The weather on Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro Weather: Millions of climbers from all over the world visit Mount Kilimanjaro, which offers some of the best climbing experiences on the planet.
When organizing an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the most crucial things to keep in mind is the weather. Despite having a sizable geographic structure that produces its own weather, Mount Kilimanjaro experiences dramatic variations in day and nighttime temperatures as well as altitude.
Hikers should be ready for significant temperature variations during the day and as they gain altitude.

The predominant trade and anti-trade winds that blow across the area affect Mount Kilimanjaro’s weather because they bring moisture from the ocean and when they strike big mountains, they retain moisture. As they ascend, cool, and condense, they produce clouds and precipitation, which includes snow and rain.
The two primary weather patterns that affect Mount Kilimanjaro are the North-East anti-trade winds and the South-East trade winds, as will be discussed below.

Trade Winds from the Southeast

The Indian Ocean’s south-east trade winds come in the middle of March and continue until May, when they are broken up by the north-east anti-trade winds. Because of the immense amount of moisture that these winds carry from the Indian Ocean, when they finally approach Mount Kilimanjaro and are propelled higher, they form gigantic rain clouds and the skies open.
As a result, the period from the middle of March to the end of May on Mount Kilimanjaro is considered to be damp and not ideal for mountain trekking.
The majority of the rain falls on Kilimanjaro’s southern slope due to these winds coming from the south.

Because of the frequent windstorms, the northern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro receive significantly less rain during this time of year.
The Rongai Route, which takes a trail from the north, is the greatest option to think about if you want to hike Mount Kilimanjaro between March and May.
Northeast Opposition Winds
Arriving in late May and lasting until early November, anti-trade winds from the northeast don’t bring rain since they lose much of their moisture before reaching Mount Kilimanjaro. Usually blowing very hard, these winds force their way into the saddle, which is the valley between Kibo and Mawenzi, the two peaks of Kilimanjaro.

The South-East winds are forced to descend beneath the strong anti-trade winds as they go across the saddle. Consequently, from June to October, throughout the dry season. During this time of year, cloud cover and a little amount of rain up to 3,000 meters are typical on the southern slopes, but they soon vanish above this elevation.
Late May through to the end of October is an excellent season to climb/trek the mountain because rain is seldom and typically limited to the lower southern slopes. This is due to the dynamic between the strong and dry North-East trade winds and the less powerful South-East winds.
Kilimanjaro’s slopes can get crowded during the summer months of May through October, which also happen to be the Northern Hemisphere’s summer vacation periods.

Northeast Monsoon
The North-East Monsoon winds arrive around the middle of November and continue through February. Because these winds have traveled a great distance across the continent and have a low moisture content, the season often sees relatively little rain.
The majority of the rain falls on Mount Kilimanjaro’s lower northern slopes, but it is far less intense than the main wet season, which is brought on by south-east winds from March to May. Due to the way these winds interact with Mount Kilimanjaro, there are two main hiking seasons: June through October and January through March.

Mount Kilimanjaro weather by mouth
January through February

The first brief dry season on Mount Kilimanjaro occurs in January and February, which makes it an excellent time to trek. These months are often colder than the longer dry season, which runs from June to September, and there’s a greater likelihood of snowfall at the higher elevations of the mountain.

March
A top Kilimanjaro Mountain, March is considered a shoulder month during the trekking season; yet, it’s an excellent time to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro because the slopes are normally peaceful and you may sense more moisture in the air towards the end of the month. You can also expect to encounter rain.

April and May
On Mount Kilimanjaro, April and May are typically the wettest months, making them unsuitable for trekking. We advise against climbing Mount Kilimanjaro during the wet months of April and May.

July, August, June, and September

Since June, July, August, and September fall within the summer vacation season in North America and Europe, these are the busiest months on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is uncommon to have rain or snow during these months. This time of year, when the slopes are busier, makes it easier to find group offers that you can join to reduce the cost of the excursion.

November, December, and October

October is an excellent shoulder month to trek on Mount Kilimanjaro because of the excellent weather and less traffic on the slopes. November is a brief wet month on Mount Kilimanjaro; if you intend to hike at this period, we suggest using the Rongai Route’s northern approach, which is typically dry during this season.
December is a chilly month on Mount Kilimanjaro, but if you hike the mountain during this time, you can spend Christmas or New Year’s Eve on the top, which has grown in popularity.

Kilimanjaro Mountain Temperature

Altitude has a significant impact on temperature on Mount Kilimanjaro, so much so that the mountain is actually divided into several climate zones, each with its own unique flora and fauna.
Temperature graph atop Mount Kilimanjar.