I regrete that, what appears to be the cheapest camp spot in Yaounde, Can also be a serious risk to your health. Im talking about The Presbeterian mission (Foyer International de I'Eglaise Presbyterienne) (Not part of the church by the way)

We stayed a couple of nights and met a Germany couple who had been stelth charged water at the price of 200 CFA a bucket. There was no running water at the time and if you wanted to go inside to use the loo after 8pm... well forget it.

It got a bit more serious though when they tried to over charge us and refused to give back part of our hefty deposit already paid to them. We decided to leave and they refused to give back our possesions that were locked in one of their rooms. In My attempt to to take them back the old french man held a knife at me and then when another member of the family held the door closed on me, the French mans Cameroonian wife (they are the owners) tried to attack me with a machettee. She would have succeeded had she not been held back by other family members but did manage to rip my shirt.

The police were called and then her higher contacts manged to turn an assult case against me. Thank God for the British High Commision, who have been very helpful. They have had other complaints form other Brits staying at the same place though they did not tell me the detaails. I ended up being treated like a criminal and it took a while to get our bikes back.

So, it may not end up being the cheapest place you stay at or even worse it might end up costing you considerably to stay there.

We ended up staying at the ideal hotel down the road. A nice place at 8000 CFA / room regardless of how many people stay.

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www.africaorbital.wordpress.com F650gs Dakar

Hey Darren,

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience, glad that you got out mostly unscathed.

I stayed there last year, wasn't too bad but it was rainy season so we stayed in the dorms. They definitely didn't take too kindly though to normal overlander habits of using the flat dry spots to work on your bike or staying out later than eight to have a couple of s. Reading your story, glad that I didn't encounter any really contentious issues that needed to be resolved.

Ride safe.

seems so far that all the people weve met that have stayed there have left early or just been glad to get out of there. Just an unpleasent atmosphere. When we got down to the Ideal there were more overlanders there also. They had heard bad stories themselves. Its a shame really. With different owners could have been an good place. Take it easy. Darren

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www.africaorbital.wordpress.com F650gs Dakar

Yip, the old Swiss guy has been there about 2 years now apparently and is a right old sod. All the people that I stayed there with had similar problems.

Clearly they don't want people staying there and to have the place to themselves. But it is supposed to be the guesthouse of the mission isn't it?

So, lets complain collectively as we all need this place if passing through, and many overlanders have enjoyed it previously.

Can somebody French speaking figure who to complain too? What does "Foyer International de I'Eglaise Presbyterienne' mean and is there a contact in France or somewhere internationally??

EVERYBODY WHO HAD PROBLEMS PLEASE LEAVE A SHORT MESSAGE BELOW:

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Kiwi, 7 years around Africa. Overlanding channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/roamingyak

I was staying in a room inside, and they certainly didn't appreciate me turning up at 1am after a few s several nights running.

In fairness to them, they mentioned the doors to the house are locked at 8pm, but I hadn't taken too much notice at the time.

However I think there is a general disconnect here between our expectations and those of the proprieters. This is a church run mission house, so overlanders shouldn't expect it to be run like a commercial campground with a bar etc. If they set rules that we don't like, we always have the option of going somewhere else.

Agreed Matt, turning up at 3am and vomiting over the carpet is never appreciated ;-)

But in the case of those who I stayed with they were adding on charges when it came to paying and a variety of dishonest practises like this from some very well behaved overlanders. They made over 80 euros per night when we were all there. Even after 5 days there I wasn't allowed to have 5 litres of water from the tap without paying.

For many years beforehand it had been an overlanders haven where we were welcome. That is what churchs are supposed to be like, the door is always open etc.

Since this new guy has come in it has become full of stories like those above.

It is a great location near the embassies and great bakery! ;-)

For those of use with vehicles it is perhaps the only good option etc.

So maybe a letter in the right direction makes it better for everybody - the old Swiss guy is clearly not happy either ;-)

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Kiwi, 7 years around Africa. Overlanding channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/roamingyak

I was continually locked out despite being back at the hostel before their 'locked doors' time. The final time I had real difficulty getting someone to open up for me and the security guard said I should sleep outside (all my gear being inside as I was staying in the dorm). I banged louder on the door and eventually got an answer - I was shouted at and told they lock up for my own security because it is not safe in the area at night (but they were happy to lock me out!). I said they clearly must lock up for their own security, not mine. After a long argument I told them I would leave and they could lock the door behind me. So I collected my bags and wheeled my bike out of the door at 11pm in the pissing rain. The only thing they were concerned about was that they would not be responsible for anything that might happen to me if I left.

(I went to a bar and when it shut, the kind waitress took me to her home... on the way a guy flagged down our taxi and tried to steal the waitresses handbag - she bit him and the driver sped off, she still had her handbag! Eventful night!)

Having said that, the Swiss guy was pretty helpful when it came to trying to fix my bike and had seemed ok (in daylight hours). The problems were with the women mainly. I was there Sept '10.

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Helen's Take On...

Seems like the news have travelled quickly through Africa. I would like to point out that there is another option in Yaounde being the Benadictine mission. not sure where it is but if someone has some info then post here.

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www.africaorbital.wordpress.com F650gs Dakar

Hi, it seems to me as if you didn't had that good experience with the place but as you said the police were quite helpful to you and yes we always need to be careful while going to a new place otherwise quite strange and unexpected things happen.