Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro
One of the most common questions that travelers have before booking is when is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro? You can climb Kilimanjaro at any time of the year, but certain months are better than others. We recommend best to climb Mount Kilimanjaro during the driest months
From a simple weather-perspective, January to early March and June to October are the best and busiest seasons.
We avoid April and November as these are the main rainy seasons, making the trails more dangerous.
When can you climb Kilimanjaro – Important Considerations
The Weather Conditions
Kilimanjaro is close to the equator and doesn’t experience the same four seasons as the more temperate parts of the world. Instead, it has rainy seasons and dry seasons, both of which alter the complexion of the mountain.
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro are the months of January through early-March and June through October. The clear skies, great views, and sunshine make for spectacular photo-opportunities and comfortable hiking conditions.
These are also usually the drier months of the year and the busiest.
However, there is always the possibility of weather changing dramatically, regardless of the season.
Temperature
Temperatures on the mountain vary with the seasons and also within the different climate zones as you climb higher.
The summit zone is considered “Arctic” and temperatures drop well below freezing at all times of the year.
December to March, and June (just after the rains) are usually the coldest, and there’s a good chance you’ll see snow on the summit. This reduces the number of visitors (as compared to July through August which is the busiest time).
Rain
There are two distinct wet seasons in the Kilimanjaro area:
- Long rains: End of March through May
- Short rains: November
April and November usually have the highest rainfall, although this can vary.
The rainy season begins around mid-March and typically extends well into May. During this time, conditions can be wet, stormy and muddy on Kilimanjaro, particularly along its southern face.
Even in the dry season, it’s always possible to get some rain. That’s why we always carry good wet-weather gear in our daypacks.
Visibility: clouds, mist, and fog
You didn’t come all this way to trek through cloudy skies and fog. During late March to the end of May, and all of November, the visibility can be poor due to cloud cover. You won’t be seeing the panoramic vistas, and you won’t be getting great photos.
Read more: Guide to Kilimanjaro Weather.
Crowds: Number of climbers on Kilimanjaro
As climbing Kilimanjaro becomes more popular, the favorable weather in January through early March, and June through October makes the mountain busier.
It’s usually the Marangu and Machame routes that suffer from some overcrowding. If you opt for one of the less busy routes, such as the Northern Circuits, Rongai or Lemosho, you’ll still get to enjoy the vistas without too many people.
One of the main downsides that climbers try to avoid when trekking during busy times is the overcrowding of the toilet facilities at campsites. We take care of our climbers by providing you with private toilet tents, used only by our group.
The sense of camaraderie and friendships forged by meeting other climbers more than makes up for it being a bit “busy”. Many of our clients have made lifelong friendships with people they’ve met on the mountain.
What’s the best time to climb Kilimanjaro without the crowds?
If you don’t mind the possibility of getting rained on and are well prepared, the shoulder-seasons just before and after the rains are the quietest time of year.
If you’re looking for solitude, it can be a worthwhile trade-off to risk a bit of wet weather to have the mountain to yourself.
We avoid climbing in the height of the rainy season (April/May and November).
Alternatively, choose one of the routes that has less foot traffic. In the wetter months, we recommend the routes on the northern side of the mountain, which tend to experience less rainfall, and are more sheltered.
Kilimanjaro Safety & Trail Conditions
If you’re an experienced hiker, you might not be concerned with slippery trails and a bit of mud.
For inexperienced hikers, we recommend climbing during the drier months. Less chance of rain means less stress and discomfort, giving you more time to enjoy your surroundings.
On the lower slopes, through the forest, the trail can become quite muddy, and higher up slippery, rocky trails can be a challenge.
We take your safety very seriously. Our guides are highly experienced and have climbed Kilimanjaro in all weathers. We monitor the weather and are flexible enough to be able to alter the daily itinerary during inclement conditions.
Getting wet increases your chance of getting extremely cold. As you ascend, your body is already having to deal with the effects of altitude, and wet clothes can be the difference between a slight chill and hypothermia.
It’s extremely important for your safety and comfort to keep your gear dry, avoid getting soaking wet, and never stay in wet clothes!
You’ll need some very robust wet-weather gear (which we recommend at all times of the year), choose one of the less challenging itineraries, and make sure your gear, both in your bagpack and duffel bag, are in waterproof bags.
Note: the Tanzanian government has banned the use of all plastic bags, so please don’t use garbage bags or ziploc bags to store any of your gear.
Your Schedule
Depending on what you want to do before and after your climb – a Tanzanian safari or a Zanzibar holiday perhaps – or simply when you can get time off work to travel, can inform your decision about when to climb.
Ultimately, apart from the really wet months, (April and November) there’s no “bad” time to climb Kili. Nor is there a “perfect” time to climb. Weather conditions on any mountain can be unpredictable – that’s all part of the adventure.
Full Moon (& New Moon) Climbs
Many people also take into consideration the moons and a full moon climb of Kilimanjaro, or indeed a new moon climb, is often a popular time. Summit night can be spent walking under the light of a full silvery moon – you won’t even need a head-torch; or since Kilimanjaro is situated on the equator, under a full sky of both northern and southern hemisphere constellations. In fact, from high up on the peak you can see the North Star and the Southern Cross in the same sky!
If you would like to experience a climb on a full or new moon, then we recommend that you offset your summit night, so you don’t summit on the actual date of the full or new moon (see image below). There can be no doubt that on certain nights the summit route can be remarkably busy with a lot of people leaving camp at the same time and initially creating a bottleneck. These groups spread out fairly quickly but if you’d like less people then summiting the day before or the day after a full, or new moon, will give you all the effects and atmosphere with less of the crowds – of course it could also be cloudy!
Picture this: a cloudless midnight sky, illuminated by a full moon. You dress in your summit gear, come out of your tent and see the majesty of the mountain you are about to climb, lit by the moon. You hardly need your head torch as you ascend.
There’s something magical about climbing Kilimanjaro in the light of a full moon. Treks around the full moon can get quite busy, so bear this in mind if crowds are a problem for you.
You’ll need to start your trek ahead of the full moon date: for a 7-day trek, your start date would be five days before the date of the full moon. But bear in mind that the night before and after the actual full moon will be just as spectacular (and possibly quieter).
If you find the full moon makes you feel like a wolf and start howling or find it difficult to sleep with the light, schedule your dates around the New Moon. With less light, you get fantastic star-gazing, with the constellations clearly visible.
Moon Phases for Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania in 2021
* All times are local time for Kilimanjaro. They take into account refraction. Dates are based on the Gregorian calendar. Special events are highlighted blue.
Moon Phases for Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania in 2021
* All times are local time for Kilimanjaro. They take into account refraction. Dates are based on the Gregorian calendar. Special events are highlighted blue.
Main Kilimanjaro Trekking Seasons and a month by month view
Unlike the Himalayas, Kilimanjaro is never “closed”. You can trek year-round, but you need to be prepared. We do not normally offer climbs during April/May and November.
Climbing Kilimanjaro in January and February to early March
Ideal trekking conditions with mostly dry, clear days, and good visibility. Occasional showers and a good chance of snow over 14,000ft, making for some epic photo opportunities.
While this is considered “high season”, it’s often quieter on the slopes than the main climbing season of June to September, making it a good balance of not-too-crowded and decent weather.
Best for: Hikers who want to minimize crowds, whilst still having dry conditions. Snow on the summit is a bonus.
Climbing Kilimanjaro in March, April and May
Early March can be lovely, but as the month progresses, the rains can start to set in, making for muddy trails, cloudy skies, and poor visibility. In late March and late May, you can get lucky with some dry weather, but it’s a bit hit or miss.
April to early May are the long rains, and not suitable for climbing.
If your schedule dictates that you need to go during the shoulder seasons – late March and late May – you need to be prepared for wet weather, and not be disappointed by poor visibility.
Ideally, you’ll have some trekking experience already and won’t be phased by trickier trail conditions.
Best for: Experienced trekkers who want to avoid crowds, and who don’t mind unpredictable weather. We recommend the routes on the north side of the mountain.
Climbing Kilimanjaro in June/ July/ August and September
A combination of the best weather and the US and Europe summer vacations means this is the main climbing season and the busiest time on the mountain.July and August are the most popular months, so if you want to try and avoid crowds, opt for June or September, or October if you don’t mind a bit of rain.
Occasional showers are always possible, particularly in the forest, but it’s a predominantly dry time of year. Routes tend to be busier during this period, especially over the full moon.
Best for: Climbers wanting the best weather for their trip, who aren’t deterred by crowds, which are mostly on the Marangu and Machame routes.
Climbing Kilimanjaro in October / November
Short rains usually come in November and last for 3-4 weeks. Often the rain is less persistent than in April-May (the “long rains”) and mostly come in the late afternoon. The mountain is very quiet during this time.
We would recommend the Rongai route or Northern circuit route as the northern side of the mountain is more sheltered and has less overall rainfall.
Best for: Avoiding crowds, experienced trekkers who aren’t put off by wet weather.
A Note on the Kilimanjaro Climate Zones
You’ll be trekking through five main Kilimanjaro climate zones, each with unique weather patterns. Some have compared it to walking from the Equator to the North Pole.
- The lower slopes: cultivated/savanna zone and rain forest will normally be hot and humid and experience the most rainfall.
- The heath and moorland/low alpine zone is cooler, with less rainfall – precipitation is mostly fog and mist – and temperatures can drop dramatically at night.
- The alpine desert zone has very little rainfall, with scorching sun during the day, and freezing temperatures at night.
- Arctic Zone – this is the mountain at it’s most inhospitable. Bitterly cold, barely any rainfall – only snow – very little surface water and no protection from the sun.
Summing Up The best time to Climb Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro can be climbed year-round, but for your safety and comfort, we avoid the long and short rains (April-May and November) and recommend the drier months. We can accommodate you if your schedule only allows you to trek in the shoulder-seasons.
Check what gear you need to climb Kilimanjaro.
Read our in-depth guide to Kilimanjaro weather or follow the Kilimanjaro Weather Forecast.
Got questions? We’re here to help! Contact us.
Ready to book? Have a look at our Kilimanjaro routes and pricing.
