Mount Cameroon, Cameroon

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Mount Cameroon is the highest mountain in West Africa, rising more or less straight from the coast through tropical rainforest to a bare summit which is cold and windy and occasionally brushed with snow. It is not dormant and sent lava flowing down almost to the sea only last year. Although it is so close to the sea it can rarely be seen from the coast as clouds gather round its lower slopes and Debuncha at its southwest corner is reputed to be the second wettest place in the world.

The climb is usually started from Buea at around 1000m where the compulsory guide and the very necessary porters can be obtained from the Mount Cameroon Ecotourism Organisation Office. There is no water on the mountain above the forest so large amounts must be carried, needed lower down to replace the sweat lost by a hot and humid climb through the forest and higher up to counteract the threat of altitude problems.

There are several trails on the mountain. We took the oldest and steepest trail which is known as the Guinness Trail since this company originally sponsored the annual race up and down by this route. It ascends the drier eastern slopes of the mountain. The way starts by Upper Farms, also known as Prison Farms as this farm, originally built by the Germans, is now used as an open prison where the prisoners cultivate the surrounding land and keep goats and cattle.

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General Tips about Cameroon

» Required travel documents for Cameroon
» Electric power
» Area code Cameroon
» Tourism
» Politics and Economy
» Population and Culture
» The Forest, the Savanna, the Steppe - Cameroon,
» Cameroon, The Sea and Beach
» Cameroon, Rich and Varied Fauna
» Cameroon, Living Traditions
» Visas in Cameroon
» Climate in Cameroon
» Water in Cameroon
» Electricity in Cameroon
» Cameroon - Suggested travel pack
» Transportation in Cameroon
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» Yaounde, Cameroon
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» The Benoue National Park
» Ngaoundere
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» Limbe
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» Dschang
» Buea
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» Bamenda
» Cameroon - The Mountains
» Mount Cameroon
» Cameroon - main cities
» Northwest Province, Cameroon
» East Province, Cameroon

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