Introduction
Africa's highest mountains are concentrated in the East African Rift, where tectonic forces have pushed the earth skyward. Volcanic activity has also created some of the continent's tallest peaks.
While Kilimanjaro dominates, Africa has a surprising number of peaks exceeding 4,000 meters.
1. Mount Kilimanjaro
- Height: 5,895 m (19,341 ft)
- Location: Tanzania
- Summit: Uhuru Peak
Kilimanjaro is a dormant stratovolcano with three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Uhuru Peak on Kibo is the highest point.
About 35,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro each year, with a success rate of about 65%.
2. Mount Kenya
- Height: 5,199 m (17,057 ft)
- Location: Kenya
- Summit: Batian Peak
Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano and the second highest mountain in Africa. Its highest peak, Batian, requires technical climbing skills.
The mountain gives its name to the country and is sacred to the Kikuyu people.
3. Mount Stanley
- Height: 5,109 m (16,763 ft)
- Location: DRC/Uganda border
- Range: Rwenzori Mountains
Mount Stanley is the highest peak in the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the "Mountains of the Moon." The range was first described by ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy.
The peaks are often shrouded in clouds and are known for challenging, muddy climbing conditions.
4. Mount Meru
- Height: 4,566 m (14,980 ft)
- Location: Tanzania
- Type: Active stratovolcano
Mount Meru is often climbed as preparation for Kilimanjaro. It sits just 70 km from its more famous neighbor in Arusha National Park.
The mountain last erupted in 1910 and could erupt again.
5. Ras Dashen
- Height: 4,550 m (14,928 ft)
- Location: Ethiopia
- Range: Simien Mountains
Ras Dashen is the highest point in Ethiopia and the fourth highest in Africa. It sits within the Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The surrounding area is home to the endangered Gelada baboon and Ethiopian wolf.
6. Mount Karisimbi
- Height: 4,507 m (14,787 ft)
- Location: Rwanda/DRC border
- Range: Virunga Mountains
Karisimbi is the highest of the eight Virunga volcanoes. The name means "white shell" in Kinyarwanda, referring to its frequently snow-capped summit.
The Virunga Mountains are famous as the last habitat of the endangered mountain gorilla.
7. Mount Elgon
- Height: 4,321 m (14,178 ft)
- Location: Kenya/Uganda border
- Type: Extinct shield volcano
Mount Elgon has the largest volcanic base in the world, covering about 80 km in diameter. Its caldera is one of the largest intact calderas on the planet.
Elephants mine salt from caves inside the volcano.
8. Mount Toubkal
- Height: 4,167 m (13,671 ft)
- Location: Morocco
- Range: Atlas Mountains
Toubkal is the highest peak in North Africa and the Atlas Mountains. It's a popular trekking destination accessible from Marrakech.
The mountain was first climbed in 1923 by French surveyors.
9. Mount Cameroon
- Height: 4,095 m (13,435 ft)
- Location: Cameroon
- Type: Active volcano
Mount Cameroon is the highest peak in West Africa and one of the most active volcanoes on the continent. It last erupted in 2012.
An annual race to the summit and back takes place each February.
10. Jbel Toubkal (Atlas Range)
- Height: 3,482 m (11,424 ft)
- Location: Morocco
- Range: Anti-Atlas
The broader Atlas Mountain range extends across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Many peaks exceed 3,000 meters in the High Atlas.
The mountains create a rain shadow that produces the Sahara Desert to the south.
Key Facts
- Africa's four highest mountains are all in East Africa within the Great Rift Valley system.
- Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, meaning it's not part of a mountain range.
- The Rwenzori Mountains are not volcanic, unlike most other high East African peaks.
- Africa's equatorial glaciers on Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and Stanley are all rapidly retreating due to climate change.
- Mount Kenya was actually taller than Kilimanjaro millions of years ago before erosion reduced its height.
Fun Facts
- Kilimanjaro's summit has five distinct climate zones, from tropical to arctic, as you ascend.
- Elephants on Mount Elgon have learned to mine salt inside dark caves using their tusks, passing this knowledge down generations.
- The Rwenzori Mountains receive over 2,000 mm of rainfall per year, making them one of the wettest mountain ranges in Africa.
- Kilimanjaro is one of the few places on Earth where you can walk from the tropics to the arctic in a few days.
Final Thoughts
Africa's mountains are as diverse as the continent itself. From the iconic snow-capped Kilimanjaro to the mist-shrouded Mountains of the Moon, these peaks offer some of the most rewarding mountaineering and trekking experiences in the world.