2 min summary When to go Lemosho route Rongai route Machame route Marangu route Best route?Climbing with kids Am I fit enough?Kili plus a safari Tips Responsible tourism

Best time to climb Kilimanjaro

The best time to climb Kilimanjaro if you want a reduced chance of rain and slightly warmer temperatures is in January, February and the first half of March. April and May bring heavier rains, with a shorter rainy season in November and December - though this shouldn't disrupt the trek too much. June to August see clear skies - but icy temperatures, though this is a great time if you want to catch the wildebeest migration, too.

Home\Kilimanjaro

Best time to climb Kilimanjaro

The best time to summit is at sunrise. If you get the chance to sleep at the rim of the crater for dawn, you can actually see the curvature of the earth.

The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is between July and September, pleasantly warm in the day with low rainfall. Trails are more crowded (less so in September) but it’s migratory season for wildlife, so great for adding on a safari afterwards. However Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year-round - even the short rainy seasons (March through to May, and November and December) don’t inhibit trekking, and brief showers can be refreshing on the trail. January to early March is another popular time. It still gets chilly in the mornings and evenings (Uhuru Peak’s nighttime temps are between -7 to -29°C), but that’s the case whatever time of year you go.

Call us for the best time to go to Kilimanjaro

When to climb Kilimanjaro, month by month

January, February and the first half of March are the warmest months, with wonderful clear skies mornings and evenings, making these very popular times to climb. Although you may get a few showers during the day. June, July and August are the “winter” months in Tanzania. Although it’s still warm during the day, nights are cold. But then Kili can be chilly year-round anyway. August and September are peak season on Kili, so if you want to avoid busy trails you might want to consider another time of year. It is , however, also migratory season for wildlife if you want to add a safari into the already magical mix. September is a little quieter and also warmer than August. Climbs around full moons are very popular for obvious reasons. There is a rainy season in April and May, which generally means one pretty heavy rainstorm every day on Kili. However, even that is not guaranteed and it doesn’t last for hours with most of the rain hitting the coast. So although some people want to avoid this, others embrace it, as rain equates with more solitary slopes. There is another shorter rainy season from November to December, although the showers are short, and quite refreshing too. October is usually a great time for climbing, getting in just before the rains do, but when many of the crowds have gone home.

Need some help? Give us a call

Kilimanjaro Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

MAR

119

APR

327

MAY

174

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Contact Us

Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.

01273 823 700 01273 823 700

Call us tomorrow after 9am

Calling from outside the UK

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Responsible Travel recommends

Andrew Appleyard, from our partner Exodus:
“I think that one of the best times for trekking Kilimanjaro is late September, as the crowds have gone home so the routes are quieter. The Serengeti is still in Great Migration season too, and so packed with wildlife but not so many people.”