When is the best time to climb Mont Kilimanjaro - A Comprehensive Guide
Expert travel insights and safari tips for your Tanzania adventure with Juhudi Expedition.
The first, and most important factor in deciding when to
climb Kilimanjaro, is the weather. The main trekking seasons on mountain
correspond with the mountains two dry seasons. These are January to mid-March and June to October. Note
that it will still probably rain on your trek during these months too its rare to climb without getting rained on at least once.
Of course you can climb in the rainy season too (the wet
seasons are April-May, which is often called the long rainy season or simply
the long rains and November-mid-December is short rain). But of course the
weather conditions may not be ideal and there is a much higher chance you will encounter rain. Thick clouds wreathe summits of Kibo and Mawenzi too.
The longest and driest season runs from mid-June to mid-October. During this time it can be very cold at night. During Kilimanjaro winter, there is a persistent dripping belt of clouds girdling the whole mountain above the forests and the moorland contour, leaving the summit and a few other distant peaks poking through. Above the clouds, it is usually clear and dry, and this is one of the best times to plan the trek. In late October, the clouds finally give way to rain, and until the middle of December, the mountain is often shrouded in heavy clouds, with persistent showers from base to summit.
Curiously, Christmas and New Year, when the weather is far from perfect, are actually amongst the most popular times for climbing Kilimanjaro.
