Mountains
Second highest in Uganda, a technical glaciated peak for experienced mountaineers.
Mount Speke, standing at 4,890m at its Vittorio Emanuele summit, is the second highest mountain in Uganda and the Rwenzori range. Named after the British explorer John Hanning Speke who mapped the source of the White Nile, it forms a dramatic triangle with Mount Stanley and Mount Baker, enclosing the upper Bujuku Valley.
Speke is considered more technical than Stanley, reaching the summit requires rope work and winter climbing equipment, as numerous rock faces need to be ascended and conditions can be treacherous after rain. The mountain experiences heavy rainfall for most of the year, feeding the many rivers and streams that run across its slopes. Thick vegetation and a variety of animals including leopards and chimpanzees inhabit the lower slopes.
The mountain holds deep spiritual significance for local communities, some of whom believe God resides at the summit, an idea that the clouds that perpetually wrap the peak do nothing to dispel.