Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most exciting hikes a person can take in their lifetime.
Located in Tanzania, it comprises of two dormant volcanoes (Kibo and Mawenzi) and one extinct volcano (Shira). The elevation of Mount Kilimanjaro is 19,341 (5,895 meters), not only is it the highest peak in all of Africa, but it also is the highest free-standing single mountain in the world, meaning that it’s not in a mountain range. Kilimanjaro is the fourth tallest mountain in the world. Every single year, thousands of people make the bid for its summit.
If you’re thinking of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, we’ve combined some helpful tips on how to choose the best time for your unforgettable journey.
Plan your Trip Accordingly
Planning your trip to Mount Kilimanjaro can be a major key for a successful hike to the summit. You’ll want to plan a decent amount of time to travel to Africa to allow your body to adjust to Tanzania’s climate. The hike to the summit takes several days, so it’s important to know that this hike won’t happen in a day. When choosing the best time to climb Kilimanjaro, there are a number of factors to consider: temperature on the slopes, difficulty level, congestion, and safety on the route.
Weather conditions around the Year
There are four distinct climate zones on Kilimanjaro:
- The rainforest zone (at an altitude of 800m-3,000m). It is warm and humid there. Average temperatures are around 12-15 degrees Celsius. The rain is common during the wet season – March through to May and November-December. December through to March are the warmest months in the area.
- The low alpine area (at an altitude of 3,000m-4,200m). It’s considered a semi-arid zone. The average temperatures range between 5-10 degrees Celsius.
- The high alpine zone (at an altitude of 4,200m-5,000). This is a desert-like area. The average temperatures are around the freezing point.
- The glacial zone at the summit of Kilimanjaro (above 5,000m). There the temperatures average around -6 degrees Celsius.
At first glance, the weather condition on Kilimanjaro may seem not so severe. Although due to the chill winds and the mix of the low temperatures and high altitudes, your body experiences heavy loads. You expend more effort to get your skin and vital organs well-oxygenated in the conditions of an oxygen-depleted environment. Such climatic conditions result in fatigue among Kilimanjaro travelers: trekking 6-8 kilometers here daily, most of them feel as if they’ve trekked around 15 kilometers on the normal.
What Time to Choose
Mount Kilimanjaro is open for hiking every day of the year however you’ll want to avoid the two rainy seasons in Tanzania. Tanzania’s rainy seasons are from April-May and November-mid December. If you decide to hike during this time, you’ll most likely be faced having to compete with sloppy, slippery, and dangerous trails.
It’s important to pick a time when the weather will be clear, allowing for safe hiking, either before or after one of the rainy seasons.
Experts and experienced guides consider two main trekking seasons which are the best time to climb Kilimanjaro. They are January-March and June-October.
The period of January-March is generally warmer than June-October. There is also a higher probability of encountering snow on the summit. At the same time, the slopes are often quieter at this time of the year. This means that for your body, such weather conditions will be softer.
If you are likely to choose the June-October trekking season, be prepared that certain routes are more crowded during this period of time. This season coincides with the summer holidays in Europe and Northern America.
Best Months for Kilimanjaro Tracking
Although you can pick any month during these two seasons to plan your perfect journey, you better pay special attention to March and October. Usually, the weather is good, and skies are clear – and these are important factors for trackers. Moreover, a lot of people are afraid that the rain season will start earlier, so they try to avoid these “boundary” months. So, you are likely to face less crowded emptier and quieter slopes if you choose this time for your journey. Yet the weather is still lovely in March and October.
Once you’ve decided on when you want to hike the mountain, there are many more decisions ahead of you. Some of those include: which route do you want to take to the summit, how many days will your trek be, and if you want to hire a guide to help you complete your summit bid. There is a lot of research that must be done to ensure you will be physically able and safe for your bucket list hike.
You’ll also want to review route plans ahead of time as there are many routes that you can take to get to the summit. There are many websites that detail what you need to do before hiking Kilimanjaro.. It’s important for your well-being, safety, and success that you pick the right gear. Do your research before you buy anything such as hiking backpacks, tents, trekking boots, oxygen, and other supplies.
