AFRICAN MOUNTAINS -Exploring the Peaks of East Africa

East Africa is a region with beautiful mountains. Some are so tall they touch the clouds, while others are a hiking paradise.These mountains are special because they are homes to wild animals, rare plants and they give us clean water from rivers that flow from them.. 

Here are some mountains in East Africa and what makes them special.

South Sudan

1. Mount Kinyeti

• Mount Kinyeti is the highest peak in South Sudan.It stands at about 3,187 meters tall.
• It is located in the Imatong Mountains, a mountain range that extends into Uganda.
• Mount Kinyeti gets its name from the Imatong mountain ranges (also called Lomariti or Lolobai). The name comes from the local area where the whole mountain chain is found.

2. Mount Dongotona

• The mountains are named after the Dongotono people, who live in the area and speak a dialect of the Lotuko language.
• This mountain is part of the Dongotona mountains located just east of the Imatong Mountains range.
• The highest peak in the Dongotona range reaches around 2,620–2,630 meters above sea level .

Ethiopia: 

1. Simien Mountains

• It is located within the Simien Massif, which rises above the northern highlands of Ethiopia.These mountains were formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions.
• The Simien Mountains have more than a dozen peaks separated by valleys and rising to pinnacles. The highest peak is Ras Dashen.
• These mountains are home to some special animals like the gelada baboon and the Ethiopian Wolf, the rarest wolf in the world.

2. Bale Mountains

• Bale mountain is a mountain range found in the Ethiopian highlands. Mount Tullu Dimtu, is the second-highest peak in Ethiopia.
• The Bale mountain has caves like Sof Omar Cave, one of the longest caves in Africa- more than 15km long
• Rivers like Web river and the Wabe Shebelle river start in the Bale mountains.

Eritrea

1. Emba Soira

• The name “Emba” means mountain in the Tigrinya language spoken in Eritrea. So “Emba Soira” means “Soira Mountain”.
• This is the tallest mountain in Eritrea.
• It is about 3,018 meters tall.
• It’s part of the Eritrean highlands, a place with hills,cliffs and green valleys.
•  If you climb Emba Soira, you can see The Red Sea in the distance.

2. Mount Ramlo

• Mount Ramlo is one of the highest peaks in Eritrea after Mount Soira.
• Near Mount Ramlo is Metera (also known as Balaw Kalaw), an archaeological site with old stone ruins.
• Locals consider the mountain sacred and sometimes use it for quiet prayers and reflections.

Djibouti

1. Mount Mousa Ali

• This is Djibouti’s highest mountain.
• It is a tri border mountain which means its a natural border between three countries;Djibouti , Eritrea and Ethiopia.
• It is an old volcano but not active anymore that means it is a Dormant volcano. 

2. Mount Gâgou

• Mount Gâgou is found in the Tadjourah region of northern Djibouti.
• It is also among the highest peaks in the country.
• It is made up of old volcanic rock, meaning it formed long ago by lava movements.

Somalia

1. Mount Shimbiris

• Mount Shimbiris, the highest peak in Somalia.
• It’s located within the Al Madow mountain range, specifically in the Sanaag region of Somalia.
• From the peak, you can see the Gulf of Aden.

2. Karkaar Mountains

• The name “Karkaar” comes from the Somali word that means “ridge” or “highland”.
• The Karkaar Mountains are sometimes referred to as the Golis Mountains.
• They stretch along the coast near the Gulf of Aden, from the city of Bosaso to the border with Somaliland making them one of the longest mountain ranges in the country

Kenya

1. Mount Kenya

• This is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second tallest in Africa.
• Mount Kenya is the namesake of the country, Kenya.
• It’s an extinct volcano, meaning it will not erupt again.
• It has three main peaks Batian (5,199 meters), Nelion (5,188 meters), and Point Lenana (4,985 meters).

2. Mount Elgon

• Located on the border with Uganda and is the second-highest mountain in Kenya.
• It’s one of the oldest volcanic mountains in East Africa. It’s known for its massive volcanic base.
• The mountain is named after the Maasai name “Ol Doinyo Ilgoon,” meaning “Breast Mountain,” and is also known as the “Mountain of the Breast”.

3. Mount Satima

• Mount Satima, also known as Ol Donyo Lesatima.
• It is part of the Aberdare Ranges located in the Aberdare National Park. It is the highest mountain in the Aberdare Range and the third-highest in Kenya.
• It is famous for its beautiful walking paths through open grasslands,special volcano-shaped hills called the “Dragon’s Teeth,” and its Maasai name, which means “mountain of the young bull.”

Tanzania

1. Mount Kilimanjaro

• Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, making it one of the seven summits in the world.
• It is also the world’s tallest free standing mountain
• It’s a dormant volcano made up of three volcano cones, Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira.
• People have set records climbing Mt Kilimanjaro . The youngest was only 6 years old and the oldest was 80 years old.

2. Mount Meru

• This is another big mountain in Tanzania located within Arusha National Park.
• Mount Meru is classified as an active volcano, with its last minor eruption occurring in 1910. 
• Mount Meru has two peaks, Socialist Peak (the main summit) and Little Meru (a lower peak at 3800m).
• In Hinduism, Mount Meru is believed to be the center of the universe and the home of some gods, like Kubera, the god of wealth.

Uganda

1. Mount Stanley

• Mount Stanley is also known as Mount Ngaliema. It is located in the Rwenzori range at the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• The mountain is named after a 19th century  journalist and explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley.
• Mount Stanley has very high peaks that are cold enough to have glaciers (big sheets of ice). These glaciers make the mountain look special and also make climbing it more difficult.

2. Rwenzori Mountains

• It is also known as  the “Mountains of the Moon.” 
• The mountains are found on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
• The Rwenzori Mountains National Park has amazing views of snowy mountain tops and glaciers, even though it’s close to the equator where it’s usually hot.

Rwanda 

1. Mount Karisimbi

• This is the highest mountain in Rwanda. 
• It’s located within the Virunga Mountains, a volcanic range that extends along the borders of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.
• The name “Karisimbi” comes from a Kinyarwanda word that means “white shell,” because the top of the mountain often has snow or hail on it.

2. Mount Bisoke

• Mount Bisoke, also known as Mount Visoke.
• It is located within Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the DRC.
• It is a dormant volcano famous for its beautiful crater lake, Lake Bisoke, formed after a volcanic eruption.

Burundi

1. Mount Heha

• This is the tallest mountain in Burundi. 
• It’s located within the Burundi Highlands, near the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lake Tanganyika.
• It is also part of the Albertine Rift, a region known for its beautiful landscapes and hiking trails.

2. Twinyoni

• It is also referred to as Umusozi Twinyoni .
• Twinyoni is situated on the border between Rwanda and Burundi.
• Mount Twinyoni is one of the mountains found inside Parc National de la Kibira in Burundi.