Africa offers mountain climbing lovers with some of the best hiking expeditions in the world. The East African land mass lying on both sides of the equator boasts of two of Africa's highest mountains - Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5,895m) and Mount Kenya in Kenya ( 5199m) - both extinct volcanic mountains with snow capped peaks. On the western part of East Africa and on the boarder between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo lies the Ruwenzori mountainous range reaching a height of 5100 m above sea level - Africa's highest non volcanic mountains.

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Mount Kilimanjaro climbing:

Located inside the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania and on the North Eastern boarder with Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. It is commonly referred to as 'the roof of Africa'. Kilimanjaro is dead or  extinct volcano with 3 main peaks: The Kibo peak, the Shira peak and the Mawenzi peak. At 5,895m above sea level, Kibo is the highest followed by Mawenzi on the east of Kibo at 5,149m - a more technical peak to ascend. The Shira peak which is less prominent lies to the west of kibo peak at 3,962m above sea level.

An ascent on mount Kilimanjaro is a hiker's dream and offers an opportunity to take magnificent photos through out all the major routes. The ascent can be attempted using either the Marangu route, Machame route, Umbwe route, Lemosho route and Rongai route. For detailed information and itineraries click here

 

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Mount Kenya Climbing:

Trekking Mount Kenya: The second highest mountain in Africa, Mt. Kena is located on the equator standing at a height of 5199 meters above sea level. Mount Kenya has 3 main peaks namely: Batian at 5,199m, Nelion at 5,188m and point Lenana at 4,985m. Other minor summits include:Point Piggott at 4,957m, Point Dutton at 4,885 and Point John at 4,883m.

Among the 3 main peaks - Batian, Nelion and Lenana- it is only point Lenana that can be ascended by trekkers. Nelion and Batian can only be  ascended by technical climbers. There are 3 main routes for climbing Mt. Kenya namely: Naro Moru route, Chogoria Route and Sirimon route. For detailed information and itineraries click here.

 

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                   Climbing the Ruwenzori Mountains:

The Rwenzori Mountains fondly referred to as the mythical "mountains of the moon" are capped with a wonderful mass of ice and snow, massive ice frost statuette and exotic  alpine vegetation. The Ruwenzori Mountain ranges offer a perfect destination  for the experienced climber as well as the casual hiker.

The lower slopes are great hiking experience with scenic backdrops of beauty and a unique habitat of numerous uncommon exotic and endemic flora and fauna.
The Rwenzori Mountain Ranges stretching some 120 km in length and 48 km in width, are made up of a massive block of Precambrian rock rising to some 5000 m high, making them the highest non-volcanic mountain in Africa. The Ruwenzori mountain range was formed as a result of the formation of the faults that is the The Great African Rift Valley in East Africa. The Mt. Stanley at 5,109m is the third highest peak in Africa. Other peaks are Mt. Alexandria at 5,083 m and Mt. Speke at4,089 m.
Rwenzori means "rainmaker", and the areas' average annual rainfall is 5 m. For detailed information and itineraries click here.