Douala, Cameroon

Douala, Cameroon
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_fran%C3%A7ais_de_bonadjo.JPG
Author: Pattnimpa


Douala is the largest city in Cameroon. Located on the coast facing the Gulf of Guinea, it is also the main seaport of the country. It has a population of close to three million people (2012 estimate). The city acts as the commercial capital of Cameroon, handling the bulk of its exports.

Douala has a long history during which it has been ruled by various powers. The first European power to arrive here was the Portuguese, in 1472. Their arrival caused the formation of a settlement composed of Douala-speaking immigrants from the interior. When Cameroon came under German rule in 1884, the town became known as Kamerunstadt. It was given the name Douala in 1907.

After Germany lost the First World War, Cameron was split between the French Cameroun and British Cameroons, with Douala becoming part of French Cameroun. Today the city reflects the French administration, with its patisseries and coffee houses. It is one of the most expensive cities in Africa.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Douala, Cameroon
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cath%C3%A9drale_Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul.JPG
Author: Alessandro Aceri

Visiting Douala

The Douala International Airport (DLA) receives flights from Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Bangui, Bata, Brazzaville, Brussels, Cotonou, Dakar, Johannesburg, Kinshasa, Lagos, Libreville, Malabo, Maroua, N'Djamena, Ouagadougou, Paris, Pointe-Noire, Port-Gentil, São Tomé and Yaoundé.

Places of Interest in Douala

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