Africa has more than a hundred volcanoes, active and dormant, including one that produces the most fluid lava on earth. Here are some of the best known, with the country each sits in. (They are listed geographically rather than by activity, so both live and long-dead volcanoes appear together.)
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Kilimanjaro, the “roof of Africa”, is a dormant stratovolcano and, at 5,895 m, the continent’s highest peak. Its last major eruption was over 360,000 years ago.
Its shape comes from three cones — Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira — with snow-capped Kibo rising above the plains. It also has a striking range of habitats, from rainforest at the base to near-arctic conditions near the summit. For a climb, see our Tanzania tours.
Mount Kenya, Kenya
Mount Kenya, at 5,199 m, is Africa’s second-highest peak: an old, deeply eroded volcano, long extinct. Its slopes carry a range of habitats, from forest to alpine moorland.
Climbers come for its rugged peaks, the highest being Batian. Long dead as a volcano, it is still a striking mountain.
Mount Meru, Tanzania
Meru, near Kilimanjaro, is an active volcano whose last major eruption was around a century ago. Overshadowed by its neighbour, it offers a tough, rewarding climb through varied forest with fine views. See our Mount Meru itinerary.
Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania
Ol Doinyo Lengai, “the mountain of God” to the Maasai, is one of the very few volcanoes on earth to erupt carbonatite lava, which is unusually cool and dark. It erupts often, which draws scientists and adventurous climbers.
Mount Elgon, Kenya and Uganda
Mount Elgon, on the Kenya-Uganda border, is a huge extinct shield volcano of about 4,321 m, with one of the largest calderas of any volcano. Its forested slopes are rich in wildlife, and there is still some geothermal activity.
Mount Cameroon, Cameroon
Mount Cameroon, at 4,040 m, is West Africa’s highest peak and an active stratovolcano, with habitats running from tropical rainforest at the base to alpine meadow near the top.
It is one of the more active volcanoes in Africa, with recent eruptions in 1999 and 2000, and it draws walkers and climbers to its slopes.
Biu Plateau, Nigeria
Nigeria’s Biu Plateau is an old volcanic field with a long history of eruptions. Now considered dormant, its cones are quiet reminders of that past, set in a calm, green landscape.
Mount Nyiragongo, DR Congo
Nyiragongo, in Virunga, is one of Africa’s most active volcanoes, known for its lava lake and for fast-moving lava flows that have reshaped the land around it. It stands about 3,470 m, its slopes green below a harsh crater.
Mount Nyamuragira, DR Congo
Nyamuragira, also in Virunga, is one of the most active shield volcanoes on the planet, erupting frequently with fast, fluid lava. It is a long-running subject of study for volcanologists, surrounded by the forest of Virunga National Park.
Its frequent eruptions and rich surroundings make it one of the more remarkable sights in this part of Africa.
Erta Ale, Ethiopia
Erta Ale, in the Afar region, is a shield volcano with a long-lived lava lake, one of very few on earth. Remote and harsh, and sometimes called the “gateway to hell”, it lets you look almost directly into the molten interior of the planet.
The sight of molten lava churning in its crater, and its difficult access, make it a draw for adventurous travellers and scientists alike.
Mount Karisimbi, Rwanda and DR Congo
On the Rwanda-DR Congo border, Karisimbi is a stratovolcano of 4,507 m, the highest of the Virunga mountains. Though dormant, its size and demanding climb draw walkers from around the world.
Mount Visoke, Rwanda and DR Congo
Visoke, also called Bisoke, is a dormant stratovolcano of 3,711 m in the Virungas. Its forested slopes contrast with the bare volcanic rock near the top, and the climb ends at a quiet crater lake.
Africa’s volcanoes range from the high peaks of the east to the remote lava lakes of the Rift. Each has its own story, and they make memorable trips for experienced climbers and curious travellers alike.
On any volcanic trip, take local advice and go with professionals; conditions can change quickly.
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