Africa Ultra-Prominences

AFRICA ULTRA-PROMINENCES

84 Mountains with prominence of 1,500m (4,921 ft.) or greater

Welcome to the first-ever listing of Africa's major mountains based on prominence.

Intensive map and computer data analysis has revealed 84 summits on the continent and neighboring islands. This page attempts names, best-available elevation data, and prominence information for the set of summits.

These is a corresponding map of the African ultras.

List compiled 2004 by Aaron Maizlish, based on a computer generated Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) listing by Jonathan de Ferranti.

The following listing has been sorted by country for ease of reference. Click here to see the same listing organized by prominence value.

The total ultra-prominence count for the continent is:

5,885m	1
4,000-5,000m	0
3,000-4,000m	9
2,000-3,000m	22
1,500-2,000m	52

Global notes:

Rank: The ranking in the left column represents the overall prominence rank among the 84 summits on the list and map.
Peak names: Names are believed to be accurate based on government topographic surveys. The name of the individual peak generally precedes the name of a massif, range or island, although the larger geographical name may be in more common usage. The authors have been thus far unable to ascertain peak names for several summits [given in brackets] in Ethiopia and Congo. Assistance would be appreciated.
Elevation: Is taken from a variety of sources as noted in the footnotes. There are dozens of examples of widely different elevations ascribed to the same peak. For the most part the authors have used their best judgment when comparing 1. modern topographic surveys, 2. Soviet mapping, 3. shuttle (SRTM) elevation data, and 4. other elevations found on commercial mapping and internet sources. Anyone able to provide access to more recent survey data, or who seeks clarification are welcome to contact the authors.
Saddle: Saddles are derived exclusively from analysis of SRTM. Few printed map resources (1:50,000 or smaller) prove to be of greater accuracy. SRTM saddles should be considered accurate to ±30m. in areas of high relief, and very accurate in areas of low relief. There needs to be a slight adjustment to the older datum, but this is dwarfed by the standard deviation in the error range.
Lat and Long: Are taken from SRTM anaylsis and should be considered accurate to ± 15 seconds.

Other footnotes and links follow this list.

minor revisions: December 3, 2011

Rank	Peak	Elevation	Prominence	Saddle	Lat.	Long.	Notes

	ALGERIA
20	Tahat	2908	2328	580	23:17:15 N	05:31:45 E
50	Lalla Khedidja (HP Djebel Djurdjura)	2308	1720	588	36:26:51 N	04:13:42 E
58	Djebel Chélia	2328	1612	716	35:19:06 N	06:38:15 E
	ANGOLA
59	Mt. Tama (Serra da Neve)	2489	1610	879	13:47:09 S	13:10:33 E
80	Moro de Moco	2620	1510	1110	12:27:48 S	15:10:21 E
	CAMEROON
3	Mt. Cameroon	4070	3931	139	04:13:03 N	09:10:18 E	[3]
16	Mt. Oku	3011	2491	520	06:12:06 N	10:31:03 E
	CAPE VERDE
13	Pico de Cano (HP Fogo)	2829	2829	0
32	Tope de Coroa (HP Santo Antaõ)	1979	1979	0
	CHAD
11	Emi Koussi	3445	2934	511	19:47:30 N	18:33:00 E	[11]
68	Pic Toussidé	3315	1593	1722	21:02:24 N	16:28:12 E	[69]
	COMORO
19	Le Kartala (HP Njazidja, formerly Grand Comore)	2361	2361	0	11:45:24 S	43:21:42 E
67	Ntingui (HP Nwanzi, formerly Anjouan)	1595	1595	0	12:12:54 S	44:25:30 E
	CONGO						[ Congo]
4	Ngaliema (Mt. Stanley), Congo/Uganda	5109	3951	1158	00:23:03 N	29:52:24 E
64	[Kabobo]	2725	1604	1121	05:08:15 S	29:03:06 E
69	Mont Mohi	3480	1592	1888	02:57:15 S	28:46:48 E
72	[Wuhevi]	3095	1570	1525	00:08:33 S	29:25:27 E
	DJIBOUTI
62	Moussa Ali Terara, Djibouti/Eritrea	2021	1607	414	12:28:15 N	42:24:18 E
	EGYPT
n.a.	Jebel Katarina (in Asia)	2629	2404	225	28:30:42 N	33:57:09 E	[18]
45	Jebel Shayib al Banat	2187	1747	440	26:58:45 N	33:29:15 E	[46]
	EQUATORIAL GUINEA
10	Pico Basilé	3011	3011	0	03:35:00 N	08:46:00 E	new survey
76	Gran Caldera de Luba	2261	1539	722	03:21:39 N	08:32:21 E
	ERITREA						[Eritrea]
34	Ramlo	2248	1920	328	13:23:27 N	41:43:39 E	TS
62	Moussa Ali Terara, Djibouti/Eritrea	2021	1607	414	12:28:15 N	42:24:18 E	TS
	ETHIOPIA						[Ethiopia]
2	Ras Dejen (Ras Dashen)	4550	3997	553	13:14:09 N	38:22:15 E	[2]
14	Tullu Deemtu (HP Bale Mountains)	4400	2527	1873	06:49:33 N	39:49:03 E	[14]
23	Ch'ok'e Terara	4100	2225	1875	10:42:48 N	37:50:54 E	SR
24	[Argun]	3418	2208	1210	06:06:21 N	36:44:33 E	TS
28	Amba Farit	4270	2061	2209	10:57:06 N	39:06:12 E	SR [28]
32	Guge	3568	2013	1555	06:11:51 N	37:22:51 E	TS
36	Abune Yosef	4260	1909	2351	12:08:27 N	39:10:54 E	SR
47	Tulu Welel	3301	1742	1559	08:52:39 N	34:48:42 E	SR
53	Mt. Smith	2560	1690	870	06:13:57 N	36:17:51 E	SR
58	[Aggio]	3358	1630	1728	07:08:57 N	36:32:39 E	TS
60	[Argun North]	3405	1610	1795	06:33:00 N	36:43:33 E	TS
64	Bada or K'ech'a Terara	4195	1605	2590	07:54:30 N	39:23:30 E	[64]
66	Belaya	2731	1601	1130	11:28:27 N	36:11:39 E	TS
71	Mai Gudo	3359	1589	1770	07:29:27 N	37:12:15 E	TS
73	Dubbai	3950	1550	2400	12:51:30 N	39:29:48 E	SR [73]
80	Guna Terara	4120	1510	2610	11:42:39 N	38:14:12 E	SR
81	Delo (YeTerara Senselet)	3240	1510	1730	05:49:15 N	37:50:21 E	SR
83	Gara Muleta	3405	1502	1903	09:15:24 N	41:43:45 E	TS
	KENYA
5	Mount Kenya	5199	3825	1374	00:09:03 S	37:18:27 E
27	Oldoinyo Lesatima	4001	2081	1920	00:18:42 S	36:36:51 E
43	Chepunyal Hills	3334	1759	1575	01:39:33 N	35:22:57 E
75	Mt. Kulal	2285	1542	743	02:43:45 N	36:55:24 E
84	Mt. Ng'iro	2848	1501	1347	02:11:30 N	36:48:57 E
	LESOTHO
18	Thabana Ntlenyana	3482	2390	1092	29:28:06 S	29:16:09 E
	MADAGASCAR
12	Maromokotro (Tsaratanana)	2876	2876	0	14:01:24 S	48:57:57 E
39	Pic Boby	2658	1875	783	22:11:42 S	46:53:06 E
56	Tsiafajavona	2643	1663	980	19:20:57 S	47:14:36 E
	MALAWI
22	Sapitwa Peak (Mt. Mulanje)	3002	2319	683	15:57:00 S	35:35:27 E
	MOROCCO
6	Jebel Toubkal	4167	3755	412	31:03:33 N	07:54:57 W
37	Ighil M'Goun	4071	1904	2167	31:30:30 N	06:26:36 W
38	Koudiet Tirbirhine	2456	1901	555	34:50:21 N	04:31:00 W
57	Adrar Bou Nasser	3340	1642	1698	33:34:06 N	03:53:09 W
62	Jebel Igdet	3615	1609	2006	30:57:48 N	08:26:36 W
	MOZAMBIQUE
44	Serra Namuli	2419	1757	662	15:21:27 S	37:03:54 E
	NAMIBIA
41	Konigstein (HP Brandberg Mtn.)	2606	1802	804	21:08:57 S	14:34:39 E
	REUNION (France D.O.M)
9	Piton des Neiges	3069	3069	0	21:05:54 S	55:28:36 E
	RWANDA
7	Volcan Karisimbi	4507	3312	1195	01:30:30 S	29:26:42 E
77	Muhavura, Rwanda/Uganda	4127	1530	2597	01:23:00 S	29:40:33 E
	SAO TOME E PRINCIPE
31	Pico de Sao Tome	2024	2024	0	00:16:03 N	06:32:36 E
	SIERRA LEONE
55	Bintimani (HP Loma Mansa)	1945	1665	280	09:13:30 N	11:07:00 W
	SOMALIA						[Somalia]
67	Karkoor	2120	1598	522	11:19:30 N	49:44:51 E
	SOUTH AFRICA
50	Dutoitspiek	1995	1730	265	33:45:18 S	19:11:12 E
74	Seweweekspoortpiek	2325	1543	782	33:23:54 S	21:22:03 E
	SUDAN						[Sudan]
15	Jebel Marra	3042	2512	530	12:56:00 N	24:13:39 E
26	Kinyeti (Lolibai Mtns.)	3187	2120	1067	3:56:45 N	32:54:36 E
48	Emogadong (Dongotona Mtns.)	2623	1730	893	4:11:45 N	33:07:48 E
	TANZANIA						[Tanzania]
1	Kilimanjaro	5895	5885	10	03:04:33 S	37:21:06 E	[1]
8	Mount Meru	4565	3170	1395	03:14:48 S	36:44:54 E
25	Kimhandu	2653	2121	532	07:05:33 S	37:37:06 E
29	Hanang	3420	2050	1370	04:26:06 S	35:24:00 E
30	Loolmalassin	3682	2040	1642	03:03:00 S	35:49:09 E
34	Gelai Peak	2948	1930	1018	02:36:48 S	36:06:12 E
42	Kitumbeine Hill	2858	1770	1088	02:53:36 S	36:13:45 E
45	Shengena	2464	1750	714	04:16:03 S	37:55:54 E
49	Sungwi	2300	1730	570	04:43:54 S	38:13:54 E
54	Mtorwi	2980	1688	1292	09:04:42 S	34:01:15 E
78	Karenga	2279	1529	750	07:41:12 S	36:52:51 E
	UGANDA
17	Mount Elgon	4321	2458	1863	01:07:06 N	34:31:30 E
40	Moroto	3083	1818	1265	02:31:30 N	34:46:21 E
52	Kadam	3063	1690	1373	01:45:45 N	34:42:33 E
77	Muhavura, Rwanda/Uganda	4127	1530	2597	01:23:00 S	29:40:33 E
	ZIMBABWE
79	Inyangani	2592	1515	1077	18:18:00 S	32:50:30 E

FOOTNOTES

[Congo] For this first draft, the authors were unable to ascertain accurate toponymy (names) and survey elevations for the three mountain summits in Eastern Congo. The names Kabobo and Wuhevi have been tentatively assigned to the massifs, pending further clarification. Elevations for these two summits are estimated from SRTM data, and are likely more accurate than any pre-existing survey. Two additional summits, "Marungu" and the better-known Volcan Nyiragongo, barely miss the 1,500 meter cutoff and may be included on future lists.

[Eritrea and Ethiopia] Great discrepancies were found between survey elevations and SRTM data. An attempt has been made here to reconcile them, but this should be considered provisional. Peaks footnoted with a [TS] employ elevations from topographic surveys. We used the Soviet 1:100,000 and 1:200,000 maps. We strongly suspect that these spot elevations are from 1930s era surveys, and are obsolete. Where the topographic survey and the SRTM data were in agreement within the normal error bound, we chose the topographic survey elevation. Where there is wide disagreement we chose the SRTM data, marked with [SR]. The high point of Ethiopia, Ras Dashen is in wide disagreement (see below). Several mountains are not named on the Soviet maps, in GNIS, or on commercial map publications. We have given them provisional names, denoted in [brackets]. Assistance would be appreciated.

[Somalia] The HP of Somalia, Shimbiris, appears to narrowly miss the cutoff of 1500m but may be on future listings. 2,416m is a widely quoted elevation, however SRTM suggests the high point is closer to 2,460m. The SRTM value would give Shimbiris a prominence of ±1,495m.

[Sudan] Spot elevations still in use today are from 1920s ground surveys. In spite of that, SRTM largely concurs.

[Tanzania] On this first draft, elevations were mostly taken from Soviet mapping, as the Tanzania 1:50,000 topographic series mostly neglects spot elevations. Exceptions are Kilimanjaro, Loolmalassin, and Karenga. SRTM and the Tanzania/Soviet mapping generally concur very well. Sungwi is taken from the SRTM analysis, as it diverges significantly from the Tanzania Survey (2271m-2286m).

[1] Kilimanjaro: As the highpoint of Africa, Kilimanjaro's key saddle is the low point that separates Africa from Eurasia. The elevation of the Suez Canal cut is functionally zero. A low point of 10m immediately to the west of the canal is assumed to have been the original KS.

[2] Ras Dejen, Ethiopia: There is a high-divergence of published elevations for Ras Dejen (also spelled Ras Deshen or Ras Dashen). An Italian military survey measured it at 4620m, a height that is still often quoted. A new elevation of 4,533m emerged from a 1970s triangulation survey. a subsequent Franco-Italian survey established a height of 4,550m.

[3] Mont Cameroon: The true elevation of Mont Cameroon remains a minor mystery. The most frequently cited elevation is 4095.1m, which appears on all of the more recent I.G.N topographic maps. Other cited values are 4100m and 4070m. SRTM suggests the elevation is much lower; the highest 3" cell is 4024m. Communication with earth-scientists suggests that a new survey is needed, especially given the frequent volcanic activity. We have tentatively adopted 4070m as the most plausible published elevation.

[11] Emi Koussi, Chad: The official elevation that appears on the IGN series is 3,415 meters. SRTM suggests that the peak is slightly higher, with a highest cell of 3,435m indicating an elevation of approximately 3,445m.

[14] Tullu Deemtu, Ethiopia: This is usually quoted as 4,377m, but SRTM data shows it to be slightly higher. It is higher than a nearby peak known as "Batu". .

[18] Jebel Katarina (or Katharina), Egypt: This peak also appears on the Middle East list with footnotes.

[28] Amba Farit, Ethiopia: Wide divergence between Soviet mapping (4,330m) and Shuttle data (4,270m.)

[46] Jebel Sha'ib al Banat, Egypt: Elevation unconfirmed.

[64] Bada or K'ech'a Terara, Ethiopia: Printed maps (Soviet, Ethiopian, and US Tactical Pilotage Charts) all show K'ech'a as higher (likely from the same survey.) SRTM suggests Bada may be higher. Soviet maps give Bada 4,170m and K'ech'a 4,245m. The highest SRTM cells were 4,195m and 4,182m respectively, making it too close to call without further investigation.

[69] Pic Toussidé, Chad: 3315m elevation is from more recent IGN map. Earlier IGN maps have survey elevation of 3265m, which is still widely used today on commercial maps, and should probably be disregarded. SRTM concurs with newer elevation.

[73] Dubbai, Ethiopia: Huge divergence between printed maps (3,950m) and SRTM (4,041m), suggesting that original survey may have missed the high point.

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