Excited to travel to Cameroon soon? I can imagine! I visited the country for almost 2 weeks and had an amazing time. Don't let high roaming charges ruin your trip to Cameroon. This is your guide for how to stay connected with everything you need to know about finding the best sim card for your trip to Cameroon.
Find out where to buy a sim card, a comparison of the best prepaid sim cards in Cameroon, the best 4G/5G network, up to date prices as per June 2024, the best e-sim cards for Cameroon, my recommendation, a vlog about my experiences, info about international sim cards for Cameroon and more.
Being a full time world traveler and nomad I roam around the world for many years. Since I am on a journey to travel to every country in the world I also made it to Cameroon. It is a challenging country to travel, especially if your French isn’t good, but looking back at my trip to Cameroon, it was amazing!
Buying a local prepaid sim card is mostly the cheapest way to stay connected when traveling abroad. Therefore it is the first thing I do whenever I get to a new country if I did not order an e-sim card online already yet. In total Traveltomtom wrote almost 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Dubai, France, Paris, UK, London, Gabon, Sao Tome & Principe, Ethiopia, Turkey, Istanbul, Belgium, Brussels, USA, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Ghana, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, China and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for Cameroon are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.
Why buying a sim card for Cameroon
We all want to avoid high roaming costs and when traveling to Cameroon but please don’t rely on public WiFi. It is often non-existing or not working properly. Also keep in mind that browsing the web on public WiFi is through an UNSECURED connection, so the use of a VPN in these cases is recommended.
Traveling without a working data connection on your phone is going to be challenging these days. Think about getting directions from Google Maps, find nearby restaurants, hotels, supermarket or simply staying in touch with friends and family back home, translation apps or even emergencies, it all requires a data connection.
Make your life easier and traveling to Cameroon more fun by buying a prepaid sim card in Cameroon on arrival or buy an international sim card or e-sim card with coverage in Cameroon on the internet.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends an Orange sim card for Cameroon. They have a great 4G/LTE network in the country and great prepaid sim card deals for tourists. For around $5 USD you get 1 GB per day for 7 days. MTN would be a good second best. In fact they are pretty equal.
Traveltomtom also recommends e-sim cards for Cameroon and the best e-sim card for traveling to Cameroon in 2024 is an Orange Holiday World for $39.90 USD with 10 GB data in Cameroon. See below for more info.
There are also international sim cards with global coverage. Not all are worth it, but some are ok! Check out my comparison of all the international sim cards for traveling in 2024.
Best e-sim cards for Cameroon
The easiest way to get internet on your phone when traveling to Cameroon in 2024 is an e-sim card. It is very easy and convenient and you arrange everything online. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping physical sim cards.
You order an e-sim card for Cameroon on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Cameroon e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Cameroon it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Cameroon.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim card provider that sells e-sims from all over the world.
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $9.5 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Cameroon directly online or get more info.
The above Kamtok Telecom operates on the 4G/LTE network in Cameroon and is only valid in Cameroon.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another trusted e-sim provider that Traveltomtom has used in more than 50 countries around the world.
SimOptions offers the following international e-sim cards valid in up to 124 countries, including Cameroon:
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $39.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international e-sim card for Cameroon via SimOptions.
You can also opt for a physical sim card for traveling in Cameroon. You order online, get a physical sim card delivered at your home address before your trip and it is plug and play on arrival. For $49.90 USD you get a physical prepaid sim card with 10 GB data in Cameroon. Click on the link for more info.
Where to buy a prepaid sim card in Cameroon
Douala International Airport
The most convenient place to buy a sim card for Cameroon is at the airport on arrival. When arriving at Douala Airport you can’t miss the MTN, Nexttel and Orange shop in the Arrival Hall. Click here for a complete guide for buying a sim card at Douala Airport.
Buying a sim card at the airport is definitely recommended when your French is not the best. At the airport the staff of the sim card shops speaks fairly good English.
Yaounde International Airport
The same counts for Yaounde International Airport. There you can also find 3 sim card shops in the arrival hall: Nexttel, MTN and Orange. They all sell prepaid sim cards on the spot and you are connected in no time.
Douala Grand Mall
We do not recommend you to buy a sim card on the streets. For the simple reason that a Cameroon sim card officially need to be registered on your name and you want thing to be set up properly. Whenever you missed the opportunity to buy a Cameroon sim card at the airport head to for example the Douala Grand Mall. Here you find
Although much more quiet than the chaotic streets of Cameroon, long lines at phone stores in Cameroon are not uncommon. Another reason why we recommend to buy a Cameroon sim card at the airport or get one online before your trip.
Mobile internet providers Cameroon
There are 4 mobile internet operators in Cameroon: Nexttel, Camtel, MTN and Orange. In this Cameroon prepaid sim card comparison we are going to focus on MTN and Orange only.
Camtel is a government own telecommunications company, but they do not provide prepaid sim cards in Cameroon. Nexttel is a company officially owned by Viettel from Vietnam. However, in 2023 Viettel pulled the plug and retreated from Nexttel. It is still quite unsure what will happen to Nexttel in the future as they are looking for investors.
Nexttel has the smallest mobile data network in Cameroon, a much smaller 4G/LTE network compared to Orange and MTN and therefore Nexttel is least recommend tourist sim card for Cameroon.
Prices prepaid sim card in Cameroon in 2024
All the below info and prices are updates in June 2024 and prices are in Central African Franc: $1 USD = 604 CFA and 1,000 CFA = $1.68 USD.
Nexttel
As mentioned before Nexttel is by far the smallest mobile internet operator in Cameroon. Prices for prepaid sim cards are cheaper compared to MTN and Orange but they also have a much smaller 3G/4G network. More about it later!
A Nexttel sim card officially costs 100 XAF = $0.17 USD and you can choose from one of the above data packages. Nexttel only offers monthly packages, valid for 30 days!
The most common Nexttel sim card deal for Cameroon is the 1.05 GB per day for 30 days, which means 30 * 1.05 GB = 31.5 GB. Every day at midnight you get another GB package. Total price is 9,000 XAF = $15 USD.
Nexttel is in decline since the Vietnamese investor Viettel left Cameroon in 2023. They were they owner of Nexttel. Therefore I would not recommend buying a Nexttel prepaid sim card for visiting Cameroon.
MTN Cameroon
MTN offers so called tourist plans, but I feel like they also charge tourist prices. The sim card is free when activating one of the above 3 packages shown in the picture.
- 5,000 XAF = 250 MB / day + 2,500 XAF calling credit to all networks for 7 days - $8 USD
- 10,000 XAF = 1 GB / day + 5,000 XAF calling credit to all networks for 7 days - $17 USD
- 20,000 XAF = 1 GB / day + 10,000 XAF calling credit to all networks for 30 days - $34 USD
Also included is credit for calling MTN numbers + sms. This is a big plus for MTN, their packages includes data + voice.
MTN is more expensive than Nexttel. They offer basically the same prepaid sim card deal for 7 days and Nexttel offers this for 30 days. But wait till you see the Orange prepaid sim card deals.
There are no e-sim cards available in MTN stores in Cameroon, only physical prepaid sim cards are provided.
Orange Cameroon
At Orange they are very flexible when it comes to the duration. They offer data packages per 3 days, 7 days, 15 days and 30 days! Sounds like a winner as not everyone is traveling to Cameroon for 30 days.
- 2,650 XAF = 1 GB per day for 7 days - $4.5 USD
- 5,250 XAF = 1 GB per day for 15 days - $8 USD
- 10,000 XAF = 1 GB per day for 30 days - $17 USD
See the photo above for much more Orange Cameroon sim card deals.Also great plus about Orange is that they offer an e-sim card for prepaid costumer. It costs 250 XAF extra ($0.5 USD).
There are no e-sim cards available in Orange stores in Cameroon, only physical prepaid sim cards are provided.
As you can see Orange is cheaper than MTN!
Best 3G/4G/5G network in Cameroon
Unfortunately there is no 5G in Cameroon as of 2024. According to news articles they said they were going to roll it out in the beginning of 2024, let’s see. Just don't expect to have 5G in Cameroon, but thumbs up for Cameroon there is a decent 4G/LTE signal in the best places to visit in Cameroon.
I was pretty content with the 4G/LTE coverage of my Cameroon sim card. Below I will show you the 3G/4G coverage maps for Cameroon and I will compare the mobile data network of MTN and Orange. Nexttel and Camtel are left out of the comparison as explained before.
MTN Cameroon 3G/4G coverage map
Orange Cameroon 3G/4G coverage map
The above updated network coverage maps for Cameroon are not 100% accurate but they are a great reference. Determining the best 4G/LTE network in Cameroon for 2024 is really difficult and Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that there is not much difference between the 4G/LTE network strength and coverage of MTN and Orange.
Both mobile operators cover the most amazing places to see and tourist attractions in Cameroon with a 4G/LTE signal.
Best sim card for Cameroon in 2024
It is clear that Traveltomtom does not recommend a Nexttel sim card for Cameroon. Though is hard to determine the difference between MTN and Orange. Both operator have a pretty decent 4G/LTE mobile data network and it hardly differs from each other.
Therefore since the Orange prepaid sim card packages are a little cheaper than MTN, Traveltomtom rates Orange as the best sim card for tourists in Cameroon for 2024. For less than $10 USD you get 1 GB data per day for 15 days.
Local prepaid sim cards are cheaper than e-sim cards, but if your phone is e-sim compatible there is nothing easier than ordering an e-sim card for Cameroon on the internet. The best value e-sim card deal for Cameroon is an e-sim card from Orange with 10 GB data for $39.90 USD.
You order this e-sim directly online via the link above.
In the video above you can see what it is like to arrive in Douala Airport and buying a prepaid sim card in Cameroon. Does that seem like too much hassle than look into buying an e-sim card for Cameroon.
Order a Prepaid sim card for Cameroon online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then you can always order a physical prepaid sim card for traveling to Cameroon on the internet.
Arrive prepared in Cameroon with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Cameroon, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
Via SimOptions you can order the Orange Holiday World sim card, valid in 124 countries, including Cameroon.
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to directly order an international prepaid sim card for Cameroon via SimOptions.
Another option to stay connected is an e-sim card for Cameroon. You can order them via Airalo or SimOptions.
I hope all the above tips for buying a sim card for Cameroon in 2024 were helpful. Let me know below in the comments if you have any more questions and I am more than happy to help you out. Also about traveling in Cameroon, ask me anything down in the comments.
Interested in what I did when visiting Cameroon then head over to my Instagram channel @traveltomtom and see my posts and my highlights. There you also find my road to visit every country in the world. As of June 2024 I have traveled to more than 155 countries around the world.
Enjoy your trip to Cameroon!