Mount Cameroon

Mount Cameroon is an active basalt volcano in the Fako region of Cameroon that rises 13,435 feet (4,095 meters) above the ocean. The slopes show several vegetation zones, from dense rainforest in the lower areas to bare ground near the top.

European explorers first reached the summit in the 19th century, though local communities had long known the volcano. Eruptions occurred as recently as 2000, with earlier outbursts taking place during the 1980s.

Local communities call the peak Fako and continue to farm the fertile lower slopes, where plantations blend with traditional settlements. The mountain shapes daily life in nearby villages, where people grow crops in volcanic soil and observe customs passed down through many generations.

Hikers need at least two days for the ascent and descent, with overnight stays in simple huts or tents on the mountain. The best months for climbing fall during the dry season, when trails are less slippery.

The coastal side receives extreme rainfall, among the highest amounts anywhere on the planet, creating dense cloud forests on the slopes. Frost sometimes forms at the summit, even though the mountain stands only a few miles from the tropical ocean.