Final answer:
South America indeed has glaciers primarily in the Andes Mountains due to high elevations that facilitate cold conditions necessary for glaciers. Africa has fewer glaciers due to its basins, plateaus, and low mountain ranges, though some like Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya do support glaciers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contrary to the assertion in the question, there are glaciers in South America. The Andes, a major mountain range that extends through several countries including Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela, is home to numerous glaciers. The reason for their existence, even near the equator, is due to the high elevations reached by the Andes, which create the necessary cold conditions for glaciers to form.
As for Africa, while it's true that there are no extensive glacial systems like those found in the polar regions or high mountain ranges of South America, glaciers do exist on Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ruwenzori Mountains, and Mount Kenya. However, the continent is predominantly characterized by basins, plateaus, and relatively low mountain ranges, such as the Cape Ranges in South Africa, which peak at around 6,000 feet. These conditions are not conducive to glacier formation, which requires both high elevation and sufficiently cold temperatures.
Meanwhile, in areas like the eastern rift valleys that run along tectonic plate boundaries from the Red Sea through South Africa, continuous mountain features are limited. This adds to the shortage of suitable environments for enduring glaciation on a large scale. The localized presence of higher mountains amidst vast regions without such elevations further explains the sporadic nature of glaciation in Africa.
Therefore, the presence or absence of glaciers relies heavily on the combination of altitude and climate conditions. In the case of South America, the Andes easily satisfy these criteria, while Africa's topography and climate generally do not, with a few exceptions.