Originally, it was a trial garden, a centre for experimentation and acclimatisation of useful tropical species, such as rubber, coffee, cocoa, oil palm, banana, teak, and sugar cane, destined for Kamerun and other German colonies.

Originally intended for agriculture, the botanical garden is now oriented towards conservation, education, science, tourism and leisure.

[4] Past directors of the Limbe Botanic Garden have included: Hubert Winkler worked there in 1904–1905, and Carl Ludwig Ledermann [fr] in 1908.

Others are cultivated for conservation purposes: Irvingia gabonensis, Garcinia kola, Afrostyrax kamerunensis [fr], Cola spp., Prunus africana, Gnetum, Pterocarpus soyauxii, Diospyros, Rauvolfia vomitoria, Nauclea diderrichii, Terminalia spp., Annickia chlorantha, Eremomastax speciosa [fr], Bryophyllum spp.

[7][8] A centre of attraction called "Jungle Village" has been set up and serves as a framework for the organisation of cultural events for the enjoyment of tourists.