Best Time
to Climb Kilimanjaro
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the mountain’s two dry seasons: June to early October (the first ideal season) and mid-December to early April (the second dry season). April–May and late October to early December are the rainy seasons – trails wash out, visibility drops, and in these months it is the weather, more than anything else, that turns groups around before they reach the summit. Below: how the mountain’s climate works, what each of the 12 months brings, and how the season should shape your choice of route.
Kilimanjaro’s Two Dry Seasons at a Glance
Kilimanjaro is a volcano sitting almost on the equator, so its average monthly temperature barely moves through the year (±5°C). There are no four seasons in the sense most of us know them. What the mountain does have are two rainy seasons and two dry seasons – and the difference in rainfall between them is substantial. In theory, Kilimanjaro can be climbed year-round, but the weather has a real say in what your expedition feels like.
Kilimanjaro Climate Facts
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Five climate zones: cultivated farmland (800–1,800 m), rainforest (1,800–2,800 m), heath and moorland (2,800–4,000 m), alpine desert (4,000–5,000 m), and the arctic summit zone (5,000–5,895 m).
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Temperature range: from +30°C (86°F) at the base to −15°C (5°F) at the summit on the coldest nights.
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Two dry seasons: June to early October (the first ideal season) and mid-December to early April (the second dry season) – the best windows for a climb.
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Two rainy seasons: April–May (the long rains) and late October to early December (the short rains) – bringing mud and cloud cover.
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Summit night is the coldest part of the expedition: −7 to −12°C (19 to 10°F) on average, down to −15°C (5°F) on some nights. Wind pushes the felt temperature considerably lower.
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Weather depends on altitude, not on the month: on the same day it can be 25°C in the rainforest and −15°C at the summit.
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“Unlike the harsh Himalayas or the Andes, where the cold takes hold of you almost immediately, Kilimanjaro walks a climber through every climate zone on Earth – from humid tropical jungle at the base to arctic frost at the summit – in just a few days of the expedition.”
When Is the Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro?
One thing to understand first: on Kilimanjaro, as on any mountain, the weather can turn fast, and a sudden downpour can catch you in any month of the year. That said, the mountain follows distinct climate patterns that form four seasons – two dry and two wet:
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June to early October (the first ideal season)
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Late October to early December (rainy season)
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Mid-December to early April (the second dry season)
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April–May (rainy season)
June to Early October:
The First Ideal Season
June through early October is the first ideal season – the most popular and the most stable window on the mountain. In this dry stretch, the western forest trails are at their most passable. Dry weather, clear skies, superb visibility. Nights in the upper camps are cold, but trekking conditions are as good as they get.
Late October to Early December:
Rainy Season
The mountain is usually quieter in these weeks, but nature sets the terms here: rain falls often as the short rains take hold.
Mid-December to Early April:
The Second Dry Season
The second dry season runs from mid-December to early April. It is dry and warm. Days are mostly clear, especially in the morning. The lower slopes are warm, and the summit is cold, but heavy snowfall is less likely than in April–May. There are usually fewer climbers than in the July–September window, and the mountain is green after November’s short rains.
April–May:
Rainy Season
From April into May, southeast trade winds off the Indian Ocean bring downpours and thunderstorms. We do not recommend this period: the summit trail turns washed-out and slippery, the rainforest becomes hard going, and the sweeping views stay hidden behind dense cloud most of the time.
Month-by-Month Weather on Kilimanjaro
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January: An excellent month to climb – clear skies and moderate temperatures. Little rainfall, though light clouds can build toward evening.
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February: The warmest month of the year and one of the driest. Ideal trekking conditions, excellent visibility, minimal risk of rain.
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March: The dry season holds – favorable weather through most of the month. In the final days of March, the first showers may arrive, forerunners of the long rains that begin in April.
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April: The peak of the rainy season, with heavy downpours and poor visibility. Climbs are not recommended: trails are washed out and slippery.
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May: Heavy rainfall continues, gradually easing toward the end of the month. Deep snow builds up at the higher elevations, which makes the climb to the summit a cold one.
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June: The start of the long dry season – clear but cooler weather. Rain is rare, though nights at altitude turn noticeably colder.
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July: Dry and cloudless, but one of the coldest months. An excellent time to climb if you’re prepared for freezing nights in the camps.
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August: Peak popularity among climbers, thanks to stable dry weather and clear skies. Days are comfortable; nighttime temperatures at the summit stay low.
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September: The ideal balance: still dry, but noticeably warmer than August. Considered one of the best and most comfortable months for an expedition.
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October: Early in the month it is still dry and warm – the tail of the first ideal season. By late October the short rains begin, and cloud cover becomes likely.
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November: The season of the short rains, with typical afternoon downpours. Mornings are usually clear, but trails can turn wet by evening.
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December: Rainfall gradually tapers off and the weather settles. A fairly warm and very popular month for holiday-season climbs.
How Your Route Choice Shifts With the Season
Temperature Chart by Elevation on Kilimanjaro
The table shows approximate values using the Machame Route as the example. On Lemosho, once you are up on the Shira Plateau, camp elevations are nearly the same.
Camp / Location
Machame Gate (park entrance)
Elevation
1,800 m
Climate zone
Approx. daytime temperature
Approx. nighttime temperature
Machame Camp
2,835 m
Rainforest
Heath and moorland
+20°C … +27°C
+15°C … +20°C
+10°C … +15°C
+5°C … +10°C
Shira Camp
Barranco Camp
3,750 m
3,900 m
Heath and moorland
+10°C … +15°C
0°C … +5°C
Barafu Camp
4,673 m
Heath and moorland (alpine desert boundary)
Alpine desert
+10°C … +15°C
+5°C … +10°C
0°C … +5°C
−5°C … −10°C
Uhuru Peak
5,895 m / 19,341 ft
Arctic zone
−5°C … +5°C
−7°C … −12°C (down to −15°C)
Kilimanjaro is big enough to generate its own microclimate. Air masses off the Indian Ocean carry moisture in from the south, so the southern slopes get far more rainfall, while the northern side sits in what is known as a rain shadow.
That is why your route choice should change fundamentally depending on the month you plan to climb:
Rainy Seasons
(April–May and Late October to Early December)
In these months, the southern routes turn into slick rivers of mud, and the Barranco Wall becomes dangerous with ice glaze and wet rock.
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Rongai Route: The undisputed leader for the wet season. It is the only route that starts on the northern side of the mountain, from the Kenyan side. Rainfall here is a fraction of what the south gets, trails stay relatively dry, and visibility is better.
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Marangu Route: A strong option. The trail runs up the wet southern slope, but this is the only route on the mountain where you sleep in wooden huts rather than tents. Being able to sleep under a solid roof and dry your gear keeps the chill from setting in.
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What to avoid: Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe.
Dry Seasons
(June to Early October and Mid-December to Early April)
The weather settles, and every route on the mountain opens up. The main problem now is not rain – it is the sheer number of people on the popular trails.
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Machame and Lemosho Routes: This is the ideal window for these scenic southern routes. The rainforest mud dries out, and the panoramas across the Shira Plateau open up in full. Lemosho gives you more time to acclimatize.
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Northern Circuit: The best choice for the peak months (August–September). It is the longest route, looping around the mountain’s northern side. It lets you get away from the crowds heading up Machame and Marangu, and delivers a ~97% summit success rate – the highest across our routes – thanks to its gradual acclimatization –
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What to avoid: Marangu is overloaded in the peak months. An important note on the statistics: this route’s notoriously low success rates – 50–60% – belong to the 5-day format, which simply leaves no time to acclimatize. ALPO runs Marangu as a 6-day itinerary with a fundamentally different outcome – details on the route page –
In the rains, come in from the north (Rongai) or sleep under a roof (Marangu). In the dry season, take the southern routes for the scenery (Lemosho, Machame) – and to escape the crowds, head for the Northern Circuit.
In the rainy seasons (April–May and late October to early December), this choice decides whether your expedition becomes a harsh test of survival or a relatively comfortable trek.
Wet-Tolerant Alternatives
If you are climbing in the wet months, these three routes offer three completely different ways of shielding you from the weather:
Route
Climate zone
Approx. nighttime temperature
Rongai (northern slope)
Geographic protection (rain shadow). The route starts from the Kenyan side. The mountain blocks the moist air masses coming up from the south, so the north receives several times less rainfall.
The driest trails and the best visibility on the mountain during the spring downpours.
Marangu (huts)
Infrastructure protection. The route climbs the wet southern slope, but it is the only trail with overnights in permanent A-frame huts.
You sleep dry and dry out your gear. That keeps the group warm – and keeps morale up.
Northern Circuit (buffer zone)
A buffer in time and space. The route starts in the west, then swings onto a long traverse along the dry northern side.
8–9 days on the trail give you a weather buffer – if a storm hits today, you have time to wait it out. Plus the best acclimatization of any route.
If the forecast calls for rain, rule Umbwe out. For dry trails, choose Rongai; for maximum comfort in camp – Marangu; and for the combination of good weather and the highest odds of reaching the summit (thanks to acclimatization) – the Northern Circuit.
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“Across 220+ Kilimanjaro climbs I’ve led groups through the August dry spells and the November rains. The season changes this mountain more than the route does – which is why we discuss the month with every client before we discuss the trail.”
Climbing on a Full Moon
A full moon is a special night on Kilimanjaro: moonlight falls on the glaciers and the summit trail brightly enough that in places you can walk without a headlamp. Many climbers plan their expedition so that summit night lands on the full moon just for that sight.
But those dates come at a price: they are the busiest on the mountain. Our advice – make your summit push 2–3 days before the full moon. The moon is already bright enough to light the trail, and there are far fewer people on it. That is the best balance of light and quiet.
Full moons in 2026 (Tanzania, UTC+3 – dates are approximate, “on or around”):
January 3 · February 1 · March 3 · June 29 · July 29 · August 28 · September 26 · October 26 · December 24 – the Christmas Eve Moon, a full moon on Christmas night.
Note how the calendar lines up: the June–September full moons fall within the first ideal season, and the January–March and December ones within the second dry season. The October 26 full moon lands at the start of the rainy season – we do not recommend that date, however bright the moon.
To have summit night coincide with the right phase of the moon, the start date is worked out around your route and its length – write to us and we will calculate a departure for your chosen full moon.
You now have the full picture on the best time to climb Africa’s highest peak. Have a look at our routes, and choose your season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which months does ALPO recommend?
We recommend scheduling your expedition during the two dry seasons: June to early October – the first ideal season – and mid-December to early April, the second dry season. The June window brings the most stable, dry weather with cold nights at altitude, while mid-December to early April offers warmer days and clear mornings.
Can I climb Kilimanjaro in April or May?
While technically possible, we generally advise against it. This period brings the “long rains,” turning trails into deep mud and drastically reducing visibility. If your schedule only allows for a spring climb, we strongly recommend routing your expedition via the northern Rongai route (which sits in a rain shadow) or the Marangu route (where you sleep in dry wooden huts instead of tents).
Is a full-moon climb worth it?
Yes, with a trade-off: the moonlit glaciers on summit night are spectacular, but full-moon dates draw the biggest crowds of the month. Our standing advice – summit 2–3 days before the full moon for the same light with a fraction of the traffic. Upcoming dates are listed in the Full Moon section above.
How cold does the summit get?
At Uhuru Peak (5,895 m / 19,341 ft), nighttime air temperatures typically range from −7°C to −12°C (19°F to 10°F), dropping to −15°C (5°F) on the coldest nights. Strong summit winds can make it feel considerably colder, so proper, expedition-grade layering is mandatory regardless of which month you choose to climb.
How do I avoid the crowds?
Avoid the popular Machame and Marangu routes during the August and September peak. To experience the mountain in solitude, we recommend taking the longer, highly scenic Northern Circuit or the Lemosho route. Alternatively, climbing during the “shoulder months” – early June or early October – naturally filters out the heaviest traffic.
Does the time of year affect summit success?
Indirectly, yes. While altitude acclimatization remains the primary factor for reaching the top, severe weather heavily drains both physical energy and mental resilience. Battling freezing rain or deep snow sharply lowers overall summit rates compared to trekking under clear, dry skies.
