Discover Douala: Art, History and Maritime Heritage

Maritime history, public art and historic architecture give Douala a range of cultural points of interest. If you’re looking for hotels in Douala, these themes can help structure your travel plans. The Musée Maritime de Douala and La Pagode are in Bonanjo; by contrast, the landscape, climate and regional cuisine are part of the broader Littoral destination.

Maritime history in the Bonanjo district

Since December 17, 2013, the Musée Maritime de Douala has been at its third location in Douala. It remains in the Bonanjo district, on Rue de l’Hôpital and close to the Douala port area. This connects the museum both to its history of changing locations and to a specific place in the city.

The museum has a sailing simulator for training. It is available to professionals and trainees during their training, offering realistic sailing experiences; for visitors, it provides insight into various lake navigation techniques. In this way, it serves two purposes: practical training on the simulator and introducing visitors to navigation techniques. For travelers interested in maritime history, the museum combines a specific location in Bonanjo with this perspective on lake navigation.

Public art and guided visits

Doual’art has established more than 80 public artworks and artistic events, on a permanent or temporary basis, in various locations and districts of Douala. Their distribution across several districts and their varying durations give public art in Douala more than one fixed point of reference in space or time. The “Douala Ville d’Art et d’Histoire” program also offers guided tours of public artworks in Douala, with commentary. This guided perspective offers a distinct way to engage with the works and events spread throughout the city.

La Pagode: construction and move-in

La Pagode, also known as the Palais du Roi Manga Bell, is a Japanese-style house in Bonanjo, Douala. King Auguste Manga Ndoumbè built it in 1905. Rudolf Douala Manga Bell moved in in 1908, after succeeding his father as head of the Bell dynasty. The construction and move-in thus mark two separate historical moments: the house was built, and Rudolf moved in several years later. La Pagode complements the Musée Maritime’s maritime focus with an architectural and historical perspective.

In the broader Littoral destination

The Littoral Region includes a coastal plain and the Wouri estuary, with elevations ranging from 0 to 100 meters. Mangroves and forests make up a large part of the region’s vegetation, and its biodiversity is rich and varied. Nature conservation is also part of this landscape: the reserve at Lac Ossa and the Douala-Edéa Wildlife Reserve are among the reserves established to protect the region’s natural assets. Other visitor destinations in the Littoral Region include the Nachtigal Monument and the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Cathedral.

Ndolè, a dish made with green leafy vegetables and peanuts, is part of the regional cuisine. It may also include shrimp or freshly caught fish, as well as meat or poultry. The Littoral Region also has numerous culinary specialties made with seafood. Leafy vegetables and peanuts form the base of Ndolè; possible additions range from seafood to meat or poultry.

The Littoral has an equatorial climate and receives substantial rainfall even in the driest months. So when planning your travel dates, keep in mind that it can rain during these months too.

Discover more destinations: Akwa Ii

Go to the broader travel overview: Wouri.