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Tanzania has a pleasant, tropical climate with regional variations and wet and dry seasons. Kilimanjaro has its own microclimate due to its vast size and free-standing nature.
The tallest mountain in Africa has five distinct climate zones and you’ll pass through each of them on your way to the summit! You should therefore come ready to deal with varying conditions regardless of what time of year you decide to climb
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro are the months of January through early-March and June through October. The clear skies, great views, and the sunshine makes it the best comfortable hiking conditions. However, although these are considered to be the best times to climb the mountain in terms of weather, they are also the busiest months and it there’s still not a 100% guarantee of clear skies.
The Short Dry Season: Mid December to March
Late December, January, February and March are great months for climbing Kilimanjaro. For starters, while there’s some rain during this season, it’s not extreme.
As you climb higher up the mountain, the weather is generally colder than it is during the other months, which means a higher probability of seeing snow on the summit. Snow on the summit is, of course, very beautiful. That said, trekking in snow doesn’t appeal to everyone, and that combined with the lower temperatures, means these months tend to be quieter than the others. This is great if you’re not too keen on crowds!
The Long Rainy Season: April and May
The long rainy season starts at the end of March and continues through to early June. We do not recommend climbing Kilimanjaro during this time, as the trails can be very wet, muddy and snowy.
Climbing in the rain is likely to be less enjoyable and means you’ll miss out on the spectacular views and photo opportunities. On the other hand, if you do choose to trek at this time of year, you’ll avoid the crowds on the trails (even the most popular routes can offer solitude, peace and tranquility) and at the campsites.
Best for: Experienced trekkers who want to avoid crowds, and who don’t mind unpredictable weather and the trickier trail conditions. We recommend the routes on the north side of the mountain.
The Long Dry Season: June to October
Also known as the high seasons due to 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.
Early June sees the transition from the rainy season to the dry season, so this month tends to be much drier than March, April and May.
However, you should be prepared for cold temperatures from July until the end of October, whilst there is a chance of getting rained on throughout the year, particularly as you trek through the rainforest and moorlands, typically precipitation is low and infrequent.
The Short Rainy Season: November to mid-December
The short rainy season sees some intense downpours in the rainforest zone of Kilimanjaro. It can also be pretty hot and steamy. For these reasons we don’t consider November and the first half of December to be ideal Kilimanjaro climbing weather.
That said, the mountain can still be climbed at this time if you wish. You might like to consider trekking the Rongai route at this time as that route receives less rainfall on average than the other Kilimanjaro routes.
The temperature on Mount Kilimanjaro correlates with the four distinct climatic zones:
The rainforest zone (800m-3,000m) is hot and humid. At 2,900 m, temperatures average 12-15 °C (20-25 °C during the day) and are densely covered with lush vegetation. Depending on the route, you will spend the first one or two days of your climb here.
The low alpine zone (3,000m-4,200m) is a semi-arid region. The greenery grows scarcer as you ascend. Depending on the itinerary, you will spend one or two days here at 3,600 m, with typical temperatures ranging from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius (15 to 20 degrees Celsius during the day).
The high alpine zone (4,200m-5,000) is desert-like in appearance. You will spend your fourth and fifth days on the Mount here, as well as making final preparations for summiting at those elevations. At 5,000 meters, temperatures average around the freezing mark, yet during the day, when the sun shines, it is still rather pleasant and comfortable.
The summit of Mount Kilimanjaro lies in the glacial zone (above 5,000m) with an average temperature of -6 °C. Keep in mind, though, that all summit efforts often begin around midnight in order to reach the Uhuru peak by daylight. You’ll be walking at night, when temperatures might dip below -20° C. With strong winds, the temperature may feel as low as -40 °C. However, it is well worth braving the cold since the view from the summit is one of the nicest you have ever seen in the light of the rising sun.
All Kilimanjaro trekkers start their summit attempt at midnight, but most do so by the light of their headlamps alone. The fortunate few, however, get to hike under the bright light of a full moon. Kilimanjaro full moon climbs are a special and incredibly beautiful experience. Instead of trekking for hours in darkness, you see the dramatic, nighttime world of the mountain’s summit, something few ever will!
Normally you would be forced to wear a head torch on summit night, however, under a full moon on a clear night you could get away without using a head torch.
The only negative side of trekking under a full moon on Mt. Kilimanjaro is that the stars are obscured by the brightness. If you’re a passionate star gazer then you would be best to trek under a new moon when the whole of Kilimanjaro lies under a blanket of beautiful stars.
In order to summit on a full moon date, you’ll need to time your climb right. This means that if you are trekking a 7-day route (for example, on the Lemosho, Machame or Rongai) you should depart 5-day prior to the full moon and if you are trekking a 6-day route (for example, on the Marangu route) you should depart 4 days before the full moon. Remember though, full moon dates are by far the most popular climbs and if you would prefer a less crowded trek, then avoiding the full moon is wise.
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African Delight Safaris is a Tanzania safari specialist established in 2019 providing top notch travel and tour services in East Africa.
African Delight Safaris is a Tanzania safari specialist established in 2019 providing top notch travel and tour services in East Africa.
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