The list below
identifies and ranks the 50 African mountains
with the largest prominence or primary factor.
A vertical ascent on foot of at least
600 meter should be honored in order to qualify as a legitimate climb, many
peaks will require more.
The primary factor of a mountain is the minimal vertical drop from its summit before one can ascend a higher peak. In terms of map contours, this vertical drop is defined by the first contour that encircles a higher peak and the preceeding (higher) contour line which has the peak in question as the highest point inside its closed curve. Between these two contour lines lies the (usually unique) defining saddle of the mountain.
This list is based on data compiled by Aaron Maizlish and
Jonathan de Ferranti, more information can be found here.
Note that the rank by prominence is different by one above number 18,
since this list does not include The Sinai HP, as it is
located in the Asian part of Egypt. Also note, that the Canary Islands, Madagascar, Cape Verde and Reunion have been
placed in the island category.
Confirmed or suspected corrections are most welcome by email to: petter@ii.uib.no
Two stars behind the rank means that I have climbed it (17/50).
| Rank | Height | Name | Primary factor | Country |
| 1** | 5895 | Kilimanjaro | 5885 | Tanzania |
| 2** | 4543 | Ras Dashen | 3990 | Ethiopia |
| 3 | 4095 | Mount Cameroon | 3956 | Cameroon |
| 4** | 5110 | Mount Margherita | 3952 | Uganda/Congo Democratic Repuplic |
| 5 | 5199 | Mount Kenya | 3825 | Kenya |
| 6** | 4167 | Jebel Toubkal | 3757 | Morocco |
| 7 | 4519 | Volcan Karisimbi | 3324 | Rwanda |
| 8** | 4565 | Mount Meru | 3170 | Tanzania |
| 9 | 3011 | Pico Basile | 3011 | Island Bioko, Equatorial Guinea |
| 10 | 3415 | Emi Koussi | 2904 | Chad |
| 11 | 4400 | Sante YeTerara Chaf / Batu | 2527 | Ethiopia |
| 12 | 3042 | Jebel Marra | 2512 | Sudan |
| 13 | 3011 | Mount Oku | 2491 | Cameroon |
| 14 | 4321 | Mount Elgon | 2458 | Uganda |
| 15 | 3482 | Thabana Ntlenyana | 2390 | Lesotho |
| 16 | 2908 | Tahat | 2328 | Algeria |
| 17 | 3002 | Sapitwa Peak | 2319 | Malawi |
| 18** | 4100 | Choke Terara | 2225 | Ethiopia |
| 19 | 3418 | "Argun" | 2208 | Ethiopia |
| 20 | 2653 | Kimhandu | 2121 | Tanzania |
| 21 | 3187 | Kinyeti | 2120 | Sudan |
| 22 | 4001 | Oldoinyo Lesatima | 2081 | Kenya |
| 23** | 4270 | Amba Farit | 2061 | Ethiopia |
| 24** | 3420 | Hanang | 2050 | Tanzania |
| 25** | 3682 | Loolmalassin | 2040 | Tanzania |
| 26 | 2024 | Pico de Sao Tome | 2024 | Island Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe |
| 27 | 3568 | Gughe | 2013 | Ethiopia |
| **** | **** | End 2000 meter | **** | ** |
| 28** | 2948 | Gelai Peak | 1930 | Tanzania |
| 29 | 2248 | Ramlo | 1920 | Eritrea |
| 30** | 4260 | Abune Yosef | 1909 | Ethiopia |
| 31** | 4071 | Ighil M'Goun | 1904 | Morocco |
| 32** | 2456 | Koudiet Tirbirhine | 1901 | Morocco |
| 33 | 3083 | Moroto | 1818 | Uganda |
| 34 | 2606 | Konigstein | 1802 | Namibia |
| 35** | 2858 | Kitumbeine Hill | 1770 | Tanzania |
| 36 | 3334 | Chepunyal Hills | 1759 | Kenya |
| 37 | 2419 | Serra Namuli | 1757 | Mozambique |
| 38** | 2464 | Shengena | 1750 | Tanzania |
| 39 | 2187 | Jebel Shayib al Banat | 1747 | Egypt |
| 40 | 3301 | Tulu Welel | 1742 | Ethiopia |
| 41 | 2623 | Emogadong | 1730 | Sudan |
| 42** | 2300 | Sungwi | 1730 | Tanzania |
| 43 | 1995 | Dutoitspiek | 1730 | South Africa |
| 44 | 2308 | Lalla Khedidja | 1720 | Algeria |
| 45 | 3063 | Kadam | 1690 | Uganda |
| 46 | 2560 | Mount Smith | 1690 | Ethiopia |
| 47 | 2980 | Mtorwi | 1688 | Tanzania |
| 48 | 1945 | Bintimani | 1665 | Sierra Leone |
| 49** | 3340 | Adrar Bou Nasser | 1642 | Morocco |
| 50 | 3358 | "Aggio" | 1630 | Ethiopia |
| **** | **** | Africa 50 Finest | **** | ** |
| 51 | 2328 | Djebel Chelia | 1612 | Algeria |
| 52 | 3405 | "Argun North" | 1610 | Ethiopia |
| **** | **** | Africa 50 Finest, excluding islands | **** | ** |
| 53 | 2489 | Mount Tama | 1610 | Angola |
| 54** | 3615 | Jebel Igdet | 1609 | Morocco |
| 55 | 2021 | Moussa Ali Terara | 1607 | Djibouti/Eritrea |
| 56 | 4195 | Bada | 1605 | Ethiopia |
| 57 | 2725 | "Kabobo" | 1604 | Congo Democratic Repuplic |
| 58 | 2731 | Belaya | 1601 | Ethiopia |
| 59 | 2120 | Karkoor | 1598 | Somalia |
| 60 | 3315 | Pic Tousside | 1593 | Chad |
| 61 | 3480 | Mont Mohi | 1592 | Congo Democratic Repuplic |
| 62 | 3359 | Mai Gudo | 1589 | Ethiopia |
| 63 | 3095 | "Wuhevi" | 1570 | Congo Democratic Repuplic |
| 64 | 3950 | Dubbai | 1550 | Ethiopia |
| 65 | 2325 | Seweweekspoortpiek | 1543 | South Africa |
| 66 | 2285 | Mount Kulal | 1542 | Kenya |
| 67 | 2261 | Gran Caldera de Luba | 1539 | Equatorial Guinea |
| 68 | 4127 | Muhavura | 1530 | Rwanda/Uganda |
| 69 | 2279 | Karenga | 1529 | Tanzania |
| 70 | 2592 | Inyangani | 1515 | Zimbabwe |
| 71** | 4120 | Guna Terara | 1510 | Ethiopia |
| 72 | 3240 | Delo | 1510 | Ethiopia |
| 73 | 2620 | Moro de Moco | 1510 | Angola |
| 74 | 3405 | Gara Muleta | 1502 | Ethiopia |
| 75 | 2848 | Mount Ngiro | 1501 | Kenya |
| **** | **** | End Ultras | **** | ** |
Copyright 2000-2012, Petter Bjørstad.
I appreciate that use of these data is acknowledged including a link to
my main mountain page.