DISCOVER AFRICA
Top highest mountains in Africa
From the towering peaks of the Atlas Mountains in North Africa to the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa, the continent boasts an array of breathtaking mountain ranges.
Top highest mountains in Africa are the different ranges found around the continent and they include the following;
1. Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and is a popular hiking spot for tourists from all over the world. The mountain is a strato volcano which is located in the northern part of Tanzania and is 5,895 meters above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro has different routes used for hiking which include Marangu route, Machame route, Lemosho route, Shira route and also Umbwe route. It takes about 5 to 9 days to get to Uhuru peak and back during hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro. This however depends on the route used for the hike. Marangu route is also the only route where tourists can stay in hut accommodation which includes Horombo hut, Mandara hut and Kibo hut.
Mount Kilimanjaro also has 3 volcanic cones which include Kibo which is where the highest peak on the mountain (Uhuru peak) is found. Other volcanic cones on the mountain include Shira and Mawenzi which are dormant. The closest town to Mount Kilimanjaro is Moshi town which can be accessed by driving from Arusha or by getting flights to Kilimanjaro international airport or Arusha airport. This mountain is part of Kilimanjaro national park.
2. Mount Kenya
The second highest mountain in Africa which is popular for hiking is Mount Kenya which is found in the central part of Kenya. Mount Kenya is at an altitude of 5,199 meters above sea level and is an extinct strato volcano. The highest peak of this mountain is called Batian and other peaks include Nelion at 5,188 meters and also Point Lenana at 4,895 meters.
The routes used for climbing Mount Kenya include the Naro Moru route and also the Chogoria route. Another route used for hiking is the Sirimon route. During hikes on the mountain, the popular route is Naro moru route. This mountain also lies on the equator and is about 200 kilometres north east of Nairobi city.
3. Mount Rwenzori
Mount Rwenzori is another popular mountain hiking spot in Africa and it is located in south western Uganda on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The highest point on the mountain is the Margherita peak at 5,109 meters and it is found on Mount Stanley. Mount Rwenzori is a snow capped mountain which is part of the Rwenzori mountains national park and it is also a UNESCO world heritage site.
Another peak which is prominent on the Rwenzori mountains is Mount Speke at an altitude of 4,890 meters. This peak was named after John Hanning Speke who was among the early explorers in Uganda. Routes used for hiking Mount Rwenzori include the central circuit route, the Kilembe route and also the Bukurungu route.
4. Ras Dashen
During tours in Africa, the Ras Dashen at 4,620 meters which is part of the Simien mountains national park is also among the highest mountains to visit. The hike on Ras Dashen takes about 12 hours to hike up and down but it can also be hiked for a period of about 4 days.
The most popular route to the summit of Ras Dashen starts from Debark, a town located at the edge of the national park. From Debark, trekkers follow a trail that passes through stunning landscapes and remote villages before reaching the peak.
5. Mount Meru
Mount Meru is another of the highest mountains in Africa and it is located in the northern part of Tanzania. This mountain is at an altitude of 4,562 meters above sea level and it is located in Arusha national park. Mount Meru is a dormant strato volcano and it takes about 3 to 4 days to get to the peak. It is also the second highest mountain in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro.
The route which is used for climbing Mount Meru is the Momella route and wildlife and bird species can be spotted during hikes along this route which starts at Momella Gate and follows a scenic trail through the forest. The Momella route has stop overs at points such as Miriakamba Hut at 2,514 meters and Saddle Hut at 3,570 meters to the summit and returning using the same route.
6. Mount Karisimbi
Mount Karisimbi is another popular mountain in Africa and it is located on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mountain is also the highest of the Virunga ranges and is also an active volcano at an altitude of 4,507 meters. Mount Karisimbi is also part of the Albertine rift and it takes about 2 to 3 days to hike the mountain.
Karisimbi has rugged terrain and can also be visited after or during a gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. The neighbouring Virunga mountains to Karisimbi mountain include Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabinyo, Mount Mikeno, Mount Nyamulagira among others. The Virunga mountains are shared between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
7. Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon is located along the border of Uganda and Kenya and is at an altitude of 4,321 meters. This mountain stands on its own and Mount Elgon is also an extinct shield volcano and one of the largest calderas in the world. The mountain is part of Mount Elgon national park in eastern part of Uganda. There are different routes used for hiking Mount Elgon and they include Sasa route which is the popular hiking route which takes about 4 days to get to the summit and back.
Other hiking routes include Piswa route and also the Sipi trail. Mount Elgon can be visited from both the Ugandan side which covers about 1,110 square kilometres and also the Kenyan side which covers 169 square kilometres. The peaks of Mount Elgon include Wagagai, Sudek, Koitobos, Mubiyi, and Masaba.
8. Atlas mountains
The Atlas Mountains are found in the northern part of Africa and are at an altitude of 4,167 meters and stretches across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.Atlas mountains consist of smaller ranges such as the High Atlas, Middle Atlas, and Anti-Atlas with Mount Toukbal being the highest peak at 4,167 meters, Ouanoukrim mountains at 4083 meters, and M´Goun at an altitude of 4,071 meters. Other peaks outside the high Atlas include Mount Bou Naceur at 3,400 meters and also Mount Sirwa at 3,304 meters. In Algeria, the Atlas mountain is called Mount Chelia at 2,328 meters.
9. Mount Guna
Another of the highest mountains in Africa is Mount Guna at 4,120 meters and it is located in Ethiopia. The mountain is the source of River Gumara and River Rib and is also one of the highest peaks in the Semien Mountains.
10. Dragon mountains
The Dragon mountain is found in South Africa and is at an altitude of 3,482 meters. It is also referred to as Drakensberg in the Afrikaans language. Apart from hikes on the Dragon mountain, the San people also known as the bushmen can also encountered.
11. Mount Moroto
Mount Moroto is another mountain in Africa and it is located in the north eastern part of Uganda. The mountain is at an altitude of 3,083 meters and stands out in the Karamoja region. The highest point on Mount Moroto is called Sokodek and another peak on the mountain is called Imagit. Mount Moroto can be hiked as part of a 1 day excursion or a half day tour.
Being part of the semi-arid region of Karamoja, Mount Moroto has a unique ecosystem with varied rainfall patterns and vegetation which consists of savannah grasslands and also scattered acacia trees and montane forests and bamboo thickets in the higher altitude. During hikes on Mount Moroto, the Karamojong people can also be encountered as they graze their livestock such as cattle.
12. Mount Nyiragongo
Mount Nyiragongo is an active strato volcano which is located in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountain is at an altitude of 3,470 meters and is famous for the lava lake found at the top. The last eruption of Mount Nyiragongo was in 2021. Many tourists visit Virunga national park to engage in the Nyiragongo hike which takes about 3 days.
13. Mount Longonot
Mount Longonot is at an altitude of 2,776 meters and is a strato volcano located in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. The mountain is part of Mount Longonot national park and wildlife species can also be seen around the destination and these include buffalos, elands, gazelles, giraffes, bushbucks, zebras among others.
It is located about 90 kilometres from Nairobi and the hikes on Mount Longonot take about 1 day and the ascent to the crater rim of the mountain takes approximately 1 to 2 hours. Tourists during this hike can enjoy views of the rift valley and also Lake Naivasha since the mountain is among the highest peaks in the rift valley. Many other mountains are found in Africa and can be hiked during tours which take place throughout the year.
