When to go?

Kilimanjaro can be climbed throughout the year.

January to March are very good months with mild temperatures and almost no clouds in the morning and late afternoon. During the day however there might be few short rain showers or little snow on the summit. The main rainy season starts end of March and lasts until end of May. For Kilimanjaro climbers, this means that clouds may block visibility and there might be heavy rains on the lower altitudes and snow on the summit. June, July and August can be cold, but visibility is usually very good.

Temperatures rise in September and October, however during this time of the year, there is often a belt of mist on the middle altitudes, leaving the summits peak through the clouds. November and December usually have perfect visibility in the nights and morning, but short rains during the day and thunderstorms at the late afternoon are common.

For Kilimanjaro climbers, a factor to take into account is the full moon - it is a unique experience to climb the roof of Africa lit under the shining moon light only without having to using head lights.

Full Moon Dates

Summitting on or soon after a full moon helps illuminate the landscape without using headlamps. It is very beautiful, but certainly not necessary for summitting the mountain. To summit on a full moon, you will want to start a 6-day trek 4 days before the full moon (3 days before if doing a 5-day trek).

• See the full moon dates for the upcoming years.
• See the weather forecast for Moshi/Tanzania.