In May 2018, the main southern border between Cameroon and Nigeria was closed to tourists due to the ongoing security issues in the western area of Cameroon that secessionist rebels are now calling Ambazonia. The Cameroon government can not guarantee the safety of people in this area so they have decided that the best option is to limit access.

This decision has left overland travellers with only 2 real options to get from Nigeria into Cameroon. You can head north and cross at the border between Gembu in Nigeria and Banyo in Cameroon or you can try and take a boat to Cameroon from Calabar in Nigeria.

How to take a boat from Nigeria to Cameroon

There a few different routes that are available by boat. The main route and the most reliable vessel goes from Calabar to Tiko in Cameroon. This boat tends to leave twice a week from Calabar but there is presently no scheduled, guaranteed departures.

You need to be hopeful they fill the boat quickly with other cargo and then it will leave. If you have a larger vehicle then this is the only viable option. It is expensive with quotes for a 4×4 camping car approaching the US $2000 mark.  For a motorbike you can expect to pay about US $400. 

Other options are boats that travel to Limbe and Douala. There is no schedule for these boats and they will only leave when full of cargo. They are not designed for passengers so it can be a bit of a wild ride, especially in the rainy season.

The cost for all of these boats is approximately 20000 Naira per person as a foot passenger. The ticket price for people is set so there is no need to bargain for this, but the vehicle price is dependent on the shipping agent so be prepared to haggle.

What is the trip like?

The journey itself is quite interesting. There are loads of fisherman plying their trade in traditional boats and you also pass through the offshore oil fields with the rigs flaring gas into the night sky.

The highlight of the trip is the passage between the imposing peaks of Mount Cameroon and Pico Basile on the Equatorial Guinea island of Bioko. These two places happen to be the 5th and 6th wettest places respectively on the planet, so I’d make sure you pack a raincoat! 

The boats tend to leave anytime from early morning until about 2pm. Departure is dependent on the tides but due to security they wont leave after 2. They will then aim to travel through the night and reach land the following morning. The Douala port is closed during low tide so the boats will only enter on the high tide mark.

Finally, there is an option with daily departures but it is only really suitable to foot passengers. It’s important to note that it is far from the safest option. If you want to take a risk on the aptly named ‘flying’ boats then you can travel from Oron in Nigeria to Idenao in Cameroon.

In a perfect world this takes approximately 3 hours and will cost you about 25 dollars. To get to Oron you can take a shared canoe from the beach in Calabar and this trip takes about 45 mins.

If you have any stories about taking a boat from Nigeria to Cameroon, please share them in the comments. Likewise, if you are looking for additional guidance, drop a note there as well.