The Republic of Cameroon is a country located in Central Africa. Often referred to as “Africa in miniature” because of its rich diversity, it has beaches, deserts, mountain, rainforests, and savannas and is home to more than 100 ethnic groups. Cameroon is bordered by Nigeria on the west, Chad on the northeast, the Central African Republic on the east, and Equatorial New Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo in the south. Mount Cameroon is located in the southwest and is the highest point in the country. Cameroon has been recognized as an independent state since 1961, following the integration of separate French and British colonies into one united, bilingual country.