Climbing the whopping 4,000 meters high Mount Cameroon has been a draw for intrepid travelers heading to West Africa ever since the ascent was first completed by Sir Richard Burton back in the late 1800s. As its summit creeps skywards, it ranges through tropical groves of coconut palms, past banana plantations, through fields of cocoa and rough grass, and over rough scree ridges, all before topping out at an ash-smoked caldera that's been known to belch steam and sulphur. These days, there are qualified Mount Cameroon tour guides who can help you put together the multi-day trek to the summit. Most trips start at Douala or Buea at the base of the slopes or down the coast. Hiking paths to the top pass several refuges at 2,000 meters and 3,000 on the way up and down, rewarding participants with sweeping views of surrounding jungles that glow countless shades of emerald and green. 

The Mount Cameroon National Park surrounds the peak itself. It's home to unique flora and fauna, which means glimpses of chimpanzees and rare bats are all part of a day's walking there. Head closer to the coast to find wave-spattered beaches and colonial history spots around Limbe.