GUNUNG · Nigeria

Chappal Waddi

Chappal Waddi / Gangirwal ('Gunung Kematian')

Information

Elevation: 2.419 m
Country: Nigeria (NG)
Location / Range: Atlantika Mountains, Mambilla Plateau, Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Taraba State, Nigeria
Mountain type: Orogenic peak (non-volcanic), Atlantika Mountains / Mambilla Plateau
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 7.0361, 11.7150
Difficulty: Strenuous (a multi-day trek through rainforest, rivers, and steep terrain; a 2–3 day climb; an armed national-park guide is required)
Best Season: November–April (dry season); the rainy season of May–October makes the trail very muddy and dangerous
Permits & Rules: Registration at Gashaka-Gumti National Park (office in Serti) is mandatory; an armed guide is required and provided by the park; independent climbing is prohibited and risks a fine or detention
Hazards: Dense forest, large rivers that must be forded, steep and slippery terrain, wildlife (including baboons), sudden weather changes, remoteness, risk of malaria and tropical diseases

Description

Chappal Waddi (~2,419 m), known locally as Gangirwal and nicknamed the 'Mountain of Death', is the highest point of Nigeria and of West Africa. It stands in the Gotel Mountains / Mambilla Plateau of Taraba State, on the edge of Gashaka-Gumti National Park near the Cameroon border. Though it demands no roped climbing, reaching it is a remote adventure: from the nearest village it takes about two days of walking to the summit, with a full expedition usually around 6 days including descent and a buffer day, supported by a guide and porters. The area is rich in Mambilla cultural meaning — local mythology ties the mountain to the fortunes of the harvest. Being largely uncommercialised, hikers meet few crowds but also very few facilities.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Pendakian musim kering dari Dataran Tinggi Mambilla

Berat

Multi-hari

The Mambilla Plateau approach is best timed in the dry season (Nov–Feb) to avoid slippery paths and fog; terrain is grassy highland with few markers, demanding navigation and a local guide.

Source

Pendekatan Serti / Gashaka-Gumti National Park (via base Amansale)

Trek berpemandu multi-hari; registrasi & ranger bersenjata wajib

Operator mematok 7–8 hari menyeluruh (perjalanan, registrasi, trek, turun, hari cadangan)

A guided itinerary staging through Serti for supplies and park registration before proceeding to Amansale as the mountain base (with Njawai as an alternative start), then trekking up over several days with camping. Unguided hikes are prohibited, and the operator arranges Gashaka-Gumti National Park permits and ranger assignment.

Source

Trek ekspedisi via Gashaka-Gumti (desa terdekat → puncak)

Berat (terpencil, berpemandu)

~6 hari (2 hari naik, 1 hari turun, + hari cadangan)

The main route: from the nearest village it takes about two comfortable days of walking to the 2,419 m summit, camping and cooking en route, then roughly one day to descend plus a buffer day — around 6 days total. Remote with few facilities, so a guide, porters and self-supported logistics are needed.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Chappal Waddi is rarely climbed, so its real sources are expedition vlogs, national news coverage and operator guides — all verified live.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.