Honeymoon from Douala: Zanzibar, Mauritius or the Seychelles?

Djo is getting married… and he still hasn't picked his honeymoon. Three Indian Ocean islands keep coming up: Zanzibar, Mauritius and the Seychelles. For a traveller with a Cameroonian passport, they don't have the same visa, the same season or the same budget on arrival. Here is the comparison, checked on 3 November 2026.

The summary in one table

Zanzibar: do Cameroonians need a visa?

Yes. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, and a Cameroonian applies for the ordinary visa at $50 on the official Tanzanian immigration website (a visa on arrival also exists, but doing it online saves you the airport queue). Stays can last up to 90 days.

Two more requirements:

• mandatory travel insurance: $44 per adult ($22 for a child). It already existed for Zanzibar; since 1 October 2026 it applies to all of Tanzania. If you enter through Zanzibar, you buy it from Zanzibar's insurance company; one policy covers a mainland + island trip;
• the yellow fever certificate: Cameroon is on the list of countries concerned, and the vaccine must be at least 10 days old on arrival.

The dream part: the beaches, and the old town of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Go in the dry season: June to October, or mid-December to February. The long rains fall from March to May.

Mauritius: a free visa, with conditions

Good news: the visa is free, issued on arrival (up to 60 days). But the immigration officer will ask for:

• a return ticket;
• your hotel booking;
• the online form filled in before you arrive (a simple declaration);
• proof that you can pay for your stay.

The island is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs: its calm lagoons are perfect for a couple.

Seychelles: no visa… but two traps

The Seychelles require no visa for any nationality: the visitor's permit is issued free on arrival. However, you must apply online for a travel authorisation, €10 for the standard option, before you leave.

On Praslin, the Vallée de Mai (UNESCO) is home to the coco de mer, the largest seed in the world. And cyclones rarely pass through: the islands lie outside their usual path. The best months: April, May, October and November, between the two monsoons.

How do you get there from Douala?

There is no direct flight from Douala to any of the three islands. You need a stopover, for example in Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Nairobi (Kenya Airways). Check whether the stopover requires a transit visa, depending on the airport and the length of the layover.

So, Zanzibar, Mauritius or the Seychelles?

• Smaller budget, culture and beaches: Zanzibar, in the dry season.
• Free visa and lagoons: Mauritius, in September or October.
• Full luxury, no visa: the Seychelles, if you can show the daily budget.

For each island, the Travora page details documents, length of stay, budget and season: Tanzania, Mauritius and the Seychelles. And if you're planning the end-of-year holidays instead, read where to go for the holidays from Douala.