Yaoundé sits on a plateau at around 750 metres elevation, giving it a tropical climate that's mercifully cooler than the sweltering lowlands.

The city experiences two distinct rainy seasons that bookend the year, with the heaviest downpours between September and November when streets turn into impromptu rivers.

Temperatures hover between 19°C and 28°C year-round, rarely reaching extremes but maintaining a steady warmth that never quite lets you forget you're in the tropics.

Humidity is relentless throughout the year, turning even the mildest physical activity into a perspiration event and making quick-dry fabrics worth their weight in CFA francs.

The red laterite soil becomes a laundry nightmare during wet months, staining light-coloured shoes and trouser hems with an orange tint that's stubbornly permanent.