Which country is home to the highest mountain in Africa?

The highest mountain in Africa is in Tanzania: Mount Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak reaches 5,895 metres above sea level.

Kilimanjaro is a huge dormant stratovolcano near Tanzania’s border with Kenya. It has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Uhuru Peak sits on Kibo’s crater rim and is the mountain’s highest point. Although Kilimanjaro stands close to Kenya and is famously photographed from Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, the summit and mountain are in Tanzania.

The mountain formed through volcanic activity associated with the East African Rift. Its first recorded ascent to the highest summit was made in 1889 by Hans Meyer, Ludwig Purtscheller and the Tanzanian guide Yohanas Kinyala Lauwo. Kilimanjaro later became part of Kilimanjaro National Park, established in 1973.

A frequent mix-up is Mount Kenya, which is Africa’s second-highest mountain. Kilimanjaro is also notable as the world’s highest free-standing mountain, rising dramatically above the surrounding plateau.