Types of Houses in Cameroon With Pictures (Updated Designs)

 Houses in Cameroon come in various forms, styles, and shapes — from mansions to bungalows to terraces. These different types of houses all have something unique about them. The whole profession of architecture is dedicated to the designing and construction of such buildings, with particular emphasis paid to aesthetic values.



Over the years, some housing styles have gone in and out of fashion. However, the core concept of a home remains — a place where one can seek shelter. With the advances in smart home technology and improvements in construction tech, the houses of today are arguably as comfortable and stylish as they have ever been.


Just like it is the American dream, owning your own home is also a dream for many Cameroonians. This dream is also in line with purchasing or buying land in Cameroon. Choosing the perfect home involves figuring out the ideal style for your family and making sure it fits your daily needs; so the number of beds, baths, location, size, etc, are all things to keep in mind.


This article sheds light on some of the most popular types of houses being built in Cameroon today (pictures included). This will help you find a suitable residential property — be it in Douala, Yaounde, Limbe, Buea, Bamenda, Kumba, or anywhere else across the country.



Confidence Real Estate Cameroon is a Cameroon-based estate agent company. If you are looking for a house, flat, land, or commercial property, to buy or rent — visit our property or land listings to buy and sell houses. You can also send a property request.

Types of Houses in Cameroon With Pictures (Updated List)

The various types of houses in Cameroon are listed as follows:

  1. Mansion
  2. Bungalow
  3. Apartments or flats
  4. Penthouse
  5. Terraced house
  6. Semi-detached house
  7. Detached house
  8. Duplex
  9. Traditional houses


1. Mansion



A mansion is a very big luxury home, often above 5,000 square feet in size. However, what actually qualifies as a mansion depends on opinion and location. Calling a home a mansion indicates a level of grandeur, quality, and style that is far above the normal in a given area. This correlates with the housing patterns of the wealthy.

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The size of a property as well as the number of rooms and bathrooms all play a part in defining what a mansion is — but there are further defining features, such as entertainment facilities, leisure space, and luxury finishing. 

So things like grand staircases, crystal chandeliers, big open foyers, massive gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts, home automation, and various other high-end amenities.

Mansions can be found scattered across Cameroon: with some of the most impressive being sited in Douala, Yaounde, Limbe, and Buea.

2. Bungalow



A bungalow is typically a one-story home, cottage, or cabin. It can either be detached or semi-detached. Bungalows originated in South Asia, with the name deriving from the Bengal region of India.

Bungalows are generally small in size: when it comes to square meters. Having said this, these days you can find very large bungalows that combine both technology and splendid architecture, to cater for the more urban lifestyles most live today.

Given their relatively small size: bungalows are inexpensive to build and easy to maintain. As a result, they provide an affordable home option for the working class across Cameroon.

3. Apartments or flats



Apartments or flats are among the most popular forms of housing in the world today. An apartment building is a combination of many separate homes stacked on top and next to each other. Each apartment acts as its own dwelling or living space.

As each apartment forms just a section of the overall building: it offers less privacy than alternative types of housing. By owning a flat, a person has access to common areas such as green space, playgrounds, rooftops, and gyms.

The popularity of flats has increased in Cameroon, as the population has become more urban in nature. Because of the space-saving advantages of building vertically, flats are frequently much cheaper to buy than other home types.

4. Penthouse



A penthouse apartment is a unit on the topmost floor of a multistorey apartment building or hotel. What differentiates a penthouse from other apartments, is its luxury features or elements.

Penthouses are often the most expensive forms of housing in a given market. These types of houses are the largest, the most exclusive and offer the best views in a given apartment building. As such, penthouses are synonymous with a luxury lifestyle. You will often find them in Cameroon’s biggest cities such as Douala, Yaounde, and Limbe.

5. Terraced house



A terrace, terrace house, townhouse, or row house: is a single-family home that is usually set over two or three floors. A terrace house sits side-by-side with other terraces (joined together), forming a tight row down a road or block or the inside of a gated estate.

Terraces usually have identical fronts and identical heights. Thus are mirror images of each other. They are designed to accommodate as many people as possible in densely populated cities. The last house in a row of terraces is known as the “end of terrace”.

Terraces are generally more affordable than detached and semi-detached homes and thus have become more desirable in certain places – particularly in Abuja and parts of Lagos.

6. Semi-detached house



A semi-detached house (sometimes called a “semi”) is a single-family home that shares a single wall with the next house. This style differentiates it from terraced houses (with shared walls on both sides), and detached houses (with no shared walls). You can find single-story semidetached homes (bungalows) and semis that are spread over two floors.

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Building costs are typically lower than that of a fully detached house, thus you tend to get extra space for your money (or the same thing for less). Thanks to modern architecture, some of the semi-detached homes being built in Cameroon today: are very pleasing to the eye.

7. Detached house

detached house Cameroon

Another popular type of house in Cameroon is the detached house. These can be found in the affluent parts of Yaounde, Douala, Buea, Bamenda, and other major cities in Cameroon.



Detached houses are associated with the rich and famous, and feature some pretty impressive architecture. Although not as large as mansions, they are often just as luxurious — depending of course on tastes and how they are finished/furnished. They have usually spread over two or more floors and feature their own private gates: leading onto a private compound.

Detached houses are great for people that like their privacy and for those with larger families.

8. Duplex



In the Cameroonian context, a duplex can be thought of as a house where two different units (on two different floors) are stacked on one another like apartments. In essence, a duplex is like having two different houses in the same home.

As a rule of thumb: duplexes have at least two floors and you can find functioning apartments on each floor — thus this type of home is perfect for bigger families. Similar structures with three or four housing units or floors are called triplex or fourplex.

When one mentions a duplex in Cameroon: this can also be called either a detached, semi-detached, or terraced house depending on how the duplex is designed/arranged.

9. Traditional houses



Traditional houses in Cameroon are generally found in the more rural parts of the country. These houses reflect the traditional house-building techniques and styles of the various ethnic groups of Cameroon. 



The primary building materials used in constructing traditional houses include wood, straw, stones, and mud.

Although they are far cheaper to build: these homes are often outdated and are far less convenient for modern life. Consequently, they are continuously being replaced (especially in areas close to cities) by more modern homes in the form of apartments, bungalows, duplexes, and mansions.

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Conclusion

Whether you are looking to build your own home or acquire one that is being built (or has already been built): It is important to know which type of home will fit your requirements. 

Read: Real Estate in Cameroon: A Comprehensive Guide

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