Coast and Mayombe

The Republic of the Congo's Coast and Mayombe region is the country's second most populous after Pool, and is home to its second largest city at Pointe-Noire.

Cities

Madingo-Kayes
Pointe-Noire — the second largest city of the Republic of the Congo is a major sea port and a tourist destination

Other destinations

Conkouati Reserve — the most bio diverse park in the country and includes the only marine-protected area in Congo
Dimonika Biosphere Reserve — a reserve covering lowland rainforest and savanna
Tchimpounga Sanctuary — the largest chimpanzee sanctuary on the African continent

Understand

Get in

By plane

Agostinho-Neto International Airport (IATA: PNR). It has local flights from Brazzaville, and international flights from Paris, Istanbul, Nairobi, and other African cities. The airport is not far from the town or beach hotels. A taxi will cost about FCFA 2000 to the town.

By train

La Gazelle train links Pointe-Noire with Dolisie and the capital Brazzaville every other day. With proper restaurant car and air condition, it offers one of the more comfortable railway experiences in sub-Saharan Africa. However, despite the train's name, a journey from Brazzaville takes around 15 hours. There are no sleepers available, just regular seats. Other services, using older rolling stock, are also available. While cheaper, they are be a rather gruelling experience.

Pointe-Noire railway station (Gare de Pointe-Noire), Ave. Carles de Gaulle. The old colonial railway terminus, with "Bavarian-inspired" architectural style, was completed in 1936. A small cafeteria is available as is a ticket office. 2023-01-28

Get around

See

African Circle Museum of Pointe-Noire (Musée du Cercle Africain de Pointe-Noire), -4.78729°, 11.86394°. 09:00-20:00. A great repository of African masks, plus sculpture and painting. Souvenir shop is on the premises too. 2023-01-28
Mâ-Loango Regional Museum, -4.6171°, 11.8586°. Housed in a former royal palace, displays artifacts (weapons, baskets, etc) pertaining to tribal life and the history of the region of the Republic of the Congo. CFA 2500 2023-01-28

Do

Diosso Gorge, -4.6478°, 11.8320°. Just outside Pointe Noire, there's the spectacular Diosso gorges. One can negotiate a taxi for the day to go there and forth. Local village boys have barred the route to the lookout point and ask about FCFA 2000 pp for entrance.
Côte Sauvage, -4.8177°, 11.8524°. The premiere beach of Point-Noire with pretty sand but a little bit contentious as far as surf, theft, and safety (at night) go. Be careful going barefoot too due to broken glass. 2023-01-28
Tchimpounga Animal Sanctuary, -4.5265°, 11.8290°. Jane Goodall's chimpanzee sanctuary for rescued primates who have been caught up in illegal bushmeat trade. May be able to arrange tour. 2023-01-28
Conkouati-Douli National Park, -3.9054°, 11.5425°. A five-hour drive (in the dry season) North of Pointe Noire, near the Gabonese border is the vast and relatively scarcely visited national park of Conkouati-Douli. Elephants, gorillas and chimpanzees can be seen here. Be sure to strenuously ask your guide to do a tour of the Ngongo river as late as possible and to go down the river with the engine turned off to see elephants and gorillas.

Eat

Citronnelle, Opposite Atlantic Palace Hotel. Typical French patisserie, which has some excellent patisseries, cakes and fresh orange juice
La Cite, Taxi will take you there. Typical bakery that also serves swarm, sandwiches and kebab, good prices, Swarm is around FCFA 2000, try the Chocolate Bread (Pain de Chocloat) ~ FCFA 500.
Kactus, Charles de Gaulle crossing (Across from Congo Credit Bank), +242 22 294 5025, +242 05 564 5025. 10:00-22:00. Home delivery and also sit-in restaurant. Very good pizza and Hamburger. The fish burger (as of 2012) is particularly good with a thick chunk of fresh grilled fish topped with cheese, tomato slice and lettuce. Ordering at home will cost you extra FCFA 2000 for shipment, they work very fast in about 20 minutes you have it at your door 2017-10-15
Le Derrick, Port Side Beach. 11:30-15:00, 19:00-22:00. Best place in town for eating, prices are very good about FCFA 5500 will give you the daily menu, It is mostly for oil industry people, but anyone can eat there. However, it does get crowded during meal times hence come early. Certainly a recommended place as of 2012.
Gaspar. Very good fish and chicken on a stick, French type on the sidewalk restaurant, very fresh and tasty food. Do not go to bathroom since it is dirty, chicken is clean.
Cercle Naval (ClubNautique), +242 05 557 9998. 12:00-15:00, 18:00-22:30. Restaurant co-located with the Pointe Noire Yacht Club. Covered terrace overlooking the water. Most of the patrons are expatriates. Large selection of pizzas, also meat and fish dishes. Nice atmosphere. FCFA 7-9,000

Drink

VonVon Bar.
Terminus Mbota Carlos.

Stay safe

Regarding the health issues one may reach different infrastructures available from hospitals, health centers and pharmacies that provide medication and primary consultation, below are some of those facilities;

Pharmacie de la Raffinerie.
Hopital de Loandjili.
Pharmacie Pascal.