Mokolo, Cameroon

Capital City

The population of Mokolo clocks in at just over 40,000, making it the fourth largest city in Cameroon's Far North province. That may sound manageable, but the reality is a persistent bureaucratic headache - two rival traditional chiefs, the Lamido, still govern the Fulani and Mafa populations separately. Taxes and disputes must be settled with both, a cumbersome process. And the climate is no joke, with scorching temperatures reaching over 110°F during the long, dry season. For those who can navigate the red tape and handle the heat, Mokolo may offer opportunities as the "breadbasket of the Mandara Mountains," but it's hardly a tropical paradise.