10 African countries that get surprisingly cold

Africa is often associated with sunshine, heat and tropical weather, but that picture leaves out a fascinating part of the continent.

From the snow-covered mountains of Lesotho and Morocco to the highlands of Ethiopia and the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, several African countries experience freezing temperatures, frost and even regular snowfall.

The main reason is not necessarily how far north or south a country is. Altitude plays a major role. The higher the land rises, the colder temperatures tend to become.

So, if you thought Africa was all heat, here are 10 countries where winter can mean much more than a cool breeze.

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Lesotho is one of the strongest candidates for Africa's coldest country because of its exceptionally high elevation. Much of the country is mountainous, and its highlands regularly experience freezing conditions during winter.

Lesotho's national climate records indicate that daily minimum temperatures can fall as low as -21°C, while snowfall is common in the mountainous areas. The country's highlands can also experience long periods of frost.

So while summer can be warm, winter in Lesotho can feel very different from the image many people have of Africa.

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Morocco might be better known for its Sahara Desert, but parts of the country can get seriously cold.

The Atlas Mountains experience winter snowfall, with snow sometimes remaining on the higher peaks for months. At Oukaimeden, a high-altitude site in the Atlas Mountains, temperatures have fallen to around -10°C during short cold periods. Snowfall is also a regular feature of the area.

This means Morocco can offer two very different experiences: desert heat in one region and snowy mountain conditions in another.

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South Africa has one of the continent's most varied climates, and its interior and mountainous areas can become extremely cold during winter.

The country has recorded temperatures below -20°C. At Buffelsfontein near Molteno, a temperature of about -20.1°C was recorded in August 2013, one of the country's notable cold records.

Snow is also seen in elevated parts of the country, including sections of the Drakensberg.

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Ethiopia's location close to the Equator might make you expect hot weather, but its extensive highlands tell a different story.

Large parts of the country sit at considerable elevations, producing cooler climates than those found in the lowlands. Ethiopia's climate data show temperatures ranging from around -15°C in some highland areas to above 25°C in the lowlands.

The country's highland climate is one reason Addis Ababa, located at roughly 2,400 metres above sea level, generally has much milder weather than many other African capitals.

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Tanzania is another example of how altitude can completely change a country's climate.

The country's tropical lowlands can be hot, but temperatures drop considerably in the highlands. Tanzania's climate data show that areas around Mbeya, Arusha, Moshi and Kilimanjaro are among the country's coolest regions, with mean annual minimum temperatures below 15°C in some locations. Sub-zero temperatures can occur in the highlands during the colder months.

And then there is Mount Kilimanjaro, where conditions near the summit are cold enough for snow and ice despite the mountain being close to the Equator.

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Kenya's climate also changes dramatically with altitude.

While the country's coast is warm and tropical, the central highlands and mountainous areas can be considerably cooler. Around Mount Kenya, temperatures can fall below freezing at high elevations.

This means someone visiting Kenya's coast and someone travelling into its highlands can experience very different weather conditions within the same country.

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Uganda may sit on the Equator, but its mountains can be surprisingly cold.

The best example is the Rwenzori Mountains, where temperatures can fall below freezing after dark. The Uganda Wildlife Authority notes that daytime temperatures in the mountains average around 10°C, while nighttime temperatures can drop below 0°C. Snow and ice are also found on the higher peaks.

So Uganda's equatorial location certainly does not mean every part of the country is hot.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is strongly associated with tropical rainforest, but its eastern highlands experience a much cooler climate.

The country's huge size and dramatic variation in elevation mean that temperatures differ considerably from one region to another. Higher areas around the eastern mountains can experience much colder conditions than the tropical lowlands.

It is another reminder that a country's overall climate does not tell the whole story.

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Algeria is home to a huge portion of the Sahara, but the country's northern and mountainous areas experience much cooler conditions.

The Atlas Mountains can become cold during winter, with frost and occasional snowfall in elevated areas.

That gives Algeria one of the continent's most dramatic climate contrasts: extremely hot desert conditions in the south and cold Mediterranean and mountain conditions in the north.

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Tunisia's position in northern Africa and its Mediterranean climate give it cooler winters than many countries farther south.

Northern and inland areas can experience chilly winter temperatures, particularly at night. The country's climate is therefore quite different from the consistently hot conditions people may associate with Africa.

There is no single universally accepted ranking of the “10 coldest African countries” because it depends on what you measure — average national temperature, lowest recorded temperature, winter temperatures or the climate of particular high-altitude areas.

If we are talking about countries with some of the coldest inhabited or mountainous regions, Lesotho stands out. Its national climate records show temperatures falling to around -21°C, while its highlands regularly experience frost and snow.

Africa's climate is far more diverse than the stereotype of a uniformly hot continent suggests. Elevation, mountains, latitude and proximity to the sea all create dramatically different weather conditions across the continent.