Chappal Waddi

Chappal Waddi, the mountain of death in Fulfulde, stands at around 2,419 metres on the frontier with Cameroon at the edge of the Gashaka-Gumti park, and it is generally accepted as the highest point in Nigeria, though the elevation is quoted variously and the summit's exact position relative to the border has been disputed in some accounts. The approach goes from Gembu on the Mambilla plateau by rough track and then on foot through montane grassland and patches of forest, with Fulani herding camps on the way. It is climbed by very few people, and there is no marked route, no facilities and no rescue; a local guide is essential.

What you actually see

• The summit - the highest ground in Nigeria on the Cameroon border.
• Montane grassland - the high pasture on the approach.
• Fulani camps - the herding settlements on the plateau edge.
• Forest patches - the remaining woodland in the sheltered valleys.

When to go

November to March in the dry season; the rains make the tracks impassable and the grass head-high. Mornings are clearest before cloud builds. Nights on the plateau are cold.

Honest expectations

There is no marked path, no signage and no rescue; a local guide is not optional. The approach track requires four-wheel drive and hours of driving. Height figures differ between sources. Accommodation is camping or village lodging.

Nearby

Gembu and the Mambilla plateau lie west; Gashaka-Gumti surrounds the mountain.