Best Tourist Places to Visit in Pointe Noire, Congo, Central Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Pointe Noire, Congo, Central Africa, Africa

Pointe Noire is the 2^nd largest city of the Republic of the Congo, covering an area of 1,144 sq. km. It is a port city, situated on the southwestern part of the country, between 04°46′43″ S latitude and 11°51′49″ E longitude. Pointe Noire is an autonomous department, located about 560 km west of the national capital, Brazzaville.

Pointe Noir is the commercial hub of the country, home to two upgraded railway stations, an international airport and spectacular beaches as well as many entertainment centers. Pointe Noire features a tropical hot and humid climate with heavy seasonal rainfall as like the rest of the country.

History of Pointe Noire:

It is believed that, the name Pointe Noire may be derived from the black rocks on the headland that were recognized by Portuguese navigators when they reached the area in the year 1484. The name Pointe Noire literally means ‘Black Point’. Pointe Noir gained prominence from the French forces when they occupied the town along with the rest of the country in the late 19^th century.

How to reach Pointe Noire?

Pointe Noire holds an international airport, situated around 5 km south of the midpoint of the city. The airport receives flights from Abidjan, Cotonou, Libreville, Paris, Kinshasa, Lome, Douala, Malabo, Port and many other domestic and international cities.

Buses are regular between the airport and city centre and if one booked private transfers that would be more comfort for airport travel.

Taxis generally charge not more than CFA 1000 to move within the city.

Food and Shopping in Pointe Noire:

Being a commercial centre of the country, Pointe Noire holds an upgraded shopping industry with both traditional and modern shops.

The major tourist favor restaurants in Pointe Noire are as follows:

Cercle Naval
Le Derrick
La Cite
Gaspas

Things to do in Pointe Noire:

Beach exploration
City tours
Shopping

Places to see in Pointe Noire:

Notre Dame beach:

The Notre Dame Beach is one of the highlights of Pointe Noire, frequented by tourists from all around the country during dry months. Other than exploring beaches, visitors can also have nice traditional crispy and crunchy delicacies at restaurants located on the beach.

Diosso Gorge:

The Diosso Gorge is a striking natural tourist attraction, situated few kilometers away from the city border. It takes around a half day to explore, although worth a watch. One can get it by rental vehicle.

Mazra Club:

Mazra Club is a beach club, situated in the district of Songolo, 3 km away from the centre of the city. It is in isolated area, though it can be found through a guided tour. One can also taste a local beer at this mangrove ecosystem at a cost of 1000 XAF.

Conkouati-Douli National Park:

Situated to the north of Pointe Noire, the Conkouati-Douli National Park is spread over an area of 5,050 km². The park is rich in vegetation and also houses a wide range of animal species such as elephants, buffalo, gorillas, leopards, Chimpanzees, sitatunga, mandrill and bushpigs. It can be explored best through a guided tour.

List of other places of interest in Pointe Noire includes:

Cote Sauvage
Pointe-Noire
Reserve de Faune de Tsoulou
L’arbre de Brazza
Église Saint Paul
National Museum of Congo
Basilique St. Anne
Congo River
Odzala National Park
Charles de Gaulle House
Mami Wata
Louana National Park
Congo Gorilla Safaris

Best time to visit Pointe Noire:

The best and most popular time to visit Pointe Noire is from July to September.

Accommodation options in Pointe Noire:

Pointe Noire houses around 20 modernized standard centres including vacation rentals, hotels and BB and inns with different upgraded facilities and services, although many hotels don’t take credit cards, so keep local currency in pocket. Here are some nice hotels in Pointe Noire: