Best Time to Climb Mountain Kilimanjaro
Discover the best time to climb Mountain Kilimanjaro Tanzania –the best months and seasons. Hiking to the summits of Kilimanjaro Volcano is best done during the peak dry months/seasons. The important months to mark on your travel calendar when it comes to Kilimanjaro Volcano climbing range from December, January, and February to mid-March. The other phase starts in June, July, August, September, and October. January to February, then July to October are categorized as the best months of the year to climb Kilimanjaro Mountain in Tanzania.
Wet & Dry Seasons
Kilimanjaro like other hiking destinations experiences varying seasons. The wet and dry seasons are two essential seasons on the travel calendar that every climber must take note of. Mt. Kilimanjaro lies along the Equator crossing and records the wet and dry seasons each year. The driest and warmest months are the preferred months of the year for climbers to enjoy successful hiking adventures to the summits of Kilimanjaro Volcano.
If you plan to go hike Mt. Kilimanjaro, then the best is to travel around the season when there is lower precipitation. The dry seasons are the best periods for hiking and occur from December to the start of March and another phase takes place from June till the end of October. It is during the peak dry months when the skies are clear and guarantee clear views as you conquer the summits of Kilimanjaro Volcano.
The peak dry seasons also coincide with the busiest months/seasons of the year in the Kilimanjaro National Park. Opting to go hiking through Kilimanjaro Volcano during the dry months guarantees a safe and secure hike. There are also minimal effects of rain, snow, mud, and ice. The dry seasons generally come with favorable weather conditions for climbers to enjoy their hikes free of challenges from heavy rains.
When to go hike Kilimanjaro Volcano
The short dry months
The short dry season is one of the best periods that guarantee successful treks to the summits of Kilimanjaro Volcano. These are characterized by moderate temperatures and low precipitation levels.
The short dry months run from December, January, and February, to mid-March. They are also referred to as the warmest months of the year and are known to provide excellent visibility. The busiest months are December and January –during these months Kilimanjaro Mountain is busy. The busy months fall within the festive season (Christmas & New Year). The months with the clearest weather conditions are January and February. The shoulder season starts around March, a period when weather conditions often change from dry to wet right in the middle of March.
Long dry months of the year
The long dry seasons also provide a remarkable avenue for climbers to hike to the summits of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The long dry months run from June, July, August, and September, to October. These are ideal months of the year to enjoy a successful Kilimanjaro Volcano mountaineering experience. During these months, there is minimal rainfall with the skies left completely clearer. The visibility is incomparable but Kilimanjaro can be a little colder.
The long dry months are the peak hiking months of the year which also fall within the summer holidays, especially for enthusiastic hikers in Europe and the USA. Around the peak dry months, it is possible to encounter a bit of foot traffic on the hiking trails to Kilimanjaro campsites. June on the other hand is considered to be a transitional month, a period when weather conditions completely change from wet to dry. From July till the end of October, visitors can have the best hikes on Mt. Kilimanjaro. The busiest months generally are July and August then the numbers begin to reduce towards September and October.
The long wet/rainy season
The long wet months are marked around late March, April, May, and mid-June. March marks the start of the long rainy season and weather conditions get wet. It is also considered the worst time for Kilimanjaro Hiking expeditions. Climbers are not advised to go hike Mt. Kilimanjaro around these months. But still, the skilled and experienced climbers can go. The issue about these rainy months is that they are characterized by heavy rainfall and trails become trails, low visibility, and heavy clouds.
Short wet/rainy season
November is the shortest wet season and rains around this month are generally unpredictable. It can fall around the afternoon and after a short while, the skies become clear. This is common, especially in the morning and evening. Regardless of the rainfall, November is not a terrible period to go climbing Kilimanjaro although fewer climbers usually come to around this period. November is a good alternative month to climb Kilimanjaro Volcano.
Full Moon
Climbing adventures to the summits of Kilimanjaro are generally flexible in that some hikers even opt to go to the summit during a full moon. This period falls around the same period when the celestial event occurs, the event which happens once a month. It is a preferred season to most climbers due to the bright moon that comes with a clear sky which guarantees clear visibility.
A full Moon hike is perfect on a 7-day hiking tour and this means, climbers can begin their journey at least 5 days before the full moon date. Hiking to the summits on the exact full moon date won’t guarantee you the experience you want. You can also summit on the actual day before/day after the full moon.
If you don’t enjoy overcrowding then avoid embarking on hikes during the full moon season. Most climbers flock to Kilimanjaro around the full moon making it unfavorable for those who desire adventures less of crowds. Alternatively, you can opt for low or off months of the year.
Glacier on the summits
Mt. Kilimanjaro is distinct because of its strategic location at proximity to the Equator. At the summits, there is ice cover. The glaciers on the Kilimanjaro summits date back over 11,700 years and measure 300 feet deep but have further moved to 6500 feet. As a result of global warming and extended climatic cycles, the ice has been vaporizing at the highest rate. According to some scientists, it is estimated that Kilimanjaro Volcano’s ice cape will be gone by 2050. Why not plan your next hiking adventure to the summits of this iconic volcano before anything happens?
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro Volcano makes up part of the charming Kilimanjaro National Park and is a favorite hiking spot on the African continent. It is Africa’s highest mountain and also the world’s single free-standing mountain rising at an altitude of 5895m. Mt. Kilimanjaro is found in Tanzania and has iconic volcanic cons including Shira, Kibo, and Mawenzi.
The tallest of all three cones is the Kibo, followed by Mawenzi (5149m), and the lowest is the Shira cone at an altitude of 4005m. The extinct volcanoes include the Shira and Mawenzi cones. The Kibo is dormant and is believed that it can erupt again. The highest peak on Kilimanjaro Volcano is Uhuru Peak lying on the Kibo Crater rim.
Climbers on the Kilimanjaro Volcano tour have multiple options to begin their hikes. The available routes/hiking trails include the Machame route, Lemosho, Rongai, Umbwe, Shira routes, and Marangu route. Each of these trails takes a certain length of period for climbers to have hiking adventures.
