Kilimanjaro Weather

What is the weather like on Kilimanjaro?

It depends on where you are standing. On a single climb you pass through every climate from tropical farmland to a frozen summit, so you will be in a T-shirt on day one and in every layer you own on summit night.

Air cools by roughly 6.5 °C for every 1,000 m you climb, which is the standard average rate cited by atmospheric scientists. Uhuru Peak stands about 5,000 m above the towns at the foot of the mountain, so even on a warm day in Moshi the summit is roughly 30 °C colder before you add any wind. Researchers measuring on Kersten Glacier, just below the summit, found the air there cools even faster with height, at about 7.5 °C per 1,000 m.

The season matters too, mostly for rain and cloud. For month-by-month advice see best time to climb.

How does the weather change through the climate zones?

UNESCO describes five main vegetation zones on Kilimanjaro, and each has its own weather:

• Lower slopes and farmland: warm and often humid. This is where you drive to the gate past banana and coffee plots.
• Montane forest: the wettest belt on the mountain. Mist, dripping trees and muddy paths are normal even in the dry season. Days are mild.
• Heath and moorland: cooler, sunnier and more exposed. Days can be pleasant, but nights at camps such as Shira or Horombo often drop to around freezing.
• Alpine desert: very dry, with strong sun by day and hard frost at night. Wind is the thing you notice most.
• Summit zone: arctic conditions. Glaciers, thin air and temperatures well below freezing at night throughout the year.

How cold is it at the summit?

It is below freezing for the whole summit attempt, and wind makes it feel much colder. You usually leave high camp around midnight, when the air is at its coldest, and climb for six to eight hours through the night before reaching the crater rim near sunrise.

Wind chill is the real danger. A steady wind on the exposed slope between Stella Point and Uhuru Peak strips heat quickly, and drinking water in unprotected bottles can freeze. Hands and feet suffer first, so insulated mittens, a down jacket, warm socks and an insulated bottle cover matter more than any other kit. See gear.

When does it rain on Kilimanjaro?

Most rain falls in two seasons. Scientists running weather stations on the summit glaciers describe the classic East African pattern: the long rains from March to May, the short rains from October to December, a pronounced dry season from June to September and a shorter, more variable dry spell in January and February.

Rain is heaviest in the forest belt on the southern slopes. Higher up, rain becomes sleet or snow, and the air above about 4,000 m is much drier. Showers are possible in any month, so pack waterproofs even for an August climb.

What does a typical day's weather look like?

Most days follow the same rhythm. Mornings are often clear and still. As the sun heats the slopes, air rises and cloud builds up the mountain through late morning and early afternoon, sometimes with a shower. By evening the cloud usually sinks back below camp and the sky clears, which is when temperatures drop fast.

Measurements from the summit glaciers show this upslope, daytime circulation is stronger in the wet seasons. The same research notes that in January clouds regularly climb to the crater rim, while in July the air is usually too dry for much cloud at high altitude. That is why you often walk above a sea of cloud in the dry season.

Practical upshot: pack your rain shell where you can reach it, and get into warm layers as soon as you reach camp, before the sun goes down.

Does it snow on Kilimanjaro?

Yes. Snow can fall near the summit in any month and is most likely in the rainy seasons. TANAPA notes that Kibo, the highest peak, is covered by snow throughout the year despite lying close to the equator.

On the standard routes fresh snow rarely makes the climb technical, but it can make the scree on summit night slippery and slow. Your guide decides on the day whether conditions are safe to continue.

How should the weather shape your packing?

Plan for three kinds of weather: warm and wet low down, cold and dry up high, and severe cold on summit night. A layering system handles all three:

• A light base layer and trekking trousers for the forest
• A fleece or light insulated jacket for camp evenings
• A waterproof jacket and trousers for rain, sleet and wind
• A warm down jacket, thermal leggings, mittens and a warm hat for summit night
• Sunglasses, sun cream and a sun hat, because UV is strong at altitude even when it is cold

Full details are in the packing list.

Nights in the forest are mild, while nights at camps in the moorland are often around freezing. At high camp and on summit night it is well below freezing, and wind makes it feel colder still.

April is usually the wettest month, as it falls in the middle of the long rains (March to May). November, in the short rains, is also wet but usually with shorter showers.

It can be warm on the lower slopes and in the forest, and the sun is intense at altitude. Above about 4,000 m it is never truly hot once the sun goes behind a cloud or sets.

Yes. Heavy snow, strong wind or poor visibility can lead guides to delay or turn back a summit attempt for safety. It does not happen often on the standard routes, but it is one reason a spare day in your itinerary helps.

Because of its height. Air cools by about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m on average, and Uhuru Peak is 5,895 m above sea level. Latitude matters far less than altitude on a mountain this high.