Ibis Hotel Douala

... in street French it translates as “many dangers threaten us.” To find that on a taxi on the streets in Douala rings true in dimensions behyond those imagined by the person behind the statement! The hall, which had recently been repainted ...

... simply don’t have access to anywhere near what we take for granted in the west. Mr. Mabout drove me back to the hotel. I’m pretty tired this evening. I talked about six hours today in very humid heat. I’m sure I’ll sleep well ...

... those phenomena. We spent 40 minutes on the ground in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon and then took off again for Douala where we arrived a little after 01:00. Surprisingly I moved quickly through immigration and my suitcase popped out among the first. ...

... clouds of large bats flitting in the city's sky as I ate my breakfast. They're almost always here in the center of Douala, but I'm often surprised to see them. These are daytime bats, out morning and evening, looking, I suppose, for insects. More power ...

... of about 3 hours, the Chief shows up and we get our free transit visas counter-signed! I took a taxi into the Ibis Hotel which I usually use in Douala. I thought back to my first trip here 15 years ago. So much has happened since then. I may not be coming ...

... what happens!" which finally put an end to the negotiating. We drove down dark highways and streets to the Bonanjo quarter of Douala, arriving at the Hotel Ibis about 01:30. We checked in, said "good-night" in the lobby to our friends old and new, and ...

... that stayed on lit streets. There are shorter ways, but darker and this late at night that’s not advisable in Douala.  Arriving at the hotel around 2:30, I thanked the men for coming and we arranged to meet again then next day for a meeting ...

... leadership seminars to be held in Douala. For lunch, I took a taxi down to the Wouri River to my favorite restaurant in Douala, the Dernier Comptoir Colonial (the last colonial trading post). It's right on the water, and far enough out that one can see ...

... a while. Fiona and Tatiana slept until 11:00 when we got them up and going so we could see a bit of Douala. At noon we took a hotel taxi to the Akwa district, a bustling popular quarter where there is always something interesting going on in the streets. ...

... back home not long after dark. He doesn’t see too well in the dark, so it’s better he not drive at night, or that he has someone with him to help him spot hazards. I got back to the hotel around 6:30. I had a light dinner, and am ready to ...

... a certain altitude the cloud cover was solid, so I didn't see much on the 1 hour 45 min. flight until we arrived near Douala. The clouds broke as we approached and I could see the Wouri River estuary, where the country got its name. The first Europeans ...

... of sisal fiber from the Congo. My souvenir rules: nothing heavy, bulky or easily breakable.   We arrived back at the hotel late in the afternoon, and repacked our suitcases one last time. We had a light dinner in the Ibis restaurant before checking ...

... which I'm in an upper tier as a frequent flyer, I was given a pass to their new business lounge: definitely a first for Douala. It was really quite nice: clean, comfortable, and air-conditioned with Internet access, snacks and an open bar available. My ...

... and go the customs and security checkpoint where they x-ray everything entering the country.  Finally in the outer hall, at the Ibis hotel counter I ask to go the Ibis Marcory. Patientez Monsieur, the driver is almost here. I ask how long that might ...

Today was another very full day. Mr. Mabout arrived late, he wasn't feeling well, and we drove to the hall. The center of the city was rather empty due to it being Easter, but as we left the business centers, the streets filled with people who ...

... is a miserable way to travel. It’s as if it were yesterday in my memory. A few years back my Cameroon Airlines flight from Douala to Lomé was canceled and we were put on a flight to Cotonou. We had to pay for our own transit visas in Cotonou. We ...

... and today represented a not untypical; not entirely pleasant, way that travel often falls out in this part of Africa. Four hotel customers left the Ibis on the 9:30 pm shuttle to the airport. There were three Frenchmen on the shuttle as well who were ...

... the receding tide, and fish raptors swooping and diving as they hunted for lunch.  Ships from the port of Douala moved out toward the sea, and in the distance colorful motorized pirogues shuttled passengers down stream from remote villages. The ...