town located in southwestern Cameroon. It is an important regional transportation centre, connected by railway to Douala and by roads to Buea (south), Mamfe (north), Bafang (northeast), and Douala (southeast). Kumba is also a trade centre for locally grown oil palms, rubber, tea, bananas, plantains, and cocoa (the major export crop). Its food-processing, construction, and lumber industries use agricultural and forest products from the area. The town has a hospital and a medical research centre. The surrounding region is noted for its many waterfalls and Lake Barombi Mbo, a crater lake several miles to the west. Pop. (2004 est.) 155,171.