Monte Binga is the highest mountain in

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

and the second highest mountain in

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...

. It is located in the

Chimanimani Mountains The Chimanimani Mountains are a mountain range on the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The mountains are in the southern portion of the Eastern Highlands, or Manica Highlands, a belt of highlands that extend north and south along the internatio ...

, on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique in the Chimanimani Transfrontier Park in Manica Province. Its height is 8004 feet (2440m) above sea level. Sheet SE-36-14 Melsetter (1:250,000), Edition 2 (1972) Published by the Surveyor General, Rhodesia.

Geology

The mountain is composed of very hard pale grey precambrian

quartzite Quartzite is a hard, non- foliated metamorphic rock which was originally pure quartz sandstone.Essentials of Geology, 3rd Edition, Stephen Marshak, p 182 Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tec ...

, which underlies all of the Chimanimani Plateau, giving it a desolate rocky appearance. The north–south trending quartzite bedding is upturned near the summit to an angle of about 40 degrees and dips to the east, the foot of the mountain and the Turret Towers range immediately to the south lying on a thrust fault. Consequently, the eastern approach is more gradual, while the western face is steep to sheer in places. The northern face is cut off by a fault and is sheer near the top, changing to a vertical cliff lower down. Approaching from the west, from the Bundi River Valley, there is an ill-defined trail which branches off from the main smugglers trail to Skeleton Pass.

Climbing

The climb is arduous and takes about the best part of a day. There are a number of false summits en route. The best path, marked with cairns, climbs southeast then eastward up from the Bundi valley, then swings north-east below the mountain until, at Bingus's northern shoulder, swings south-east, climbs the mountain's western face, and, reaching the ridge, swings into a northward scramble up to the beacon: about three hours from the Bundi valley. There is little if any water on the approach from the west, nor at the top, but small puddles of water seep from the peat and collect in hollows not far off the summit on the gentler eastern slope. There are no well marked trails from Binga to the east and one must make one's own way, taking care when crossing the steep

ravine A ravine is a landform that is narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streambank erosion.peat Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficient ...

y soil supporting only tussocky grass and moss between the lichen-covered hard rock outcrops. The views over the Mozambique plain are spectacular. Theoretically, with a telescope it should just be possible to see the Indian Ocean from the peak of Binga on a very clear day looking along an easterly bearing, at a range of 190 kilometres. The mountain is remote from settlements.

References

Eastern Highlands Eastern Zimbabwe montane forest-grassland mosaic Geography of Manica Province Geography of Manicaland Province Highest points of countries Binga Binga Mozambique–Zimbabwe border Quartzite formations {{Mozambique-geo-stub