What are the best hikes in Africa? Why choose Africa as your next hiking destination?

Countries in Africa have incredibly diverse landscapes and environments, not to mention rich history and heritage.

Hiking trails of Africa run through UNESCO-listed national parks, beautiful valleys, desolate landscapes, past high snowy mountain ranges and ultra prominent peaks. Africa isn’t short of dramatic hikes.

But what are the best treks in Africa? Which African countries are the best hiking destinations?

Check out our article to find out!

7 best hikes in Africa

Hoerikwaggo Table Mountain Hike, South Africa

Hoerikwaggo Table Mountain Hike is a 75 km-long trail in the Cape Peninsula. 

The trail follows a varied route. It goes through coastal and mountain terrain, offering amazing views of the peninsula and False Bay.

Hikers traverse the Cape of Good Hope and the Table Mountain National Park, pass over several Cape Peninsula’s high points and walk on the deserted Noordhoek beach.

Normally, it takes around 5 days to complete the route.

Now, in 2021, unfortunately, it’s not possible to hike the full Hoerikwaggo trail. Due to disputes and security concerns, parts in the middle of the trail are closed. 

However, you can hike the first part and the last part of the trail. It will be a 4-day hike, with a short transfer in between.

Also, it is possible to hike the best stages of the trail as day hikes.

The Drakensberg Traverse, South Africa

The Drakensberg Mountain range (also called uKhahlamba in Zulu) is the highest peak in South Africa.

This mountain range offers great hiking opportunities — from day hikes to serious multi-day treks.

If you are up to adventure, embark on a 2-week hike, the Drakensberg Traverse. This route is 200 km long and encompasses many of the Drakensberg’s peaks such as Mont Aux Sources, Cleft Peak, Champagne Castle, Giant’s Castle and the Thabana Ntlenyana.

When hiking the Drakensberg Traverse you’ll also see Tugela Falls — an epic waterfall, which actually it’s the second tallest in the world.

If you don’t have that much time, you can go on some of the shortest hikes. The lowest elevations of the mountain are great for day hikes. The length of these day hikes varies from 3 to 12 hours, and difficulty level — from easy (doable with kids) to strenuous.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

At 5895 metres Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Undoubtedly, it offers some of the best hikes in Africa.

There are many routes to choose from but the most challenging one is the Whiskey Route, also known as the Machame Route. It is steep and challenging and is considered one of the most difficult hikes in the world.

The climb usually takes between 5 to 9 days, and to climb Kilimanjaro you have to hire a guide or join a group tour.

Be warned — climbing mount Kilimanjaro is expensive. The average price is $2000 – $4000. If you can’t afford that, opt for the base camp day hike.

Mount Toubkal, Morocco

At 4167 metres, Mount Toubkal is the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains and in all of North Africa. 

Toubkal is an ultra prominent peak, with a prominence of 3755 m. The mountain is located just 63 km south of Marrakesh, and on clear days are visible from it.

Mount Toubkal is known for its rocky valleys and towering snow-capped peaks on the horizon. 

You could hike it in one day, but it is recommended to take at least 2 days — you’ll enjoy the trek more if you take it slow and acclimatise. 

Climbing Mount Toubkal is one of the best things to do in Morocco.

The Sinai Trail, Egypt

Launched in 2015, the Sinai Trail is Egypt’s first long-distance hiking trail, and one of the best hikes in Africa and the Middle East.

The trail runs through some of the most scenic areas of the Sinai Peninsula, a sparsely populated desert region between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

It starts in the Gulf of Aqaba and ends at the top of Mount Catherine, Egypt’s highest mountain. The trail goes via Mount Sinai (traditionally known as Jabal Musa) and the Saint Catherine monastery, two of the best places to visit in Egypt.

Other Sinai Trail highlights include the Blue Desert, Ein Hudera, Jebel Sabbah and Ein Kid.

In 2015 the trail was 200 km long, and it took about two weeks to complete. Now the trail is extended to 550 km. Now the whole route takes 52 days to finish.

Mount Kenya, Kenya

Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Mount Kenya National Park which was established to protect the mountain. 

The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian (5199 m), Nelion (5188 m) and Point Lenana (4985 m). The first two peaks require technical climbing, but the third one, Point Lenana, is easier to climb. It is the most popular peak for trekkers.

There are several main routes to reach Point Lenana peak. On average it takes 5 to 6 days to complete the trek. The route offers beautiful flora and fauna, glaciers and towering rock spires.

The summit of Lenana offers a beautiful view of the dramatic massif and the two other main peaks (Batian and Nelion).

Trails in Simien National Park, Ethiopia

The Simien Mountains is a rugged mountain range in northern Ethiopia.

The area consists of plateaus separated by valleys. Steep, rocky cliffs and jutting mountain pinnacles are dominating the landscape in Simien National Park.

There are several peaks above 4000 meters. The highest peak of the range is Ras Dejen (4550 m). Mount Kidis Yared (4453 m) and Mount Biuat (4437 m) are other notable peaks in the area.

The Simien Mountains are one of the top hiking destinations in Ethiopia and offer some of the best hikes in Africa. There are 1, 2, and multiple-day hikes. Most routes start from Debark. 

Hiking tips

1. Check the visa requirements before booking your trip. Many countries in Africa are strict on visa requirements.
2. It can get really cold in Africa — once the sun goes down, the temperature can drop significantly. So be prepared. Pack not only clothing for hiking during the day but also something warmer (e.g., down jacket, beanie and warm socks) for the night.
3. Choose a trek according to your experience, stamina and fitness level. If you are not an experienced hiker, start small.
4. Do your research before hiking. Obtain a map of the trail or check the map online. Familiarise yourself with the trail. Take note of other intersecting trails, to prevent making a wrong turn. Read a description of the trail and its sections. Make sure you check trail conditions. 
5. Invest in quality gear as it would never let you down in terms of performance.
6. No matter how long the hike is, you need to pack the essentials, for example, a paper map/smartphone offline map, water, sunglasses, sunscreen, headlamp, first-aid kit, snacks, extra pair of socks, hiking poles. The list of essentials depending on the length and difficulty of your hike. If you are going self-supported, you need to carry a tent, sleeping bag, food, plenty of water, matches, camping cooking gear and utensils and emergency shelter.
7. Do not forget about blister dressings and sturdy band-aids. Compeed, Scholl, Band-Aid and Spenco 2nd Skin make great blister pads!
8. Carry enough water and food.
9. If you are planning to reach high altitudes in your hiking trip, buy travel insurance for high-altitude trekking.
10. When planning a hiking trip in Africa, find out if you are required to hire a guide, but it may be costly. So plan and budget accordingly.
11. Find out if there is accommodation (huts, hostels, hotels, etc.) en route. If not, find out if it’s allowed to camp. In this case, pack a good quality lightweight tent, sleeping bag and a mat if you plan on doing a multi-day hike.