When is the best time to climb mount Kilimanjaro? Due to Kilimanjaro closeness to the equator there is no best time to climb this mountain and the place does not experience the extreme of winter and summer seasons instead the regional only experience dry and rain seasons.
Even though global warming is making weather predictions harder each year, in theory Tanzania has one “dry season from June to September” which coincides with “winter time in most countries of Europe”, and then a “green season” which has a rainy periods that is around April and May.
December, January, February and March are the warmest months of the year and all coincide with “summer”. During these months, you can hope for clear morning and evenings, with clouds building up during the day, surrounding the summit in the early afternoon hours. The predictable patterns of weather make it a best time to climb mount Kilimanjaro on these months.
April and May is the primary rainy season and bring dense cloud formations over the mountain, reducing visibility and comfort. You can expect frequent snowstorms on the summit and heavy rains on the lower slopes during this time and can be strenuous to your body as the temperature turns to below zero.
Mid June to mid October is considered the long “dry” season which can get to be very cold at night. During this “winter” time, there is a persistent dripping belt of cloud around the whole mountain above the forests and scrub zones, leaving the summit and a few other distant peaks poking out the top. Above the cloud belt however, it is usually clear and dry, and can be one of the best time to plan a climb. In late October, the clouds finally give way to the small rain, and until early December the mountain is shrouded in heavy clouds again, with persistent showers from base to summit.
Therefore, we believe the best months to climb Mt Kilimanjaro are January, February, July, August and September (though Kilimanjaro can still be climbed throughout the year!).
Please note the above weather patterns are simply a guideline and cannot be guaranteed.