Top 12 Mountains In Africa You Never Knew

Hiking is one of the best ways to explore and have a fun adventure. There are several hiking destinations in Africa, and climbing some of the tallest peaks in Africa might be an exciting new activity. Visit some of these top African mountains and get the most out of your hiking experience.

1. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (5895 m)

It is not surprising to see Mount Kilimanjaro top the list of top mountains in Africa, and not only that, it is the highest mountain on the continent and has a beautiful sight.

Originally a dormant volcano, the famous mountain in Africa was formed by volcanic activity. Kibo, Shira, and Mawenzi are the three volcanic cones that comprise Mount Kilimanjaro.

The highest peak of the Kilimanjaro mountains is the Kibo, which towers over Tanzania at 5895 meters above sea level.

Just across the border in Kenya, a snow-capped mountain is stunning and very visible. There are also pictures of wildlife like elephants and giraffes in front of the mountain, which Kenya’s Amboseli National Park took.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is fun but challenging, and one may not need any special climbing equipment, making it a hugely popular ascent.

2. Mount Kenya, Kenya (5199 m)

After Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya is the second-highest mountain in Africa, the tallest in Kenya, and it is the second on our list of top mountains in Africa and is known for volcanic.

It was formed about 3 million years after the East African Rift’s opening and before the last glacial.

From the base to the top, there are several vegetation belts, and Mount Kenya is home to a large number of indigenous species like monkeys, antelope, elephants, and buffalo, which are just a few of the animals that inhabit the lower slopes of Mount Kenya.

The area around the mountain is protected by Mount Kenya National Park, which was created in 1949 and named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978. In 1997, the surrounding area of the mountain was made into a national park and included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Mount Kenya is vital to the local ecosystem, supplying water to millions of people through snowmelt and causing rainfall.

Though it is not as high as Kilimanjaro, it is more difficult to climb, and the highest point is Batian Peak, which is 5199 meters above sea level.

3. Mount Stanley, Uganda and D.R. Congo (5109 m)

Mount Stanley, also known as Mount Ngaliema, is a peak in the Rwenzori range.

It is the highest mountain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and the third highest in Africa, behind Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) and Mount Kenya (5,763 ft) (5,199 m).

The summit, as well as many other nearby peaks, are high enough to host glaciers. Mount Stanley is named after the explorer and writer Sir Henry Morton Stanley.

It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rwenzori Mountains National Park. This is why Mount Stanley is on our list of the top mountains in Africa.

4. Mount Speke, Uganda (4890 m)

Mount Speke is the second-highest peak in the Ruwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda. It lies 3.55 kilometers (2.21 mi) to the south-southwest and forms a triangle encircling the upper Bujuku Valley.

The British Protectorate of Uganda accepted the name ‘Rwenzori,’ which means ‘rain creator’ or ‘rain mountains’ in the Bakonjo language.

Kitasamba, the god who lives at great heights and cannot be reached, lives in the upper Rwenzori. The area was explored by early European explorers looking for the Nile’s source, and John Speke documented the White Nile in 1862.

Mount Speke is crisscrossed by several rivers and streams, and the vegetation is dense due to the high rainfall.

As the majority of the glaciers that once covered Mount Speke’s peak have sadly vanished, climbing the mountain is now simpler than it once was.

Read More: Popular Foods you must eat when you visit Ghana

Trekkers will still have to cross several rivers, streams, and dense vegetation due to the region’s heavy rainfall.

Chimpanzees, monkeys, elephants, and leopards can be seen hiding among the lower slopes’ vegetation, however, sightings are rare.

5. Mount Baker, Uganda (4844 m)

About 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo border, Mount Baker, also known as Kiyanja, is a peak in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Read More: 29 Popular Tribes in Ghana You May Not Know.

The upper Bujuku Valley is enclosed by this mountain, which is Africa’s sixth-highest peak, in a triangle. Along a ridge, it contains several ragged peaks, with Edward Peak being the tallest. Rudolf Grauer made the first ascent in 1906, and a group headed by the Duke of the Abruzzi managed to climb it in June.

The mountain is referred to as “Kiyanja” in Bakonjo. It was given that name in honor of British explorer Samuel Baker, who discovered and traveled to Lake Albert in 1864, making him the first European to do so. Mount Baker of Uganda is therefore added to our list of the top mountains in Africa.

6. Mount Emin, D.R. of Congo (4798 m)

Mount Emin, the sixth-highest mountain in Africa, is a part of the Rwenzori range and is located close across the border in the DRC.

Umberto is the taller of its twin summits, Umberto and Kraepelin, standing at 4798 meters. While the mountain’s former glaciers are gone, climbers will still face a challenging challenge due to its narrow ridges, jagged rock, and crevasses.

Given the region’s heavy rainfall, the name “Rwenzori” (which means “rainmaker”) seems appropriate. Due to this, the ideal period for hiking Mount Emin is from January to August, when it’s dry.

Similar to the other mountains in the range, it has similar flora and fauna. The lower slopes are covered with moorland, bamboo, and montane forests, which give way to tree heathers, mosses, and enormous lobelia blooms.

7. Mount Gessi, Uganda (4715 m)

Mount Gessi is on our list of top mountains in Africa, situated between Uganda and the DRC boundary, and Mount Gessi is located in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park’s northern region. It bears the name of the Italian explorer Romolo Gessi, who charted the White Nile’s path.

With local guides and a variety of paths to choose from, climbing Mount Gessi from either Uganda or the DRC is a very simple hike.

The national park is home to an endangered subspecies of the black-fronted duiker, a tiny antelope endemic to the area, in addition to African forest elephants and chimpanzees.

Many of the hundreds of bird species that call this place home may be seen.

8. Mount Meru, Tanzania (4566 m)

Tanzania’s second-highest peak, Mount Meru, is located 70 kilometers to the west of Kilimanjaro. It is a stratovolcano, and Socialist Peak, at 4566 meters, is its highest point.

The Momella path, which typically takes four days, is the sole official ascent route. It is located in the heart of Arusha National Park, which is home to several species of birds, cattle, and monkeys. Climbers may also see elephants and giraffes.

Read More: 19 Best Hotels in Ghana with Affordable Bookings

9. Ras Dashen, Ethiopia (4550 m)

At a height of 4550 meters, Ras Dashen, also known as Ras Dejen, is the tallest of the Simien Mountains in northern Ethiopia.

Those in good physical shape shouldn’t have any trouble climbing Ethiopia’s tallest peak because it requires no technical expertise. Climbing Ras Dashen will reward climbers with expansive vistas and a wealth of fauna.

The Walia ibex and the Ethiopian wolf are two examples of the numerous endangered animals that call Simien Mountains National Park home.

Gelada monkeys munching on the grass beside the route and imposing raptors like the bearded vulture swooping overhead are more regular sightings.  Hence, we add Ras Dashan to our list of the top mountains in Africa.

10. Mount Oku, Cameroun (3011m)

The second-highest mountain on the continent of Central Africa is Mount Oku, which has a 3,011-meter elevation.

It is made of trachytes, followed by trachytic and rhyolitic ignimbrites in significant quantities. It is also formed of basaltic and Hawaiian lavas.

The Lake Oku clawed frog, Crotaphatrema lamottei, Mount Oku caecilian, Dieterlen’s brush-furred mouse, Mount Oku hylomyscus, and Wolterstorffina chirioi toad are only a few of the endangered endemic species found only on Mount Oku.

The endemic Mittendorf’s striped grass mouse lives in the mountainous grassland above the forest zone. The Kilum-Ijim Forest Project, run in collaboration with BirdLife International and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, aims to protect the forest biome while preserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable reuse.

11. Mount Afadjato

Mount Afadjato, the name given by the Ewe people of Ghana and Togo, which is Ghana’s highest mountain, is on our list of the top mountains in Africa.

It lies 885 meters (2,904 feet) above sea level and is part of the West Africa Mountains’ Agumatsa sub-range. It is a famous tourist destination, attracting thousands of people from all over the world each year.

The name Mount Afadja comes from the Ewe word “Avadzeto,” which means “at battle with the jungle.” It is home to a diverse range of flora and animals, including 33 mammal species and 300 butterfly species.

Tourists frequently come to climb the peak or to observe the beautiful surroundings.

12. Atlas Mountains (4,165 meters)

The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range found in the Maghreb. This range spans not one, not two, but three North African nations. Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia are among them.

Jebel Toubkal, located in Morocco, has the highest elevation of 4,165 meters (13,671 feet). The Atlas Mountains are home to African plant and animal species such as the Barbary macaque and the Atlas Mountain badger.

We can not complete this list of the top mountains in Africa without therefore including the great Atlas Mountains.