Kilimanjaro Travel Guide

When to go? Seasons, climate, festivities

January to March

The weather at the beginning of the year is generally warm and dry on Kilimanjaro. December to March is one of two main climbing seasons for Mount Kilimanjaro, with this first season being the quieter of the two. You’ll find plenty of like-minded trekkers about although not as many as the peak season and you can expect clear skies and sensational views of the mountain and northern Africa beyond. We consider this one of the best times to climb Kilimanjaro.
April to May

The long rainy season on Kilimanjaro last from April to May usually, although climate change is blurring the boundaries of the arrival and departure of the rains. Conditions on the mountain will be very wet making the terrain slippery and loose. The wet weather will also restrict views as heavy cloud cover is to be expected and there will be snow and sleet towards the summit. Kandoo do not operate trips during the wet season as conditions are too unpredictable and we deem it unsafe for our guests.
June to October

The arrival of June brings about the end to the long wet season on Kilimanjaro and with their departure the beginning of peak climbing season. Rain is unlikely during these winter months in the southern hemisphere, but temperatures will still be cold. June, September and October will be slightly warmer than July and August, which are also the busiest months, but there may be more cloud cover from September into October, restricting visibility. The weather on Kilimanjaro during the long dry season makes it a great time to experience this incredible trek.
November to December

The start of November usually signals the arrival of the short wet season. The rains begin in early November and typically last 3-4 weeks. If the wet conditions come along a little later then the rain can last into early December. Again, Kandoo do not operate trip departures to Kilimanjaro during this wet period as we deem the conditions too unpredictable and potentially unsafe for trekkers. Some people do attempt to climb Kilimanjaro during this time but when you spend more time looking at your feet and the terrain, you won’t get to fully appreciate the unique beauty of this magnificent journey.

Temperatures and climate

Min/max temp (°C) / Average rainfall (mm)

Mount Kilimanjaro Summit

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average temp C° min / max	-21° / -4°	-20° / -3°	-20° / -3°	-22° / -5°	-25° / -6°	-25° / -6°	-27° / -6°	-26° / -6°	-23° / -4°	-22° / -4°	-22° / -5°	-21° / -5°
Average rainfall (mm)	35	50	119	350	236	38	25	15	14	25	63	53

Arusha

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average temp C° min / max	16° / 28°	16° / 29°	17° / 28°	17° / 25°	15° / 23°	13° / 22°	12° / 22°	13° / 23°	14° / 25°	15° / 27°	17° / 26°	17° / 27°
Average rainfall (mm)	84	79	147	158	62	13	9	9	9	37	111	119

Holidays and festivities

Kilimanjaro Trails Festival

January

Garmin Kili Trails is an annual trail racing festival on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Each January teams and individuals can take part in running races, mountain biking, volleyball and other sports to raise money for local projects.
Nyama Choma Festival

March

Held in Arusha, this festival is a celebration of roasted mean. Nyama Choma recipes are passed down through generations of families and this is an opportunity to sample lots and lots of mouth-watering barbequed meat!