Mount Cameroon

Southwest Region (near Buea), Cameroon

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Mount Cameroon is a large active volcano in the Southwest Region of Cameroon, rising near the town of Buea on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and forming the highest peak in West and Central Africa at about 4,040–4,095 meters above sea level. It is also known locally as Fako or Mongo ma Ndemi, meaning “Mountain of Greatness,” and lies along the geologically active Cameroon Volcanic Line, erupting periodically from fissures on its flanks, with the most recent major eruption recorded in 2012. The mountain’s slopes support a wide range of habitats, from lowland rainforest through montane forest to high‑altitude grasslands, and it is one of the wettest places on Earth, with some lower slopes receiving close to 10,000 mm of rainfall per year. Mount Cameroon is a key biodiversity hotspot, hosting thousands of plant species, many endemic animals, and abundant bird, reptile, amphibian, and insect life, and much of it is now protected within Mount Cameroon National Park. The peak is a popular but strenuous climb, usually approached from Buea on the famous “Guinness Trail,” and offers dramatic views over the Atlantic coast and surrounding countryside.