Coach Joachim Low named a strong XI that included the likes of Marco Reus, Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze but saw his side struggle to find top gear at Borussia Park.
Following a low-key first half, Samuel Eto'o gave Cameroon the lead two minutes after the hour when he beat Roman Weidenfeller from inside the area.
However, Germany were in front within 10 minutes of Eto'o's opener as Thomas Muller headed home the equaliser before Andre Schurrle tapped in their second from close range.
There was to be a twist in the tale, though, as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting netted a well-taken late equaliser.
Coach Volke Finke will have enjoyed the return to his homeland, where he managed Freiburg for 16 years, although Low and Germany look far from the finished product on the evidence of Sunday's encounter.
The hosts made a lively start and Ozil should have scored within the first minute but could only slip Sami Khedira's pass wide of Charles Itandje's right-hand post.
Itandje then tipped Gotze's strike onto the woodwork before Eto'o, rested for Cameroon's last two friendlies, had the visitors' first effort on target.
However, a number of minor fouls stopped either side from getting into full flow, with the dangerous Reus next to test Itandje before Khedira failed to connect with a cross from the left.
Cameroon could have stolen ahead before the break when Eto'o played in Benjamin Moukandjo, but the Nancy forward saw his prodded effort well saved by Weidenfeller.
Having finished the first half strongest, Cameroon were under threat early in the second half as Reus flashed an effort wide of goal.
However, captain Eto'o, preparing for his fourth World Cup, initially forced a save from Weidenfeller before following up at the second attempt after Choupo-Moting had cut the loose ball back.
Their joy was short-lived, however, as Muller headed in the equaliser after good work from Jerome Boateng on the right before Lukas Podolski broke free down the left, amid suspicions of offside, and squared for substitute Schurrle to finish.
Mainz man Choupo-Moting, who was born in Germany, saw his fine goalscoring run continue - finding the net for a third consecutive friendly - to gain Cameroon a draw and leave Low with a few question marks ahead of Friday's final friendly with Armenia.
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