The Top 10 Highest Mountains in Africa

The Top 10 Highest Mountains in Africa. The highest peaks on the African continent, including Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Mount Stanley, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, Mount Speke, Uganda, Mount Baker, Uganda, Mount Emin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mount Gessi, Uganda, Mount Meru, Tanzania, Ras Dashen, Ethiopia, Mount Karisimbi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

The variety of Africa’s landscapes is famous, ranging from the sun-drenched Serengeti plains to the white-sand beaches of Zanzibar. On the other hand, it boasts some spectacular mountains, some of which are over 4000 meters high and have been mostly uncharted in comparison to the Himalayas and the Alps.

Mount Kilimanjaro, with its distinctive flat top, stands tall over north Tanzania as the tallest mountain in Africa. This summit, which is 5895 meters high and is climbed by 30,000 people annually, is certainly not Africa’s best hidden secret. However, there are six of Africa’s tallest peaks in the lunar-like Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda, so it’s hard to choose just one. To your surprise, Morocco’s Mount Toubkal (4167m/ 13,671ft) was almost included, but don’t worry—there are plenty of other options to keep you motivated.

It should be noted that numerous African mountains feature multiple summit cones. The tallest mountains, not the tallest peak cones, are what we have chosen. Therefore, Kilimanjaro is only counted as one entry, measured at its highest point, Kibo, rather than numerous, even though the mountain has three peaks (Mawenzi at 5149m/16,893ft, Shira at 4005m/13,140ft, and Kibo at 5895m/19,341ft). Does that make sense?

To cut to the chase…

1. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania – 5895m

Highest Point: Kibo Peak (5895m | 19,341ft)

Mountain Range: Free-standing

Type of Climb: Walk-up/no technical skills required

Mount Kilimanjaro is special in more ways than one. To begin with, it stands alone as the tallest peak on Earth; generally, mountain ranges are formed by volcanic activity, but this one is free-standing, meaning it isn’t connected to any others. Both Tanzania and Africa can claim Mount Kilimanjaro as their tallest peak. Its three volcanic cones include the dormant Kibo, the tallest; the extinct Mawenzi; and the living Shira. On the way up Kilimanjaro, you’ll pass through five distinct climate zones: rainforest, heathland, moorland, alpine desert, and Arctic. This is one of the mountain’s most distinctive features.

Despite its height, Climbing Kilimanjaro does not necessitate any specific mountaineering expertise, which is why it is so popular. The physical difficulty of trekking at such a great altitude should not be overlooked, though. The Machame Route offers some of the most varied landscapes and a top ascending profile among the seven main routes up Kilimanjaro; we highly suggest it.

Extra info: Climbing Kilimanjaro

I Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (World’s Tallest Free Standing Mountain)

3. Mount Stanley, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo – 5109m

Highest Point: Margherita Peak, 5109m | 17,047ft

Mountain Range: Rwenzori Mountains

Ascent Difficulty: Trekking peak with a scramble at the summit

The Rwenzori Mountains are home to the rugged Mount Stanley, which features multiple rocky top summits. Margherita Peak, at 5109m (17,047ft), is the tallest of these. Even though it is melting at a rapid pace, Rwenzori Central Circuit.

We recommend Rwenzori Central Circuit as the best way to climb Margherita Peak. It begins in the Nyakalengija farmlands, follows the Mubuku River, and eventually enters Rwenzori Mountains National Park. You’ll spend nights in mountain huts as you go through grasslands and up into the rugged peaks. Crampons, ice picks, and a rope are required to cross the glacier and reach the summit of Margherita Peak from Elena Hut, which is at an elevation of 4,541 meters (14,898 feet). After a short while of easy climbing, you’ll have to scramble your way to the peak.

Extra info: Mount Stanley Summit

Summit of Margarita Peak in Uganda/DRC – Mount Stanley – Rwenzori

5. Mount Baker, Uganda – 4844m

Highest Point: Edward Peak, 4844m | 15,892 ft

Mountain Range: Rwenzori Mountains

Ascent Difficulty: Hiking and crevice climbing

The Rwenzori Mountains, which a Greek trader from a few thousand years ago dubbed the “Mountains of the Moon,” provide a third entry with their sharp peaks. The barren, ice-coated slopes of Mount Baker justify its name. But things change after you descend below the mountain’s snowline; up high, you’ll cross swampy bogs and descend through verdant rainforests crisscrossed with streams.

Beginning in Hunwick’s Camp (3974m/13,038ft), one can ascend to the peak. The hike up takes about four or five hours and covers about 4.3 kilometers. You’ll need ropes because it’s rough, steep, and has multiple crevasses with precipitous drops. This is a technical climb during the wet season (April–May) and the dry season (September–October). No matter the season, guides are a need.

More info: Mount Baker Summit

Mount. Baker from Hunwick’s Camp (3,974 metres altitude) – Rwenzori Mountain

7. Mount Gessi, Uganda – 4715m

Highest Point: Lolanda, 4715m | 15,470ft

Mountain Range: Rwenzori Mountains

Ascent Difficulty: scramble

Mount Gessi, across a little valley from Mount Emin, is just as jagged and intimidating looking, although it’s a little easier to climb. Although the first recorded climb of the peak was by the Duke of Abruzzi, today’s novices face a succession of treacherous stone slabs caused by the melting glaciers.

On the contrary, the majority of hikers reach Roccati Pass by leaving the Mugusu valley and climbing through groundsel forests on their way to Mount Gessi. To get to the ridge between the summits, you have to go south-east through some bush and then scramble up some steep slabs.

More info: Mount Gessi Summit

9. Ras Dashen, Ethiopia – 4553m

Highest Point: Ras Dashen Peak, 4533m | 14,872ft

Mountain Range: The Simien Mountains

Ascent Difficulty: walk up/moderate scramble

One of the earliest locations to be designated as a UNESCO heritage site was the Simien Mountains in northern Ethiopia. The Ethiopian plateau is home to some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery, sculpted by centuries of erosion that has exposed sheer cliffs, deep valleys, and ragged mountain peaks that descend 1,500 meters below the surface. According to its UNESCO classification, the park is home to a number of unique creatures, including the Gelada baboon, the Simien fox, and the Walia ibex, a goat that is found nowhere else in the world.

The peak at the very top of the Simien Mountains is Ras Dashen, sometimes called Ras Dejen. The title of highest peak in Ethiopia is also bestowed upon it. Debark, the Simien Mountains‘ administrative center, is the starting point for any hike up Ras Dashen. After that, you’ll have to acclimate on a four-day hike across mountainous terrain and lush highland vegetation, stopping at waterfalls and climbing smaller peaks. The ascent starts softly ascending from Ambiko Base Camp (3250m/10,663ft) and continues throughout the day. A rough scramble is there shortly before the peak, but other than that, the route is mostly easy trekking.

We advise that you do this hike with a reputable, fair-wage operator because, despite the stunning scenery, several trekkers have complained that park guides beg for money and equipment and aren’t trained properly.

Extra info: Ras Dashen Summit

Ras Degen, Simien Mountains National Park , Ethiopia.