Mount Cameroon is in Cameroon, rising near the Gulf of Guinea in the country’s Southwest Region.
The mountain is an active stratovolcano beside the city of Buea. It reaches about 4,040 metres, making it the highest point in Cameroon and one of the highest peaks in western and central sub-Saharan Africa. Its indigenous name, Mongo ma Ndemi, means “Mountain of Greatness”; the higher summit is also called Fako.
Mount Cameroon belongs to the Cameroon Volcanic Line, a roughly 1,600-kilometre belt of volcanoes extending from islands in the Gulf of Guinea through Cameroon. Unlike many volcanoes in the region, Mount Cameroon remains presently active. Historical eruptions include events in 1909, 1922, 1959, 1982, 1999, 2000 and 2012.
The mountain’s coastal setting contributes to striking environmental contrasts, from humid lowland forests to cooler high-elevation terrain. It is also famous for the annual Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, a demanding ascent-and-descent competition. Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are nearby, but none contains this volcano.