AFRICAN MOUNTAINS – Exploring the Peaks of in Southern Africa

Exploring the Peaks of in Southern Africa

Southern Africa is home to many beautiful and exciting mountains. These mountains are not just tall and rocky, some are full of animals, forests, rivers, and even snow. Here are some mountains in Southern Africa and what makes them unique.

South Africa

1. Drakensberg Mountains

• The name Drakensberg means “Dragon Mountains.” 
• These are the highest mountain ranges in South Africa and home to the Tugela Falls, recognized as the world’s highest waterfall.
• The Drakensberg Mountains have many old rock paintings made by the San people, showing their lives and beliefs. These special paintings are very famous and many people visit the mountains to see them.

2. Table Mountain

• Table mountain is found in Cape Town and has a flat top that looks like a table.
• It’s one of the oldest mountains in the world,  estimated to be around 240 million years old.
• The indigenous Khoisan people of the Cape called Table Mountain “Hoerikwaggo,” meaning “Mountain in the Sea”.

Angola

1. Mount Moco

• Mount Moco was named one of Angola’s “seven wonders” in 2014 being the highest peak in Angola.
• It’s known for its rich birdlife, with over 233 species recorded, including several endemic and endangered species.

2. Tundavala Mountains (Tundavala Gap)

• Tundavala, also known as Fenda da Tundavala  is located near the city of Lubango.
• It is also recognized as one of Angola’s seven natural wonders due to its breathtaking and dramatic landscape.
• The Tundavala Gap is a popular spot for hiking, photography, and enjoying the natural scenery.

Zambia

1. Mafinga Central

• At 2,339-metre (7,674 ft) it is the highest mountain in Zambia.
• It is located in the Mafinga Hills on the border of Zambia and Malawi.
• The Luangwa River, one of Zambia’s major rivers, originates on the western side of the Mafinga Ridge.

2. Mount Mumpu

• Mount Mumpu is also known as Mount Mumpu Welume.
• It holds the title of Zambia’s tallest free-standing mountain.
• The area where Mount Mumpu is located  is described as a “jewel box” with several attractions like Changwena Falls, and Fort Elwes.

Malawi

1. Mount Mulanje

• It’s the tallest mountain in Malawi. 
• Locals call it the “island in the sky” because it often rises above the clouds, creating a misty, ethereal appearance.
• It’s one of the largest inselbergs (isolated hills or mountains) in the world.
• The mountain is famous for its Mulanje cedar trees, which are the national tree of Malawi and only grow naturally there.

2. Nkhoma Mountain 

• Nkhoma Mountain is located near the town of Nkhoma. 
• The mountain is locally known as Phiri La Mitu Iwiri, meaning “the two-headed mountain”
• The mountain has two distinct peaks, Nkhoma and Mbalambala, giving it the local name “two-headed mountain”.
• It’s a popular hiking destination, known for its granite formations and views of the surrounding landscape.

Mozambique

1. Monte Binga

• Monte Binga is the highest mountain in Mozambique.
• It is located on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, specifically within the Chimanimani Transfrontier Park.
• On very clear days, it’s said that you can see the Indian Ocean from its summit.

2. Mount Namuli

• Mount Namuli is the second-highest peak in Mozambique.
• The mountain is considered a “sky island” due to its isolation, high-altitude forests and grasslands.
• It’s home to several endemic bird species making it an Important Bird Area (IBA).

Zimbabwe

1. Mount Nyangani

• This is the highest mountain in Zimbabwe (2,592 m). 
• The mountain is located within the Nyanga National Park in the Manicaland province.
• Local communities believe that the mountain is a sacred place and that certain actions, like commenting or laughing, are forbidden and could lead to misfortune.

2. Vumba Mountains

• Also called the “Mountains of the Mist,” because it is often covered in fog. 
• The Vumba Mountains are located on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
• In 1953, Queen Elizabeth visited the Vumba and declared it “nowhere more beautiful in Africa”

Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

1. Emlembe Mountain

• Emlembe Mountain is also known as Ngwenya Mountain and is the highest peak in Eswatini..
• It’s located on the border with South Africa and is part of the Drakensberg mountain range.
• The mountain is a special and holy place. It is an important part of the country’s culture and stories. It also stands for the country’s history and who the people are.

2. Mdzimba Mountains

• The mountain’s name, Mdzimba, is from a tribe that lived in the area, led by a chief named Dzimba.
• A long time ago, Swazi people used the caves as refuge during attacks particularly from the Zulus.
• Mount Mdimba is part of the Mdzimba mountains and stands on the eastern side of the Ezulwini Valley. This valley is where the Swazi royal family lives.

Lesotho

1. Thabana Ntlenyana

• Thabana Ntlenyana, means “beautiful little mountain”in Sesotho.
• It is the highest peak in Southern Africa and is ranked 11th in the world for being far from any other tall mountain. This means it stands alone and is not close to other high peaks. 
• It’s also the highest point in the Drakensberg range, which stretches for 700 miles along South Africa’s southeastern coast.

2. Maloti Mountains

• The Maloti Mountains, also known as the Mountain Kingdom are a range that stretches across Lesotho and into South Africa. 
• The Maloti Mountains have many old rock paintings which were made by the San people a long time ago and show what they believed in, how they saw the world, and how they lived each day.
• The mountains were a place of refuge for the San people during the war.

Botswana

Botswana is mostly flat, but it still has some hills and a few high places. There are no big mountain ranges. Most of the country is covered by the flat and sandy land of the Kalahari Desert.

1. Tsodilo Hills

• Tsodilo Hills is often called the “Louvre of the Desert” due to its impressive collection of rock art, which includes paintings and engravings.
• The hills are considered sacred by both the San and Hambukushu people, who believe they are the home of the ancestral spirits.
• It has four main hills: Male Hill, Female Hill, Child Hill, and the highest, Leaning Rock.

2. Matsieng Hill (Footprints Hill)

• Matsieng is believed by many Botswana to be the birthplace of humankind, where the first humans and animals emerged from a hole in the ground.
• It is home to the giant footprints carved in rock.According to legend, Matsieng was a giant who came out of the earth here.

Namibia

1. Brandberg Mountain

• This is Namibia’s tallest mountain. Its summit, called Königstein, reaches 2,573 meters (8,550 feet) above sea level.
• Its name means “Fire Mountain” because it glows orange and red during sunset. 
• The Mountain is home to the Tsisab Ravine, which contains an incredible collection of over 45,000 rock paintings and engravings, including the famous “White Lady”.

2. Spitzkoppe

• The mountain is also known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia” . It is a group of granite peaks rising dramatically from the Namib Desert.
• The Khoisan people, also known as beautiful night skies, make it a fantastic location for stargazing and camping.