To this day the traditional differences combined with the colonial language separation of these two groups causes a great deal of tension. The Grassfield chiefdoms range from small village chiefdoms to expansive conquest states, such as the Nso'. These chiefdoms may be ethnically and linguistically different but the share many common aspects. For example the centrality of chieftancy, the importance of men's secret societies and an emphasis on title and rank as significant political attributes. Ecologically the grassfields are essentially a high lava plateau surrounded by lower plains and valleys broken by volcanic peaks.
Climatic conditions are diverse, ranging from temperate crop areas to tropical zones.
Altitude on the grassfields range from a low of about 500 metres on the Donga Plain along the border of Nigeria to the north, to a high of 1400-1700 metres on the high plateaus around Bamenda and Nso'. The plateaus are traversed by mountains with steep slopes, often cut by deep valleys. Temperature and rainfall vary widely, mostly an effect of altitude. The high plateau receives and average annual rainfall of over 3000 millimetres, while lower regions receive between 100-2500 millimetres. The damp cold nights during the rainy season can chill even those of us used to Northern near arctic climates.