Mount Cameroon — Guinness Route to Fako Summit

Mount Cameroon — Mongo ma Ndemi, "Mountain of Greatness" — rises straight out of the Atlantic to 4,040 m, making it the highest point in West and Central Africa and one of the few places on earth where you can start in tropical rainforest at breakfast and be on bare volcanic ash by nightfall.

The standard ascent is the Guinness Route, which begins at the Mount Cameroon Ecotourism Organisation (Mount CEO) office in Buea. The path climbs through farmland to Hut 1 (1,850 m), breaks out of the treeline shortly after, and reaches Hut 2 (2,850 m) where almost all parties spend the night. Summit day starts at 04:00 for the final 1,200 m over loose scoria to Fako summit, then descends the same way or continues over the 1999 and 2000 lava flows towards Mann's Spring.

This is a serious mountain, not a walk. It is climbed year-round but the summit sits in cloud for much of the wet season, and the temperature can drop below 5 °C with wind and rain while Buea, three hours below, is at 28 °C. Altitude sickness is common above Hut 2. A registered guide and at least one porter are compulsory — this is enforced at the park gate, and it is also what keeps the mountain's economy in local hands.

The annual Mount Cameroon Race of Hope in February sends runners from Buea to the summit and back in under five hours. It is not a benchmark for anyone else.