Pointe Indienne

Pointe Indienne is a low cape on the coast north of Pointe-Noire, and it is where oil was first found in the Congo in 1957, a discovery that reshaped the country's economy over the following decades. The old installations stand near the shore. The beach itself is quieter than the Côte Sauvage in the city, with fishing villages along it and the same heavy Atlantic surf. Production at the original field was modest and the industry moved offshore within a couple of decades, which is why the onshore installations here were left as they are.

What you actually see

• The 1957 discovery - the site of Congo's first oil find.
• The old installations - the early structures still standing near the shore.
• The quiet beach - a shore emptier than the city coast to the south.
• The fishing villages - the settlements working the coast.

When to go

June to September is the dry cooler season. The rains fall from October to May. Weekends bring visitors from Pointe-Noire.

Honest expectations

The undertow here is as dangerous as elsewhere on this coast. Facilities are minimal. Oil infrastructure along the coast is not photogenic and access to parts is restricted.

Nearby

Pointe-Noire is south, and Loango Bay is north.