Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Cameroon The Slave Port of Bimbia
AO Edited

The Slave Port of Bimbia

Buried deep in the forest near Limbe, this little known slave port became the point of no return for 10 percent of enslaved Africans.

Bimbia, Cameroon

Added By
Line Sidonie Talla Mafotsing
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Bimbia Slave Port   AfricaTravelAssociation / CC BY 2.0
Bimbia Slave Port   AfricaTravelAssociation / CC BY 2.0
  AfricaTravelAssociation / CC BY 2.0
  Mouenthias / CC BY-SA 4.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On the shores of the Atlantic, near the seaside city of Limbe, Cameroon, lies the Bimbia Bonadikombo community forest. In the 18th century, Bimbia was a slave trade port, where historians have confirmed that at least 10 percent of enslaved Africans passed through, before being forced onto boats sailing to Europe and the Americas.

Although covered in overgrown bamboo, bush, and vegetation, the ruins of this coastal slave port are intact. From chains that are almost two meters long to the bells and bracelets still visible, the pain and hardships of those who were enslaved become even clearer. The pillars of the prisons still stand tall.

Unlike the island of Gorée off the coast of Senegal and Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, this slave trading port off the coast of Cameroon is relatively unknown. In the late 1970s, only a small number of historians had identified the remnants of the site, discovered during work on the site of the baptist church dedicated to British missionary Alfred Saker. A little over 10 years ago, Dr. Lisa Aubrey, who was on Fulbright at the University of Yaoundé I at the time, began working with international journalist Alain Kenfack to conduct research on the significance and history of the site. Dr. Aubrey and her research team have been able to locate 166 slave ships that left the shores of Cameroon headed to the Americas. Her research also showed that many of those enslaved did not just come from the Limbe area, but also from the grassfields of inland northern and western Cameroon, going through tortuous routes.

Little has been done to develop the site as a place where tourists can easily visit. A road leading to the site has still not been constructed and local tour guides have been trying to encourage more Cameroonians to visit the site. However, In 2017, the Cameroonian government declared it a National Cultural Heritage and have also been working towards making the historical slave port a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Related Tags

History Colonialism Slavery

Community Contributors

Added By

linetallamafotsing

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

July 15, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Slave Port of Bimbia
Bimbia
Cameroon
3.959896, 9.252491

Nearby Places

Catedral de Santa Isabel

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

miles away

Pico Basilé

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

miles away

Playa de Arena Blanca

Luba, Equatorial Guinea

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cameroon

Cameroon

Africa

Places 3
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Catedral de Santa Isabel

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

miles away

Pico Basilé

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

miles away

Playa de Arena Blanca

Luba, Equatorial Guinea

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cameroon

Cameroon

Africa

Places 3
Stories 4

Related Places

  • Halle (Saale), Germany

    Anton Wilhelm Amo Monument

    The monument honors the first (and for a long time, only) African-born philosopher to teach at a German university.

  • The Ndola Slave Tree.

    Ndola, Zambia

    Ndola Slave Tree

    Once a meeting point for Swahili slave traders, this ancient tree is now a monument to those killed by the slave trade.

  • Island of Gorée

    Dakar, Senegal

    Gorée Island

    This tiny, tranquil Senegalese island serves as a powerful symbol of the Atlantic slave trade.

  • ‘As always, tomorrow is in our hands’ mural.

    São Paulo, Brazil

    Sé Station Mural

    An enigmatic mural hiding in plain sight in one of São Paulo's busiest metro stations.

  • The Vander Ende-Onderdonk House, is the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City

    Queens, New York

    Vander Ende-Onderdonk House

    The oldest Dutch colonial stone house in New York City is a hidden gem on the border of Brooklyn and Queens.

  • Mumbai, India

    Flora Fountain

    An iconic fountain dedicated to the Roman goddess Flora stands in the heart of Mumbai.

  • The Corbit-Sharp House is a 22-room Georgian manor that was built during the late 18th century.

    Odessa, Delaware

    Corbit-Sharp House

    This historic Georgian mansion contains a hidden room that was used to harbor a fugitive in the days of the Underground Railroad.

  • Norton, Massachusetts

    King Philip's Cave

    Ghostly specters are said to haunt this secluded cave where a famed Wampanoag leader spent the final days of his life.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.