Limbe's position on the coast, with a major city to the east and forest highlands to the north, makes it a reasonable base for short excursions. Douala is the obvious one: an hour away by bush taxi, it is Cameroon's commercial capital and largest city, with the Marché des Fleurs, a busy port, and the colonial-era architecture of the Bonanjo district. Worth a day if you haven't already passed through.
Buea, about 30 kilometres north and a 30-minute drive, is the base for Mount Cameroon expeditions. Even if you are not climbing, the town sits at around 1,000 metres and is noticeably cooler than the coast — a relief in the wet season. The forested slopes above Buea hold good birdlife accessible on shorter walks without committing to the full summit.
Kribi, a beach town about three hours south along the coast road, has white sand beaches and the Lobe Falls — one of very few places in the world where a river falls directly into the sea. It is a longer haul but worth an overnight trip.
