GUNUNG · Kamerun

Mount Cameroon

Fako / Mongo ma Ndemi

Information

Elevation: 4.095 m
Country: Kamerun (CM)
Location / Range: Cameroon Volcanic Line
Mountain type: Active volcano (stratovolcano)
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 4.2167, 9.1725
Difficulty: Hard (very steep with no switchbacks; non-technical)
Best Season: October–April (dry season); the Race of Hope each February
Permits & Rules: Permit + certified guide via the ecotourism office in Buea (Mount Cameroon Inter-communal Ecotourism Board)
Hazards: Volcanic activity, rapidly changing weather, steep slopes and scree, limited water sources at altitude

Description

Mount Cameroon (4,095 m), also called Fako or Mongo ma Ndemi ('Mountain of Greatness'), is an active volcano near Buea, Cameroon, and the highest peak in both West and Central Africa. It is one of Africa's most frequently active volcanoes, with eruptions as recent as 2000 and 2012. The standard climb, often called the 'Guinness Route', leaves from Buea and ascends steeply through Hut 1, Hut 2, and Hut 3 to the Fako summit, typically over 2–3 days. The route is non-technical but very steep with few switchbacks, making it strenuous. Each February the mountain hosts the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, an extreme footrace from Buea to the summit and back.

Gallery

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

Routes

Guinness Route (jalur standar dari Buea)

Berat; sangat curam tanpa switchback, non-teknis

2–3 hari (1 hari mungkin bagi yang sangat bugar)

The main route up Mount Cameroon from Buea, climbing straight through farmland and forest to Hut 1 (~1,800 m), Hut 2 (~2,800 m), and onward toward the Fako summit (4,095 m). Permit and a certified guide are mandatory. Known for its sharp gradient with few switchbacks.

Route Segments

1

Buea → Hut 1

1.800 mdpl

Lewat ladang & hutan; tanjakan dimulai
2

Hut 1 → Hut 2

2.800 mdpl

Hutan menipis ke savana ketinggian; kemah/menginap umum di Hut 2
3

Hut 2 → Puncak Fako

4.095 mdpl

Padang scree vulkanik terbuka menuju puncak; cuaca cepat berubah

Source

Rute Race of Hope

Lomba lari gunung ketahanan ekstrem

Lomba ±38 km; pelari elite tuntas pp ±4,5 jam

The annual Mount Cameroon Race of Hope course starts at the Molyko Sports Complex in Buea, runs up to the summit and back down, totalling about 38 km.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Climbing Mount Cameroon usually takes 2–3 days via the 'Guinness Route' from Buea, ascending straight and steeply through Hut 1, Hut 2, and Hut 3 to the Fako summit (4,095 m). Hikers describe the sharp, switchback-free climb, the change from farmland to high savanna and volcanic scree, and fast-changing weather. Each February the route also hosts the Race of Hope—an extreme footrace to the summit and back.

References

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