Kilimanjaro Weather Guide

Best Time to Climb

Kilimanjaro has two dry windows and two rainy ones. Climb in a dry window and you get clear skies and firm trails; climb in a rainy one and you get mud, poor visibility, and a harder trip for no good reason.

January to mid-March: Warm days, cold nights, dry and clear, with daytime temperatures around 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F) at the lower elevations. Quieter than the June-October window, a good choice if you'd rather share the trail with fewer people.

June to October (late June to early October is the sweet spot): The second dry season, warm days and colder nights at the lower elevations, and the most popular window overall; it lines up with the northern hemisphere's summer holidays, so expect more company on the trail, especially in July and August.

April to May: The "long rains," with mild temperatures around 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). Trails turn slippery and muddy and visibility drops. Avoid this window if you can.

November: The "short rains," similar temperatures to April and May but lighter and less predictable rainfall. December often dries out again and is climbable.

Temperature by Zone

The real driver of Kilimanjaro's weather isn't the calendar, it's altitude. You'll pass through five distinct climate zones between the gate and the summit, each colder than the last.

Base: Moshi & Arusha

Warm and stable, 15°C to 28°C (59°F to 82°F). This is where your trip starts and ends, T-shirt weather most of the year.

Rainforest Zone

Mild and humid, 12°C to 15°C (53°F to 59°F). Expect green canopy overhead and a good chance of rain regardless of season.

Moorland Zone

Cool, 5°C to 10°C (41°F to 50°F). Vegetation thins out fast here, and the gap between day and night temperatures grows wider.

Alpine Desert Zone

Cold, 0°C to 5°C (32°F to 41°F). Barren, rocky, and exposed, with strong sun during the day and a hard drop once it sets.

Summit: Uhuru Peak

Extremely cold, -7°C to -29°C (19°F to -20°F). This is night-ascent territory, dress like it.