, dancers and a fortune-teller who reads a crab's movements. Most governments advise against all travel to northern Cameroon because of terrorist-group risk; check current advice before planning.
- Country
- Cameroon
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heavy rain, roads may be impassable)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- XAF
- Money
- Currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF), shared with neighbouring countries in the region and pegged to the euro (655.957 XAF = €1).
- Daily spend
- Budget CFA 15,000–25,000 excl. bed · Mid CFA 25,000–40,000 excl. bed · High CFA 40,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- MTN and Orange are the main networks (Camtel's Blue and Nexttel too); buy a SIM at an official shop with your passport — registration is compulsory.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Fire 118 · Ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 220 V · 50 Hz · European round pins; power cuts are common — hotels run generators.
- Tipping
- Street food and maquis: Nothing.; Hotel restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge.; Driver per day: 2,000–5,000 XAF.; Chiefdom or museum guide: 2,000–5,000 XAF.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water (Supermont, Tangui) everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants; squat or pit toilets on the road. Carry tissue and sanitiser.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Village tour (child-guide, craft circuit, féticheur) | CFA 5,000–10,000 per person |
| Bush taxi Maroua–Rhumsiki, one way | CFA 3,000–7,000 per person |
| Simple meal (rice, beans, fish or chicken) | CFA 1,500–3,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | CFA 500–1,000 |
| Beer (local, 65 cl) | CFA 1,000–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MVR · Maroua Salak Airport
- About 2 h by road; taxis and bush taxis available (check)
Typical fares
- Bush taxi Maroua–Rhumsiki
- about CFA 3,000–7,000 per person, about 2 h (check)
- Village tour with child-guide
- about CFA 5,000–10,000 per person (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable. A local child-guide will show you the circuit of craftspeople, dancers and the féticheur; agree a price (about CFA 5,000–10,000 per person, check) before starting.
See and do
Known for
- Volcanic plugs and Mandara Mountains scenery
- Crab fortune-teller (féticheur)
- Craft village with blacksmiths, potters, weavers and spinners
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Maroua | Bush taxi or private car, about 2 h | About 2 h |
| Kousséri | Bush taxi via Maroua, about 3–4 h | About 3–4 h |
| Garoua | Bush taxi or private car, about 4–5 h | About 4–5 h |
Sleep
- Rhumsiki village
- A few guesthouses and campements; basic facilities. Book ahead or ask in Maroua.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour (French) / Yaa (Fulfulde)bohn-zhoor / yah |
| Thank you | Merci (French) / A jaaraama (Fulfulde)mair-see / ah jah-rah-mah |
| How much? | Combien ? (French) / No foti ? (Fulfulde)kom-byen / noh foh-tee |
| I don't understand | Je ne comprends pas (French) / Mi faamataa (Fulfulde)zhuh nuh kom-prahn pah / mee fah-mah-tah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and a question about health and family; elders first; avoid: Going straight to business
- Titles: Use Monsieur, Madame, Docteur, and 'Papa'/'Maman' for elders; avoid: First names with older people
- Hands: Give and receive with the right hand; avoid: The left hand for food or money
- Photos: Ask first; offer to show the picture; avoid: Photographing officials or markets without asking
- Dress: Smart and clean in towns; covered shoulders in the north and at mosques; avoid: Beachwear away from the beach
- Disagreement: Stay calm and polite, especially at checkpoints; avoid: Raising your voice
Scams and watch-outs
- Most governments advise against all travel to the Far North region; check your embassy's travel advice before booking.
- The crab fortune-teller is a tourist performance, not a traditional ritual.
- Roads to Rhumsiki are unpaved and can become impassable in the rainy season (June–September).
- Carry cash (CFA francs); there are no ATMs in the village.
The Far North region is under a no-go advisory from most governments because of terrorist-group risk. If you travel despite the advice, use a known driver, travel by day and check the latest security situation with your embassy or a local contact.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Rhumsiki yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Volcanic plugs and Mandara Mountains scenery
- Crab fortune-teller (féticheur)
- Craft village with blacksmiths, potters, weavers and spinners
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Rhumsiki, revision 4976985 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4976985
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/rhumsiki). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.