To better understand what your daily life with Hand on Heart could look like, we put together this page.
Please reach out to us if you have any further questions.
Practical Information
- The Office
Hand on Heart operates from a small copy shop in the Mimboman district in Yaoundé. Sandrine runs the copy shop alone but has a spare desk that you can use. There’s a constant walk-in of customers, giving you a nice opportunity to experience the day-to-day habits in Cameroon.
Accurate location of the office on Google Maps - Shops
The copy shop is located in a lively district with many small street shops. There are also two Western-style supermarkets with boulangerie within walking distance. - Banks
The closest bank is the Afriland First Bank, 2,5 km in the direction of the city centre. The bank has ATMs where you can withdraw money. - Restaurants
There are many local restaurants in the neighbourhood. A meal usually costs between 2.000 and 3.000 franc (3 to 5 euro).
A local lady visits the office every day at 13:00 with a lunch plate. These plates cost between 500 and 1.000 franc (1 to 1,5 euro).
Getting around
- Airport pickup
We can pick you up from the airport if you arrive by plane. If you arrive by bus, we can pick you up at the bus station. - Taxis
Yaoundé is full of small yellow local taxis that require a bit of understanding of the system to use. The taxis are shared with other passengers.
The app “Yango” provides a Uber-style way to easily book taxis in the way that you are used to. The driver usually calls you after you booked the ride to confirm the pickup point.
A lift to the centre of town takes around 20 minutes and will cost you 1.000 to 2.000 franc (1,5 to 3 euro). - Moto Taxis
Moto taxis are a rather fast way to get around when you are in a hurry, but the cost is higher than for taxis because they are suitable for getting through traffic jams.
Hospitality
- You are welcome to stay with Sandrine. You will be sharing a room with 3 lovely children.
- It’s also possible to book your own accommodation. There’s a variety of options including hotels, and Airbnb’s. Commercial accommodations can quickly become reasonably expensive for local standards so reach out to us if you would like to get some support in finding a suitable place.
Yaoundé
- Yaoundé is the capital of Cameroon but the second largest city after Douala. The centre of town has several high end hotels, modern shopping malls, and anything else you can expect in a capital city.
- The district of Bastos is where most of the embassies are located. This part of town is closest to the western experience with Starbucks-like cafes, international restaurants, and nightclubs.
Other things good to know
- You can expect an occasional power cut (depending on the season a few times per week). They are usually resolved within an hour.
- Cameroon is a tropical country. This means that there are occasional intense showers. They normally last for an hour.
- Internet coverage is really good in Yaoundé. 4G internet is the standard and is used by most people instead of a fibre-optic router. There are several providers and plans. We can help you get the best deal after your arrival.
- Most people in Yaoundé only speak French. Sandrine, and other people associated with Hand on Heart, (also) speak English.