Douala is Cameroon’s Economic Capital and the most populous as well. For this reason, the city is one of the most visited in the CEMAC region.
Douala is Cameroon’s Economic Capital and the most populous as well. For this reason, the city is one of the most visited in the CEMAC region.
Whether for business or leisure or just by chance, you may find yourself in Douala sooner rather than later.
Here are some things you can do in Douala to make your trip memorable.
10 Things to Do When Visiting Douala for the First Time
1) Visit the Douala Grand Mall
The first place we’d advise you to go when you visit Douala is the Douala Grand Mall. The Douala Grand Mall is the biggest in the CEMAC region, boasting thousands of visitors daily.
You will be impressed by the architectural design of the mall as well as its picturesque surroundings.
The mall has a supermarket, game houses, restaurants, a cinema, and showrooms of diverse types. You will also have the chance to glimpse the Douala international airport, just a few hundred meters from the Grand Mall.
2) Take a Walk on the Wouri Bridge
The bridge across the River Wouri is the longest in Cameroon. The recently constructed and impressively designed bridge is about 1800 meters long.
The Wouri bridge links the main city center to the Sea port area in Bonaberi. This bridge also connects the economic Capital to the three western Regions of the country.
The Wouri River is a significant financial hub for the locals who carry out fishing activities and sand extraction. You can also take a ride in the Wouri River using the canoes and engine boats of the local fishermen.
3) Eat Lots of Seafood
Douala is a coastal city, and you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t get to eat the seafood on offer in town. For the best experience, you may want to visit the “base naval,” where you will be treated to various species of fish and crustaceans along the borders of the Atlantic Ocean.
We recommend the “Gambas,” a shrimp meal that can be served as an appetizer or a whole meal alongside rice, French fries, or plantains.
You will also have the opportunity to eat Fresh sole, Carp, and Tilapia (carp) fish; the fish taste will completely blow you away, as the fish spices and pepper make it fantastic. Good luck with trying to make a choice!
Read More: Things To Do Before Traveling Through The Douala International Airport
4) Visit Exhibition Centers
The city of Douala has some of the most exotic and historic centers in Cameroon. The most notable ones are the Maritime Museum and Doual’arts exhibition center.
i. The Douala Maritime Museum is a futuristic ship-like building with an impressive collection of sculptures, maps, and paintings of various forms.
The museum is located in the administrative district of Bonanjo and should be among the very top places to visit when you are in Douala.
ii. The Doual’arts exhibition center is an art gallery for contemporary art. It has collections of the evolution of urban culture in Cameroon and Africa in general.
All these are depicted through paintings, architecture, and other forms of visual arts. The art gallery is situated in the city center and is very accessible.
Also Read: Specialist Hospitals in Cameroon
5) Jump on a Motorcycle!
One of the most peculiar characteristics of the city of Douala is the sheer number of bikes on virtually every street, neighborhood, or commercial area of the town.
The revving engines, the screeching tires, and honks of all types are impossible to ignore.
It would take you only a short time to understand the need for this phenomenon. Most parts of the city have some of the most unforgiving traffic jams you’d ever see.
You can transform all these into a fun experience by taking one of the commercial bikes yourself. These bikes will take you to your destination faster than any other means of transportation in the city.
Enjoy the ride, and ask your rider to be prudent, as bike accidents are frequent. Also, in some areas of the city, the movement of commercial bikes is out of bounds.
6. Enjoy Some Street Food
Staying with the urban culture in Douala, everyone in this city loves street food. Did I say “everyone”? YES, EVERYONE!! There must be something special about this street food, then.
When you visit Douala, you’ll notice different joints, spots, and kiosks that sell street food. Although this is common in all towns of Cameroon, there is no contesting the fact that Douala has some of the most spectacular street food in Cameroon.
From “soya” (a type of steak) to grilled pork and chicken, there’s something for everyone. You’d love to try the beignets and haricot-bouilli special in the early mornings or evenings.
7) Experience Nightlife
After the hustle and bustle of the day, you can cool down by taking in the nightlife in the city of Douala.
There are many choices to pick from in virtually every city neighborhood. You can choose from Snacks and nightclubs for all classes, night-time restaurants, live music bands, and open-air joints where you could take a few pints.
The Bonamoussadi, Akwa, and Bonapriso areas are among the favorite destinations for “Douala” city dwellers
8) Visit a Cinema
If you are not the Snack-night club kind of person, you might prefer to wind down in a “quieter” setting. Spending quality time at a cinema of your choice might be another option.
Eden Cinema, Genesis Cinema, and Canal Olympia are usually cinemas in the city with exciting lineups. You can choose between the English and French versions of movies on show.
9) Parcours Vita
We can’t round off this article without something for sports and fitness lovers.
Parcours Vita is the city’s most prominent sports, leisure, and fitness center, with a running track of about 2,800m (about 4000 steps).
The fitness center located in Bonamoussadi in the Douala 5 council area is a free-entry 24-hour sports and fitness sanctuary.
The site also presents fitness gyms, music, dance clubs, and an ever-green garden area around the park.
You can also treat yourself to healthy beverages like fruit, tea, and coffee.
10) Treat Yourself to a Spa Session
To conclude our list of things to do when you visit Douala, we suggest you get yourself a Spa session!
Considering how stressful Douala can be, with the challenges associated with commuting, the heat, the noise, and many forms of urban disorder, a spa session might be what you need. Hippotechgroup.com has a comprehensive list of spa and massage Parlors in Douala.
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