South: Coast, waterfalls and Dja Reserve

The South is a region of Cameroon with a distinctive coastal setting: its entire southwestern flank borders the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Alongside this geographic orientation, walks to the Lobé Waterfalls and the Dja Faunal Reserve shape the region’s character. These bring together a range of natural attractions: coastal scenery and beach tourism, a named waterfall destination, and a reserve known for its biodiversity. This mix gives you several ways to explore the South, depending on the landscapes and experiences that interest you most.

The coast and walks to the Lobé Waterfalls

Visitors can experience mangrove vegetation and aquatic wildlife along the coast; the region is also suited to beach tourism. The coastline stretches along the South’s entire southwestern flank on the Gulf of Guinea. This connects the region’s geographic setting with specific coastal attractions: mangroves, aquatic wildlife and beach tourism are among its defining features.

Tourist activities in the South include walks to the Lobé Waterfalls. Alongside beach tourism, they offer a different focus for a trip: here, the emphasis is on a walk to a named natural attraction. When comparing nature experiences, you can decide whether you are more interested in the coast or in walks to the waterfalls.

The Dja Faunal Reserve

The Dja Faunal Reserve is particularly known for its biodiversity and the great diversity of primates. To the west, it extends into the Dja-et-Lobo Department in the South Region; to the east, it extends into the Haut-Nyong Department in the East Region. Its geographic extent therefore reaches into both of the named departments. While the coast is described in terms of mangrove vegetation, aquatic wildlife and beach tourism, the emphasis at Dja is on biodiversity and primates.

When planning your trip, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on: coastal scenery, walks to the Lobé Waterfalls, or the biodiversity of the Dja Faunal Reserve. This can also help you find a hotel for your stay in the South that matches the places and experiences you want to explore.

More landscapes and traditions in Cameroon

Cameroon, as a broader travel destination, offers further landscape perspectives. In Cameroon, Sangha Trinational includes Lobéké National Park as one of three contiguous national parks. Korup Biosphere Reserve lies in the Southwest Region of Cameroon and is characterized by evergreen lowland forest. Its landscape ranges from foothill and swamp forests to submontane slopes on granite peaks. These examples broaden the view of Cameroon beyond the South’s coastal theme.

In Cameroon’s far north, the Waza Biosphere Reserve includes the Yaéré floodplains, with perennial grasses. Korup’s forest landscapes and Waza’s floodplains differ markedly in their described features: one comprises lowland, swamp and foothill forests, while the other comprises Yaéré plains with perennial grasses.

The Ngondo traditions of the Sawa community are also part of Cameroon’s cultural landscape. They are based on the veneration of water oracles and take place annually from September until the first Sunday in December. If you would like to plan your trip around this period, check the dates for the year you plan to travel.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ocean, Assosseng, Ebolowa, North, Southwest, Northwest, Adamawa, West.

Back to the main travel overview: Cameroon.