Rivers Wouri and Meme feed the Wouri and Rio del Rey mangroves, respectively, of Cameroon. The dependence of both flora and fauna on these water resources that depend on the quality of the soil is a cause for concern. This study examined the physicochemical properties of soils that were collected around the vicinity of these rivers. This was to ascertain the former’s role in controlling the movement of chemical entities into these rivers and nutrient quality. Twenty-one surface soil samples were collected (0-20cm depth) within the vicinity of both rivers and analyzed for their physicochemical properties using standard methods. All the soils were slightly acidic. They were dominated by kaolinitic clay minerals and sesquioxides. The mean ECEC (4.31 cmol/kg) of soils around River Wouri was higher than that (2.94cmol/kg) of soils around River Meme. The average clay content of 11% in soils around River Meme was more than that (4%) in soils around River Wouri, suggesting that the higher ECEC of soils from Wouri could be contributed by organic matter and soil moisture content. The latter had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.82, p<0.05) with organic matter and clay, respectively, in soils from Wouri. In soils from Meme, moisture content had an insignificant positive correlation (r = 0.31, p<0.05) with organic matter but a significant positive correlation (r = 0.54, p<0.05) with clay. This implies that the composition of the clays and organic matter of soils around both rivers are slightly different. The soils around both rivers have low major nutrients though more depleted around River Wouri and are vulnerable to increase anthropogenic activities such as farming practices, industrial and municipal waste disposal. Stringent legislature on the management and more study on the mineralogical content of soils are recommended. Keywords: Soil, physicochemical properties, Clays, Rivers, Mangroves.

Keywords: Soil, physicochemical properties, Clays, Rivers, Mangroves.