5 Highest Peaks in Africa

Feb 18, 2022 10:00AM ● By Anand Subramanian

When you think of Africa's geography, the searing desert of the Sahara and the rolling grasslands and savannas of the Serengeti come to mind. But, the African continent, it turns out, has some of the most gorgeous mountains on the planet, rivaling the Swiss Alps in terms of beauty, the majestic Rocky Mountains in terms of rugged, snow-topped peaks, and even Mt. Everest in terms of climbing reputation. Therefore, welcome to the mountains of Africa, where the structure is as varied as the scenery below it. In this article, we'll go over the 5 tallest peaks in Africa, as well as their respective locations.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania -

With a height of 5,895 meters (19,341 ft) above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and the world. In Tanzania, it is a section of Kilimanjaro National Park, which is home to the world's highest mountain. Mount Kilimanjaro is comprised of three major volcanic cones, which are named Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, respectively. In addition to being the second-highest summit in the Kilimanjaro range, Mawenzi is also the third highest mountain peak in Africa, rising to a height of 5,148 meters (16,893 feet) above sea level. In around one million years, both Kibo and Mawenzi began erupting, with the Saddle Plateau serving as the sole physical barrier between them. Every year, it attracts almost 50,000 tourists who strive to reach the mountain peak.

Figure 1 - Mount Kilimanjaro. Source - Google

Mount Kenya, Kenya -

Following Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya is the tallest peak in Kenya and, as a result, the second-highest mountain in Africa after that of Kilimanjaro. Batian, Nelion, and Point Lenana are three of the mountain's most spectacular summits. The environment that surrounds this UNESCO World Heritage Site is breathtaking. unspoiled wilderness with lakes, tarns, and glaciers, thick forest, mineral springs, and a diverse range of rare and endangered creatures, high altitude adapted plains wildlife, and distinctive montane and alpine plants. Hiking, camping, and caving are all popular activities in the area, with the harsh glacier-clad peaks of the mountains serving as the perfect background.

Figure 2 - Mount Kenya. Source - Google

Mount Stanley, Republic of Congo and Uganda -

The third tallest peak in Africa causes some worry. Some will point to Mount Ruwenzori. Mount Stanley, on the other hand, is mentioned by some. Mount Stanley, however, is officially Africa's third tallest peak. The misconception stems from Mount Stanley's location in the broad Ruwenzori Range. To add to the confusion, these mountains are also known as the Ruwenzori Mountains. Mount Stanley stands 16,671 feet above sea level. It is the tallest peak between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The mountain is made up of many lower peaks and two twin summits. The highest point is Margherita Peak, which is followed by numerous higher summits. Glacial lakes and glaciers may be found near the peak.

Figure 3 - Mount Stanley. Source - Google

Mount Meru, Tanzania -

Mount Meru, Tanzania's second-highest peak and a popular safari destination, is situated 60 kilometers west of Mount Kilimanjaro and surrounded by Arusha National Park, the country's most visited national park. The rich woodlands that cover the lower slopes of the savanna are home to a diverse range of animals, including leopards, monkeys, and over 400 different bird species. The mountain is a dormant volcano, and because of its lower elevation and similar form to Mount Kilimanjaro, many people utilize it as a warm-up before trying to climb to the top of the mountain.

Figure 4 - Mount Meru. Source - Google

Mount Semien, Ethiopia -

The Ethiopian Highlands are a series of rocky highlands in the Horn of Africa that create the continent's biggest elevated territory, running over Ethiopia and Eritrea and divided by the Great Rift Valley. The Western Highlands extends in elevation from 1,500 meters to 4,550 meters at the Ras Dashen peak in the Semien Mountains, a portion of which is protected as the Simien Mountains National Park. The highlands are made up of agriculturally productive and densely inhabited tropical savannas and grasslands at lower altitudes, while the rugged and isolated upper elevations are home to a diverse range of native fauna and birds.

Figure 5 - Mount Semien. Source - Google

Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.