Best Mount Speke Tour Operators
Best Mount Speke Tour Operators, mount speke climbing is one of the Rwenzori Mountain peaks you should not miss during your mountain Expedition to the Rwenzori mountains. Mount speke is the second highest mountain in the Rwenzori ranges, standing at 4,890m above sea level.
Mount speke located in the Rwenzori mountains has stunning sceneries and a historical mountain that was named after a British explorer John Hanning Speke who did not summit the peak but was exploring East Africa mapping the source of River Nile in 1862. Later mount speke was climbed by the Italian Expedition led by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
Mount speke being a huge mountain with several ridges, it has other several peaks the main peak as Vittorio Emanuele (4890m) 16,040 FT, Ensonga (4865m) 15,961 FT, Johnston (4865m) 15,860 FT and Trident (4,572m) 15,000 FT. these peaks were named in respect to the Italian royal family; however, the name choice was approved by the British protectorate of Uganda that ruled during that time.
When is best Mount speke Tour Operators plan climbing?
The best time for mount speke climbing is well planned during the dry season in the months of December, January, February, June, July and August. Mount speke can be climbed all year round and mount speke tour operators have the best planning with informed weather forecast of the Rwenzori mountains.
Rwenzori trails for best mount speke tour operators.
Mount speke can be accessed through all the 3 Rwenzori trails namely central circuit trail, Bukurungu trail and kilembe trail. the shortest route to mount speke is through the central circuit trail taking 5 days.
Itinerary for best mount speke tour operators/mount speke climbing.
Day 1: Mihunga gate 1651m – Nyabithaba camp (2651m)
The central circuit starts at the mihunga gate Rwenzori mountains national park. You arrive in the morning to check equipment and meet your guides and porters. The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabithaba hut. During this part of the trip, you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly coloured Rwenzori turaco.
Day 2: Nyabithaba – John maate camp (3505m)
From Nyabithaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut.
Day 3: John maate – Bujuku hut (3962m)
From John Matte Hut the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. Jumping from tussock to tussock, the bog is finally crossed but rarely without the feet sampling some of the freezing ooze below. The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West. Bujuku Hut, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, is set in a narrow valley below Stulhmann Pass. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.
Day 4: Bujuku – Mt. Speke (4890m asl.) – Bujuku – John maate camp.
Early in the morning start the hike through Stulman’s pass (4192m asl.) and spectacular views of Virunga National Park of DR Congo to Victorio Emanuele peak taking 4-5 hours and after taking photos Prepare to descend back to Bujuku camp from Victorio Emanuele with views of Bujuku valley and Bujuku lake, Margherita and Albert peaks on Mount Stanley, and Mount Baker back to Bujuku and continue for an overnight at John Maate Camp.
Day 5: John maate – Nyabithaba – Mihunga gate (1615m asl.)
After your morning breakfast, start a descend down to join the boardwalks taking you through the Nyamuleju resting point and omukomujungu resting point where there is the hagenia abysinnica forest before reaching the bamboo forests and cross the kurt schifar bridge to start a short ascend to the Nyabithaba hut for a hot lunch and descend to mihunga gate and sign out of the park.
Facts about mount speke
Best Mount Speke Tour Operators
Mount speke requires fitness levels, to conquer this mountain you need to prepare yourself enough.
Mount speke does not require technical equipment like for margherita peak.
You need sturdy hiking shoes/rubber boots.
