The vast and diverse continent of Africa is home to some of the world’s most impressive mountain ranges. These natural wonders are formed by geological processes, with plate tectonics being the main force in their creation. Some regions are still poorly described and the list is likely to be both incomplete and not completely accurate. This is especially true for the Ethiopian Highlands, where heights on maps and in the literature differ between each other by up to 500 m.
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Here's a look at some of the major hills and mountain ranges in Africa:
1. Atlas Mountains
One of the most prominent mountain ranges in Africa is the Atlas Mountains, which cover a distance of over 1,200 miles in the northwestern region. The highest peak is Mount Toubkal, which stands at an elevation of 13,671 ft.
The Atlas Mountains in northwestern Africa.
2. Drakensberg Mountains
In South Africa, the Drakensberg Mountains form a natural barrier between the high central plateaus and the coastal lowlands. The Drakensberg Mountains are also known for their diverse plant and animal life, with some species such as the mountain pipit, cape vulture, and Drakensberg siskin being unique to this range.
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The Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa.
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park Mountain Range
For serious hikers and nature lovers, KwaZulu-Natal's uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park Mountain Range is a destination in itself. The area is a World Heritage Site and is the highest mountain range in SA at around 3000m. The range runs for 150km and is therefore diverse, with steep river valleys, sandstone cliffs, and flora and fauna you won’t find anywhere else. The range also has the largest collection of San rock paintings in southern Africa.
3. Rwenzori Mountains
The Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon,” are situated on the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. These mountains feature six separate glaciers and the highest non-volcanic and non-orogenic mountain in the world, Mount Stanley, which rises to 16,762 ft.
Mount Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains.
4. Ethiopian Highlands
Located in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Highlands are often referred to as the “Roof of Africa” due to their extensive continuous elevation. Forming a portion of the Ethiopian Highlands, the Simien Mountains offer breathtaking views and rich biodiversity. The Simien Mountains, a part of the Abyssinian Massif, is home to Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia at 14,930 ft. These mountains are a World Heritage Site and contain a unique mix of plateaus, valleys, and peaks. The Simien Mountains National Park is home to many endemic species like the Walia ibex, Ethiopian wolf, Gelada baboon, and more.
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The Simien Mountains in Ethiopia.
5. Virunga Mountains
The Virunga Mountains are a range of eight volcanoes that stretch for 50 miles between Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Virunga Mountains spanning multiple countries.
6. Marrah Mountains
Located at the center of Sudan’s Darfur region, the Marrah Mountains are a unique blend of volcanic peaks and lush valleys. The Marrah Mountains, located in the Darfur region of Sudan, are a unique mix of volcanic peaks and lush valleys that support seasonal agriculture. This expansive volcanic field also contains minerals like phosphate, phosphorus, vanadium, and uranium. The mountains are home to the indigenous Nuba people who rely on seasonal agriculture and grazing in the area’s greener parts.
7. Nuba Mountains
The Nuba Mountains, also known as the Nuba Hills, are situated in Sudan’s South Kordofan wilayat. This range stretches for about 19,000 sq. These mountains offer a unique landscape and are rich in minerals like phosphate, phosphorus, vanadium, and uranium.
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8. Swartberg Mountain Range
Located in South Africa’s Western Cape province, the Swartberg mountain range stretches for about 140 miles and serves as a natural barrier between the Little Karoo and Great Karoo regions. The Smaller Swartberg range features the province’s highest peak, Seweweekspoortpiek, which reaches an elevation of 7,628 ft.
9. Magaliesberg Mountains
Considered one of the oldest mountain ranges on the planet, the Magaliesberg Mountains are situated in South Africa’s northern region. This range stretches for about 140 miles, from Pretoria in Gauteng province to Rustenburg in North West. These mountains were formed over two billion years ago and are a significant part of human history, with some of the earliest hominids living in the surrounding areas.
If you’re up north, the Magaliesberg Mountain Range is 120km from Joburg and forms the ridge between the grasslands of the Highveld and the game lands of the bushveld. Here, quartzite cliffs tower above with deep gullies, plunging pools and waterfalls interspersed down the mountainsides. The area is great for day, weekend or week-long outings for people of all ages.
Other Notable Mountain Ranges in South Africa
South African mountain ranges are astounding, from the flattest to the tallest, oldest, prettiest, and most dramatic. When discussing mountains, arguably the most famous (and obviously the flattest) is Table Mountain. The main feature of Table Mountain is the level plateau approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) from side to side, edged by impressive cliffs. There is often a white “table-cloth” of orographic clouds that form on the plateau, which legend attributes to a smoking competition between the devil and a local pirate called Van Hunks. The peaks and valleys nearby make up the Table Mountain National Park. When visiting you can hike, abseil, paraglide, walk, run, bike or take the cable car.
Table Mountain in South Africa.
Along the N2, on the Garden Route you will see the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland mountains. In the Eastern Cape, at the end of the Garden Route, why not visit the Baviaanskloof Wilderness, 270 000 hectares of rugged mountain beauty. At any of these ranges, you can hike, bike, fish, bird, climb and abseil.
In the middle of the country, the incredible Maluti Mountain Range is world-famous for its golden sandstone cliffs. In Clarens in the Free State, there are dinosaur sites and San caves. The Roggeveld Mountains is a mountain range situated mainly in the Northern Cape, forming the western escarpment of the eponymous Roggeveld plateau, and separates it from the lower lying Tankwa Karoo to the west. Its highest peak is Sneeukrans (1,739 m), situated northwest of Sutherland.
The Blouberg (formerly "Blauwberg"), meaning "Blue Mountain" in Afrikaans, is a range of mountains in Limpopo Province, at the far north of South Africa. The mountain is entrenched in the history of the local Tswana people, and they have different names for its various parts. The Blouberg forms part of the 'Vhembe Biosphere Reserve', named a biosphere reserve by UNESCO since 2009.
Highest Mountains of Africa
Here is an incomplete list of the highest mountains of Africa. The highest African mountain is Kilimanjaro, which has three peaks, named Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira, of which Kibo is the tallest and Mawenzi is sufficiently prominent to be a mountain.
| Rank | Mountain | Height (m) | Height (ft) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilimanjaro (Kibo) | 5,895 | 19,341 | Tanzania |
| 2 | Mount Kenya | 5,199 | 17,057 | Kenya |
| 3 | Mount Stanley (Margherita Peak) | 5,109 | 16,762 | DRC/Uganda border |
| 4 | Ras Dashen | 4,550 | 14,930 | Ethiopia |
| 5 | Mount Meru | 4,566 | 14,980 | Tanzania |
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