Top 10 Tallest Buildings in Africa...See Photos

Even though skyscrapers are sparser in Africa than in Europe, a significant number of African cities possess distinguishable skylines. These huge buildings are marvels of engineering.
Here are the top 10 tallest buildings in Africa.

10) 88 on Field, Durban – 147 m (482 ft)

88 on Field was opened in 1985 and has 26 floors. It is located in Durban, South Africa. The building has six elevators up to 21st floor and two glass shuttle elevators for floors 21-24.

9) MetLife Center, Cape Town – 150 m (490 ft)

This 28-story modernist skyscraper is located close to the Cape Town International Convention Center in the City Bowl area of Cape Town, South Africa. The spired antenna on the building’s roof is 22 meters tall.

 

8) South African Reserve Bank Building 150 m (490 ft)

The South African Reserve Bank building was opened in 1988. It is located in Pretoria in South Africa. This tall building has 38 floors. The tower block, basement and cantilever-supported auditorium used 80,000 cubic meters of concrete.

7) Pearl Dawn, Durban – 152 m (499 ft)

Pearl Dawn is located in Durban, South Africa. It was open in 2010 and has 31 floors. This is a residential building, with a futurist architectural style. The façade color is dark blue.

6) Marble Towers, Johannesburg – 152 m (499 ft)

The Marble Towers is located in the Central Business District of Johannesburg, South Africa. This 32-story skyscraper was built in 1973. It has 8-story parking garage attached to it.

 

5) PSPF Commercial Towers, Dar es Salaam – 152.7 m (501 ft)

The PSPF Twin Towers (Tower A and B) is located in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and has 35 floors. It has a postmodern architectural style. The construction began on 2011 and was completed on 2014. The building has offices, retail stores and parking garage.

4) NECOM House, Lagos – 160 m (520 ft)

This 32-story building is located in Lagos, Nigeria. This skyscraper was completed in 1979. It houses the headquarters of NITEL. It was formerly known as NITEL Tower. The communication spire at the top of the tower serves as a lighthouse beacon for Lagos Harbor. It is the tallest building in Nigeria.

3) Ponte City Apartments, Johannesburg – 173 m (568 ft)

Ponte City Apartments is located in the Hillbrow neighborhood of Johannesburg, South Africa. This 54-story building was built in 1975. It is the tallest residential skyscraper in Africa. The building has a cylindrical shape and has an open center. The sign on top of the building is the largest sign in the Southern hemisphere.

2) Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca – 210 m (690 ft)

The Hassan II Mosque or Grande Mosquée Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco make the list thanks to its minaret. The minaret height is at 210 metres (690 ft). It is the tallest religious structure and the 7th largest in the world. The construction cost an estimated $400 – $700 million.

1) Carlton Center, Johannesburg – 223 m (732 ft)

Located in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Carlton Center is the tallest building in Africa. This skyscraper was completed in 1973 and has 50 floors. It has been the tallest building in Africa for 41 years. The building was designed by the American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. It houses offices and shops.