Hack: Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro (Month by Month)

Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro: Month-by-Month Weather Tips. Kilimanjaro may be climbed at any time of the year. However, there are some months that include chillier temperatures, increased precipitation, and even snowfall at the peak.

In this post, we’ll provide you a high-level overview of the two hiking seasons that are ideal for reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.

The Best Time to Trek Kilimanjaro

When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro

The interaction of trade winds with Kilimanjaro’s geology has a significant impact on the mountain’s climate.

Over the Indian Ocean, the southerly trade winds provide a lot of precipitation. They are propelled upwards as they strike Kilimanjaro in March, resulting in clouds and rain. This makes the months of March, April, and May the wettest on Kilimanjaro. At this time of year, the southern slopes are most vulnerable to precipitation.

We recommend the Rongai route if you can only climb in April or May because it leaves from the northern end of Kilimanjaro and is typically drier than the southern route options at that time of year.

North-easterly winds that are counter to trade patterns are dry yet very strong. Because of the intensity of these winds, the South-East trade winds stay below them from April through October, making those months relatively dry with cloud cover and precipitation typically confined to the lower slopes.

In November, the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro get little precipitation from the North-east monsoon.

Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro Trekking (Month By Month)

Climbing Kilimanjaro is best done during one of two trekking seasons. January–March and June–October are the other two.

There is a greater chance of meeting snow on the top during the months of January through March than during the months of June through October. The slopes may be less crowded in January and February than during other times of the year, which could be considered as a drawback by some.

Many people choose to go on a hike between June and October because that’s when schools in Europe and North America are out for the summer.

The months of March, April, and November on Kilimanjaro are the wettest and therefore the worst for hiking.

From December to May, you may expect a lot of snow and chilly weather.

Kilimanjaro Altitude and Climate Zones

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The changing weather while you climb Kilimanjaro is another issue to think about.

Kilimanjaro has four very different climates.

• Humidity and heat are typical of the rainforest belt (about 800m to 3000m). Temperatures average approximately 12-15 degrees Celsius at 2,870m, and rain can be expected on most days, especially during the wet season.
• The second region, from around 3,000 to 4,200 meters in altitude, is a semiarid zone with average temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius at 3,630 meters.
• Desert conditions prevail in the upper alpine zone (4,200m-5,000m). At 4,970 meters above sea level, temperatures hover around freezing, while at the peak in the glacier zone (above 5,000 meters), they hover around -6 degrees Celsius.
• The wind chill makes the actual peak temperature seem much more severe than it actually is. You should expect fairly strong winds.

As your body works harder to oxygenate your skin and important organs in an oxygen-depleted environment, the effects of frigid temperatures at high altitude are exacerbated.

As a result, your blood vessels constrict around your extremities (such your hands, feet, and nose), making the cold feel much more intense. So, if the temperature is -6 degrees Celsius, it might as well be -20!

Monthly average temperatures for four locations representing different climate zones are displayed in the following chart.