
Best time to climb Kilimanjaro
You can climb Kilimanjaro at any time of the year. But we recommend climbing Kilimanjaro between mid December and March, or between mid June and October, to enjoy the best weather conditions. Please read on for more detail about the different seasons ....
What is the weather on Kilimanjaro?

The short dry season: Mid December to March
If you want a quieter trek but to still enjoy decent weather conditions, consider climbing Kilimanjaro sometime between mid December and March.

The long rainy season: April and May
April and May are arguably the least optimal months to climb Kilimanjaro, as the heat in the lower climate zones can be intense, and there's lots of rainfall.

The long dry season: June to October

The short rainy season: November to mid December

Kilimanjaro's five climate zones

Cultivation zone (800 m to 1,800 m)

Rainforest zone (1,000 m to 2,800 m)
I'm a real nature lover, so the rainforest was probably one of my favourite climate zones to trek through on Kilimanjaro. It was truly beautiful!

Afro-alpine moorland zone (2,800 m to 4,000 m)
When Chris realised I’d forgotten rain gear, he went out and rented some for me before we embarked the next day. This was super helpful as it rained often on our hike.

Alpine desert zone (4,000 m to 5,000 m)

Arctic zone (5,000 m to 5,895 m)

Packing for each climate zone
Full moon summits
If climbing Kilimanjaro isn't already enough of an adventure in itself, picture yourself hiking to the summit under the light of the full moon!
2022 full moon dates
17 January 16 February 18 March 16 April 15 May 14 June 13 July 11 August 10 September 9 October 8 November 7 December
2023 full moon dates
5 January 5 February 7 March 5 April 5 May 3 June 3 July 1/30 August 29 September 28 October 27 November 26 December

New Year's Eve Kilimanjaro climbs
The summit is worth every tough step it takes, and it's completely breath-taking to be the highest person on the African continent for a little while.
Best time to travel to Tanzania
