Nigeria/Cameroon - 20 December, 2000

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Today our objective is to cross the Nigeria - Cameroon border and reach Waza National Park.  We have our usual start to the day when we are on the road, and are on our way by 8 AM.  We get to the Nigeria side of the border shortly after noon.  This is a true border town, with the town split in the middle by the border.  The locals just walk or drive their mopeds across with no stops or checks.  It is a dusty town, with a very basic immigration facility.

Jacqui needs to go to the toilet, so we ask one of the ladies outside the immigration hut if there is a toilet nearby.  She takes us to her house, where she lets Jacqui use the facilities.  Everyone is very friendly and we soon have lots of children gathered around us.  At one point, a soldier with a gun walks up and starts saying hello.  He is very friendly and says that he remembers us from one of the checkpoints where he had waved us through.  We cleared immigration and were on our way across the border in only 30 minutes.  They have become very friendly and efficient.

They Cameroon side was pretty much the same - quick and efficient.  We had to deal with lots of money changers and others trying to sell us stuff - but nothing out of the ordinary.  Once we clear Cameroon immigration, we drive a short way to customs to clear the truck.  While doing this paper work, we set up our tables and cook stuff in their dirt parking lot and prepare lunch.  We have soup, bread and pasta salad for lunch.

Shortly after 2 PM we are on our way and we arrive in Waza National Park 2 hours later.  Some of us head up to the bar for a quick drink over looking the plains below.  It is quite a nice spot.  We then head back down to the truck to set up the campsite and get ready for dinner.  We have potato stew for dinner.

After a nice shower, we head to bed and, once again, the night sky is very clear and we enjoy the stars as we fall asleep.