When’s the best season to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?
With Kilimanjaro you have two best seasons for an incredible climbing experience — December to March, and June to October. If you’re looking for a snowy and serene climb to the summit, then December onwards is your best bet. If you’re free in the summer and out for more tropical temperatures, then June onwards is for you.
With some incredible views over the national parks, you’ll have that pioneering feeling with the less busy season of December to March. You’ll need to pack a few more pieces of gear for the colder temperatures and winds that range from just below freezing to 10 °C, but you’ll definitely appreciate having that all to yourself feeling of the mountain without peak season crowds.
Summer season is a bit more varied with it being a more busy time on the mountain, but with the advantage of more moderate temperatures along your climb, it’s an ideal introduction to not just the mountain but also the vistas of the national park surrounding you. On the forests and plains surrounding Kilimanjaro your average temperature is about 30°C. Daytime temperatures range from 5 to 15°C along the climb, and nighttime temperatures on the summit can be well below freezing with wind-chill factored in.
Choosing your own kind of climb
The difference in the two seasons means you have flexible options over your whole Kilimanjaro experience. December will give you more of a personal, raw and adventurous flavour to the climb as you tackle a more challenging season. But the rewards are a more confident and hard-earned summit alongside your experienced guides. Having the feeling of ascending without the crowds at your heels and being in good company of the mountain are great reasons to choose this season to tackle Kilimanjaro. It’s a chance to see a much more serene and peaceful national park, and Kilimanjaro’s is one of Africa’s best to take in both from above and below the summit.
Summer season is a popular choice for climbing Kilimanjaro for a great few reasons. Number one — there are more guides and fellow climbers to learn and experience your climb with along the way. That more social feeling is definitely a strong pull for many in the climbing community, as sharing knowledge on the ground will give you an insight you might never have known about what makes the climb so special.
Your experiences climbing can really tell you what Kilimanjaro season is your kind of style. Fresh climbers who are looking for more of a social aspect of mountaineering can choose to go during the June — October season. It gives you a chance to not just acclimate with the altitude, but also with the community of local guides, porters, and fellow climbers from around the world. The national park of Kilimanjaro offers beautiful views of the plains, forests and wildlife Africa is world-famous for to photograph during your climb. Sharing that with a larger community can be just what makes the climb as important as reaching the summit.
Experienced and more flexible climbers taking on the ascent of Kilimanjaro in the winter season have the space to take one of the seven routes on a level with their professional guides from the park in a way the summer season doesn’t hold. The most memorable climbing moments are often those looking out over the vista views and seeing nothing but nature all around you. Going for the winter season you’ll feel more freedom and peace of the mountain at it’s best condition, and you’ll be able to focus on the adventure of the climb to the top of Africa without as much distraction as the summer holidays.
Whichever your choice, Kilimanjaro offers the best views and climbs of Africa without any doubt. Around the mountain you’ll experience nature unique to the beauty of the Kilimanjaro National Park, and views over it from the climb that are world-class.
There’s no better place on the continent to breathe in and explore.
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