Littoral Region

From a tourist’s point of view, the Littoral Region offers several advantages. The coastal zone is favorable to beach holidays, with its beautiful bays and white sandy beaches extending as far as the eye can see, right over to Yoyo and Manoka.

Located almost along the sea’s edge on the left bank of the Wouri River, the City of Douala is the regional and economic capital of Cameroon and remains the main port of entry into the country.

This town is bustling with activity, thanks to its port which is one of the biggest on the West African coast and its international airport, which is served by a number of airline companies.

Apart from a thriving business in tourism which benefits from a high-quality and rapidly expanding hotel industry, the major tourist attractions of Douala are its monuments, dating back to the colonial period, and its many markets. However, Douala is not the only attraction of the region; the secondary towns of Edéa and N’kongsamba also attract many tourists visiting Yaoundé or Kribi, or the West and North-west Regions.

Douala :

The town of Douala is situated on the mouth of the Wouri River, in the centre of the Cameroon coastline. It is the economic capital of the country and one of the biggest ports on the African continent. Most of the town is built on the left bank of the river. It was the administrative capital of the country when it was a German colony until 1901, then took the name of Douala which is the main tribe of the region (the Duala). It has an equatorial climate which is hot and humid. There is a dry season from December to May (which encourages tourism) and a rainy season from June to November.

Douala’s main districts:

• Bonanjo – administrative centre and residential district

• Akwa – business district

• Bonapriso and Bali – residential district where the public services are to be found

• Bassa – working class district and industrial zone

• New Bell, Deido, New Deido and Bépanda – working-class districts

• North Akwa – a district of housing estates

• Bonabéri – on the other bank of the river

Douala’s main cultural event:

A canoe race on the Wouri River is Ngondo’s great cultural event, an opportunity for the Sawa tribe to contact their ancestors who live in the water.

Douala tourist sites:

• Prince DIKA Castle, Akwa

• Islands of Manoka and Djebalé

• Sandaga central market

• Youpwé fishing village

• Bridge over the Wouri River

• ONCPB Museum in the town hall

(this was the National office for negotiating and selling basic products at the best price)

• Flower and artwork market

• Pagoda of King Bell