• The Mount Kilimanjaro weather affects your climb and your success chances. When to climb Kilimanjaro is an important decision.

Bad weather on Kilimanjaro not only makes for a miserable trek and ruins your photos, most importantly it simply makes the climb twice as hard!

You are a LOT more likely to reach the summit if the weather on Kilimanjaro is good.

Mount Kilimanjaro is near the equator. In the tropics there is no such thing as summer and winter. There are only dry and rainy periods. Or "dry seasons" and "wet seasons".

Climbing Kilimanjaro during the wet season means you have to slog through very deep mud during the first days. At higher altitude you have fog and drizzle, and slowly but surely the moisture will creep into your clothes, your gear, your bones...

Recommended

Good

OK

Not Recommended

Month	Temperature	Precipitation	Cloudiness	Crowds
January	Warm	Medium	Low	High
February	Warm	Medium	Low	High
March	Moderate	High	Medium	Low
April	Moderate	High	High	Low
May	Moderate	High	High	Low
June	Cold	Medium	Medium	Medium
July	Cold	Medium	Low	High
August	Cold	Low	Low	High
September	Moderate	Low	Low	High
October	Moderate	Low	Medium	Medium
November	Moderate	High	Medium	Low
December	Moderate	Medium	Medium	Medium

Some climbers prefer to summit during a full moon.

When the peak of Kilimanjaro and magnificent glaciers are lit up by the full moon, the view is absolutely stunning. For this reason alone, some climbers schedule their trek to coincide with this celestial event, occuring once a month. However, a practical reason for climbing at these times is that a bright moon along with a clear sky will improve your visibility throughout your climb, and most importantly, during the summit attempt.
Below are full moon dates:

Month	2016	2017	2018	2019
January	23	12	2, 31	21
February	22	11	---	19
March	23	12	2, 31	21
April	22	11	30	19
May	22	11	29	19
June	20	9	28	17
July	19	9	27	17
August	18	7	26	15
September	16	6	25	14
October	15	5	24	14
November	14	4	23	12
December	13	3	22	12

The best recommended time to climb Kilimanjaro is during its dry season, spanning from December to mid-March and late June to October. The most favorable months are January, February, July, August, September, and October. These months are when the weather conditions are at their best. Clear skies, great views, little-to-no rain, and the sunshine. However, there is always the possibility of weather changing dramatically, regardless of the season.

If you’re an experienced hiker, you might not be concerned with slippery trails and a bit of mud. For inexperienced hikers, we recommend climbing during the drier months. Less chance of rain means less stress and discomfort, giving you more time to enjoy your surroundings. On the lower slopes, through the forest, the trail can become quite muddy, and higher up slippery, rocky trails can be a challenge. We take your safety very seriously. Climbing Kilimanjaro guides are highly experienced and have hiked Kilimanjaro in all weathers. We monitor the weather and are flexible enough to be able to alter the daily itinerary during inclement conditions.

Early March can be lovely, but as the month progresses, the rains can start to set in, making for muddy trails, cloudy skies, and poor visibility. In late March and late May, you can get lucky with some dry weather, but it’s a bit hit or miss. April to early May are the long rains, and not suitable for climbing. If your schedule dictates that you need to go during the shoulder seasons – late March and late May – you need to be prepared for wet weather, and not be disappointed by poor visibility. Ideally, you’ll have some trekking experience already and won’t be phased by trickier trail conditions.

A combination of the best weather and the US and Europe summer vacations means this is the main climbing season and the busiest time on the mountain.July and August are the most popular months, so if you want to try and avoid crowds, opt for June or September, or October if you don’t mind a bit of rain. Occasional showers are always possible, particularly in the forest, but it’s a predominantly dry time of year. Routes tend to be busier during this period, especially over the full moon. Best for: Climbers wanting the best weather for their trip, who aren’t deterred by crowds, which are mostly on the Marangu and Machame route.