Mount Tabwemasana, Mountain summit in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu.

Mount Tabwemasana is the highest peak in Vanuatu, rising to 1,879 metres on the west coast of Espiritu Santo. It consists of two peaks, and local folklore holds that the male and female summits come together in an embrace at night. The upper slopes are covered in thick rainforest, and the tree Metrosideros tabwemasanaensis grows only on this mountain.

Until the late 1970s the village of Kerepua sat on the flanks of Tabwemasana, a full day's walk from the coast through thick rainforest. It was then relocated to the coast, like many other mountain villages, and now serves as the starting point for summit attempts.

The two peaks hold spiritual meaning in local traditions, portrayed as male and female entities that meet each night according to stories passed down through generations.

Reaching the summit requires a boat ride from Tasiriki to Kerepua village, then a river crossing and steep mountain ascent. The journey demands physical fitness and preparation for challenging terrain and wet conditions throughout.

The tree Metrosideros tabwemasanaensis grows only on Mount Tabwemasana, so the summit forest holds a species found nowhere else on Earth. Until the late 1970s the village of Kerepua sat on the mountain's flanks, a full day's walk from the coast through thick rainforest, before it was moved down to the shore.