Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro
Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is between July and September, pleasantly warm in the day with low rainfall. Trails are more crowded (less so in September) but it’s migratory season for wildlife, so great for adding on a safari afterwards. However Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year-round - even the short rainy seasons (March through to May, and November and December) don’t inhibit trekking, and brief showers can be refreshing on the trail.
We generally advise that the best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the warmest and driest times of year, from December to mid-March and mid-June to the end of October. However, although these are considered to be the best times to climb the mountain in terms of weather, they are also the busiest months.
- January, February and the first half of March are the warmest months, with wonderful clear skies mornings and evenings, making these very popular times to climb. Although you may get a few showers during the day.
- June, July and August are the “winter” months in Tanzania. Although it’s still warm during the day, nights are cold. But then Kili can be chilly year-round anyway.
- August and September are peak season on Kili, so if you want to avoid busy trails you might want to consider another time of year. It is , however, also migratory season for wildlife if you want to add a safari into the already magical mix. September is a little quieter and also warmer than August.
- Climbs around full moons are very popular for obvious reasons.
- There is a rainy season in April and May, which generally means one pretty heavy rainstorm every day on Kili. However, even that is not guaranteed and it doesn’t last for hours with most of the rain hitting the coast. So although some people want to avoid this, others embrace it, as rain equates with more solitary slopes.
- There is another shorter rainy season from November to December, although the showers are short, and quite refreshing too. October is usually a great time for climbing, getting in just before the rains do, but when many of the crowds have gone home.
Travel Guide
Set off on your trip to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro you'll want to read about these guide! It is important to get used with the details!
Best Time To Visit
Kilimanjaro Gear List
Kilimanjaro Climb Cost
Altitude Sickness
Tipping Guide
Kilimanjaro Porter
Climb training
Best Route
