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I'm in Juba, Southern Sudan, for an indefinite period of time. I'm heading up Kilimanjaro in November, but what's next? What are the best hikes, treks and climbs on the continent? Mt Kenya, Rwenzori, Elgon, Meru, others?

What are the best hikes, treks and climbs on the continent?

Best in what sense?

Hardest, easiest, glaciers, rock or wildlife?

The Ahaggar may have the most difficult peaks (all rock).

Mount Kenya is a spectacular peak.

Rwenzoris have the biggest glaciers and lots of wildlife.

Mount Elgon is easy, has hot springs in the crater and lots of wildlife.

Of course Africa is the 2nd biggest continent and a big place. Other than Kilimanjaro, Kenya and South Africa it doesn't seem that there are that many people on SP that know Africa well enough as a whole to answer the question fully.

Best in the sense of getting out of the mudpit which is Juba for a few days! I'm looking for places to go hiking, trekking and mountaineering; not so much climbing. Flora and fauna are always amazing here, too.

I was just reading about the Rwenzoris and they sound amazing - hiking through dense jungle swamps one day and traversing a glacier the next.

Mt Kenya also sounds like a great adventure, but my rock climbing skills have gone from novice to nothing since moving here. Although I've heard that trekking around Mt Kenya is excellent even without reaching the summit.

I've not read much on Elgon or the Ahaggar, but will look into them more.

Any opinion on the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia or the Atlas Mountains in Morocco? Addis is very close to Juba - only 2 hours flight - and I'll be in Morocco next March for a family vacation.

If you head down to South Africa I'd definitely recommend you spend some days in Golden Gate National Park. That's the northern border of Lesotho, an amazing place to do simple trekking and scrambling (don't know if they do have technical, but since you're not looking for that I guess it doesn't matter). Also if you go there, I can recommend stopping by the Basotho cultural village, it's very interesting.
Also, Drakensberg should be absolutely breathtaking, so I'd want to check those out too, should be much more lush and green at the base of the mountains whereas Golden Gate is exactly what the name implies: Golden, yellow and brown hues as far as the eye can see. Camping is pretty cheap and safe, not a lot of wildlife in Golden Gate, only the occasional leopard There's also some great riding trails and stables leasing out horses if you're into that sort of stuff.

Information on Golden Gate: http://www.sanparks.org/parks/golden_gate/default.php

and About Drakensberg: http://www.drakensberg.kzn.org.za/index ... icthome+22

I only walked up to Pt lenana on Kenya but found the trip wholly much more enjoyable than Kili. I would love to see Mt Stanley and the Rwenzoris.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwenzori_Mountains

dpryan999 wrote:the Atlas Mountains in Morocco? Addis is very close to Juba - only 2 hours flight - and I'll be in Morocco next March for a family vacation.

The Atlas Mountains are excellent!! Not for nothing, is the "High Atlas Traverse" one of the five most classic hikes in the world. Up there with the likes of the Inca Trail etc.

Berbers in tents. Herds of Camels grazing at altitude. Villages with mud and stone structures that survive hundreds/thousands of years. Shepherds coming around your campsite evenings to show you how to use the plants found locally. How's your French? People are friendly, though your dog encounter skills will be called on. Of course, living in Africa, your dog skills are probably first rate.