Do you have any idea about the highest mountains in Africa? Africa is the second-largest continent after Asia. In Africa, surprisingly, there are few mountains and ridges. The Sahara Desert, the rain forests of the Congo Basin, and the high savannas of east and south Africa mostly occupy the continent of Africa.
Due to the equatorial location of the continent, there is little or no snow, but glaciers and alpine mountain scenery. There are still various mountains in Africa, and they provide diverse experiences and adventures that cannot be found in other parts of the world.
The massive interest in mountains in Africa centers around three tributaries that tower over east Africa which are the Mount Kilimanjaro of Tanzania which has the highest point in Africa, Mount Kenya which is slightly lower but provides mountain climbing experiences and Ravensuri ridge which its tale is covered with mystery and dripping fogs.
Those who are willing to explore these mountains will discover both friendly and uncontrollable people, as well as pristine landscapes, and secluded ridges that are scattered all over the continent.
RECOMMENDED: TOP 10 COLDEST COUNTRIES IN AFRICA
West Africa offers a few mountains outside the massive Mount Cameroun that is right on the Gulf of Guinea, which is where it derives its name. South Africa has a lot of canyons and mounds, but they cannot be called actual mountains. Many of the mountains on our list are volcanic, while others are a result of ruptures in the earth’s crust.
While some of these mountains can be climbed with determination and bravery, others require a bit of skill and the use of special climbing equipment and also climbing experience. For the sake of being accurate, geographically, we have to take some terms into consideration because they are different and have specific meanings attached to them.
First is a mountain, which refers to a geographical or soil that rises to three hundred meters above the area surrounded. A mountain has many peaks; a peak is a particular point on a mountain that is higher than other points.
Finally, we have the summit, which is the highest point of any mountain. Every summit is a peak, but not every peak is a summit.
In addition, there are diverse ways to list mountains by their height, many lists are made using the height of the mountains without paying attention because a summit can mistakenly be called a mountain. The list will give you the mountain range with the distance from the summit to the area around a height of about one thousand three hundred feet (1,300 ft).
Top 10 Highest Mountains In Africa
10. MOUNTAIN KARISIMBI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND RWANDA.
The name of the mountain is Karisimbi. It has a height of fourteen thousand seven hundred and eighty-six feet (14,786 ft). The range of the mountain is the Virunga mountain range. The difficulty of the ascent is rated as a scramble.
The mountain runs along with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Virunga mountains are volcanic in nature. The Stratocrassimbi volcano is the highest of the volcanoes. The reason is that there are at least eight volcanic eruptions on this mountain, and most see craters at their peaks.
Mount Karisimbi is nestled within a volcanic national park. It is famous for its mountain gorillas, which are nestled in its dense alpine forests. Although there is a natural beauty on this mountain, there are dangers to be careful of, like man-made factors, for example, wars and the local wildlife.
Many of the organized hikes on this mountain are combined with gorilla viewing activities, and climbing to the summit takes about two to three days with an early morning start in the dense forest of the mountain. And camping overnight at medium altitudes between eight thousand and twelve thousand feet before arrival, which adds up to the third day.
9. Mount Semien, Ethiopia
The mountain is also known as Ras Dejen, with a height of fourteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-two meters, and the mountain range is the Siemens mountain range. This is the ninth highest mountain in Africa and also boasts the highest point in all of Ethiopia. It is a major attraction, with credit to the Siemens National Park.
The signature of the mountain is its sheer rock cliffs and rough peaks which are covered by adjacent valleys that are deep. The region was former twenty to thirty million years ago due to volcanic activity there.
The dangerous condition of some of its flora contributed to listing it as African world heritage by the United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1978.
What raises cause for concern is the decline in the numbers of yaella valleys, which are not found in any other part of the world, but gradually they are making a comeback thanks to joint conservation. To hike this mountain, an individual needs to be physically fit and healthy but needs no technical climbing skills.
8. Mount Meru, Tanzania
This mountain has a height of fourteen thousand nine hundred and eighty feet (14,980ft). It sits within one of the country’s national parks and a visit there gives one a close look at the country’s wildlife, but the dangers these animals pose to hikers is quite real, so armed scouts accompany hikers on their adventure.
The mountain is situated in Arusha National Park in the north of Tanzania.
7. Mount Gessi, Uganda
This mountain is fifteen thousand, four hundred and sixty-nine feet above the ground, and like other mountains on this list, it is covered with a green and lush ecosystem filled with animals and volcanic formations at high altitudes.
It once had glacial ice at its peak, but now it has succumbed to the effects of global warming and changes in climatic conditions.
6. Mount Emin, Democratic Republic of Congo
The height of this mountain is fifteen thousand, seven hundred and forty-one meters (15,741m). The first documented ascent of this mountain was made by Prince Luigi Amadeo, a member of the royal house.
It is the sixth highest mountain in Africa and also a sister mountain to Mount Gessi. They are both separated by deep shallow land that goes in the north-south direction. The mountain is named after the well-known scholar Amin isha.
5. Mount Baker, Uganda
The height of this mountain is fifteen thousand eight hundred and ninety-two meters (15,892m). Three out of the top five mountains in the continent are in the Ravensuri mountain range.
The widely accepted story about this mountain is that Ptolemy came there in order to find the source of the river Nile but was amazed at how it looked and thus named it the “mountain of the moon.”
4. Mount Speke, Uganda
The mountain’s height is sixteen thousand and forty-three feet (16,043 ft). The summit of this mountain is made up of four peaks namely Asonga, Johnston and Trident, Vittorio Emanuele.
The hike to the summit is quite dangerous because it is connected to very thin ridges, deep ravines with steep walls.
3. Mountain Stanley, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo
The height of the mountain is sixteen thousand, seven hundred and ninety-four meters. It is the third highest mountain in Africa. With Mount Selka and Mount Baker, they align into a triangle that borders the Bujuku valley. The summit is made up of twin peaks namely Margarita and Alexandra.
2. Mount Kenya, Kenya
The height of Mount Kenya is seventeen thousand and forty-seven feet (17,047 ft). This mountain has an extinct volcano and two major peaks, which are Batian and Nelion, which are capped by snow.
The mountain sustains different wildlife vegetation and forests, it also receives an amount of snow every year. It serves water to about seven million citizens of Kenya.
1. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
The height of Mount Kilimanjaro is eighteen million, three hundred and forty-one feet (18,341 ft). It is the most famous and iconic mountain in all of Africa. It has one of the largest free-standing mountains in the world.
The summit of this mountain contains three major peaks, which are mostly volcanoes. The highest is Kibo, which is followed by Mawenzi and finally Shira. There are three major climatic zones on this mountain, which are rainforest, healthy land, moorland, alpine desert, and arctic.
CONCLUSION
All the mountains on this list require hikers to be with guides or scouts, but with proper planning, a great adventure awaits.
Lagos and other cities