History

Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. With a population of approximately 2 million, the city is home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala Airport. Douala is the commercial capital of the country and handles most of the country's major exports, such as oil, cocoa and coffee, as well as trade to or from Chad. It is also home to the Eko Market, the country's largest market.
The first Europeans to visit the area were the Portuguese in about 1472. By 1650, it had become the site of a town formed by immigrants from the interior who spoke the Douala language and during the eighteenth century it was center of the transatlantic slave trade. Before coming under German rule in 1884, the town was also known as Cameroon?s Town; thereafter, it became Kamarunstadt ("Cameroon City"), the capital of German Kamerun. It was renamed Douala in 1907 and became part of the French Cameroon?s in 1919. In the early 1920s Germans had repurchased some property in British Cameroon and German?s interest groups lobbied for the return of Germany's ex-colonies in 1930s. In 1938 the Jeucafra movement was founded, being vehemently opposed to the return of German rule. German property was confiscated with the outbreak of the Second World War. The capital of French Cameroon was moved back from Yaound? to Douala in 1940; and again to Yaound? in 1946.
The city is built on the banks of the Wouri River. The two sides are linked by Bonaberi Bridge. Douala hosts the Douala Stock Exchange (DSX). The market began in a project sponsored by CEMAC (Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa) to create stock exchanges in Gabon and Cameroon. DSX was created in December 2001. The city has a mixture of traditional, colonial, and modern architecture. After the Second World War, the city grew rapidly and is the most populous city in the republic.
Douala is one of the major industrial centers of central Africa. It houses breweries, textile factories, and palm-oil, soap, and food-processing plants. The city also produces building materials, metalwork, plastics, glass, paper, bicycles, and timber products. Other activities are boat and ship repairing, railway engineering, and radio assembly. Douala deepwater port handles most of the country's overseas trade. It has special installations for handling timber products, bananas, gasoline, and bauxite, as well as fishing facilities.
Douala also hosts a branch (economics) of the University of Yaound?; a variety of commercial, agricultural, and industrial schools; and research institutes for health, forestry, textile, oilseed derivatives, and meteorology. A museum and a handicraft centre encourage the production and preservation of Cameroonian art.

Country Name

Cameroon

Population

Total: roughly 400,000 if one includes all the subgroups (Bodiman, Ewodi, Pongo, Mungo, Bakweri, Isuwu, Bakundu...)

Currency Name

CFA Franc

Places to Visit

Douala is one of the most beautiful African cities. It is the capital city of Cameron, and commercial capital of the country, where Cameron is known as Africa in miniature for its geological and cultural diversity. It has the largest port of the country. People come here for tourism as well as trade. Douala handles most of the countrys exports. Flights to Douala are frequent. It has the places to see, go for shopping, enjoying entertainment activities.

Chief attractions Douala

Chief attraction Douala is a nice place with a variety of attractive features that draws tourists from all parts of the world. One such attraction is the Hotel Akwa Palace. Then there is also the famous Eko Market of this city which not only appeals to the local people, but also appeals to the outsiders. La Nouvelle Libert?, Joseph-Francis Sumegn?, Doual?art, La Pagode is other popular tourist destinations of Douala, Cameroon.
Apart from the places to visit, the coffee houses, restaurants, bistros, bars, French type patisseries, (especially the ones along the waterfront) also act as chief attractions. Many areas along the bank of the Wouri River are well developed, that offer breathtaking views of the famous gulf of guinea amidst mango swamps.
For those who love nature, or may be looking for a quiet leisure time, these places are must a visit. There is also a lot for those who enjoy night life. Akwa, the night life region of this city is famous for its clubs and bars.

Douala Water Park

This is a perfect destination for families as the water park is friendly for all individuals. The water park has amazing rides which are largely enjoyed by both adults and children. Many families who tend to plan African vacation book their Douala flights every year.

Hotel Akwa Palace

This venue has long been famous amongst the visitors. Hotel Akwa Palace is one of the prominent landmarks in the city which are widely appreciated for their offerings. Over here, tourists get to spend a nice time on the terrace where they have tea, coffee as well as rejuvenation.

Musee De Douala ? Hotel De Ville

This location is a perfect address for art lovers. Tourists reach the second floor of the popular Hotel De Villa in Douala and locate the marvelous Musee De Douala (aka Douala Museum) where they get to see some of the best Bamileke and Bamoun art which can be bought as well.

Mount Cameroon

Many discern tourists tend to book a tour to the Mount Cameroon. This is where they get to fulfill all of their wildest wishes which include climbing and hiking expeditions. Note that the Mount Cameroon is an active volcano and visiting this natural wonder will be worth-telling.
There are other great locations which can be easily found and visited in the city. Tourists are advised to explore the suburbs of the city which are rich with great caf?s, bars and restaurants.

Douala Occasions and Festivals

Ngodo Festival of the Sawa Douala

It is the most popular an annual festival of the region and is a must attend if you take Douala flights and are interest to learn Sawa culture. It has its own uniqueness for being a water centered event. It holds every year during the first week of December. The event is combination of different displays and exhibits as well as some performances by local artists. If you join this event you will be treated with a range of traditional dances, handicrafts items, arts exhibits, choral music, conferences, singing competition, race, carnival, and much more.

Sheep Festival

Every year in May, Cameroon celebrates the Sheep Festival with a national public holiday. The festival marks the day when the country's sheep herds descend from the hills.

Public Holidays Douala Cameroon 2011

Douala Food

Douala has some of the best restaurants in Cameroon, ranging from African restaurants to French, Italian and Lebanese establishments. Some Chinese and Indian restaurants and American-style burger places can also be found. The waterfront of Akwa and Banajo districts is filled with nice restaurants and bistros with nice views into the Gulf of Guinea and the mangrove areas of the river estuary. All the main hotels in Douala also offer restaurants with an international menu. The local cuisine in Cameroon is very varied, having taken influences from many local ethnic groups and the colonizing French. The staple ingredients include cassava, yam, plantain, beans and rice, while fish and bush meat from wild animals are also commonly available. Some popular local dishes include kebab-type brochettes or a meat and shrimp stew called ndoleh. French bread is also widely available.
The Cameroon meal generally consist of starchy foods (called Fufu) served with spice sauces, stew or some vegetables. Meat, fish, curries and spicy sauce are common.
In the north of Cameroon staples food consist of: Corn, millet, peanuts, meat and fish Cameroon dishes in the south consist of: Root vegetables like yams, Cassava and plantains served with fish or meat mixed with cassava leaves, Okra, and or tomatoes. Ndol? is a very popular sauce made of bitter-leaves and prepared in countless ways.

Emergency Contact Numbers

Tourist Information

Ministry of Tourism
Tel: (237) 22 22 29 36 - 22 22 33 53; Fax (237) 22 22 12 95
Email: [email protected]

Traveling

Taxi

Taxis and share-taxis are available at reasonable fixed rates (none are metered). A 10% tip is optional. City taxis do not generally comply with basic security norms and seat belts are often absent. Violent assaults on taxi passengers are not uncommon, so the choice of taxi must be considered carefully. However, they are cheap and fast. A taxi drop costs over 200 FCFA in Yaounde and Douala.

Local Transportation

In towns like Douala and Yaounde, there are intra urban buses that carry people to various destinations at cheap rates of over 100 FCFA per destination.

Rent A Car

You can have enough opportunity to get a car on rent and there is a lot of deal for this e.g. per day starts from ? 16.

Train

There is no Train service for local transportation in Douala.