KILIMANJARO WEATHER
REAL TIME WEATHER DATA, FORECASTS & CLIMBING TIPS
While you're preparing for your climb, keep this page handy and keep checking it as you get closer to your climb date to stay current on Kilimanjaro's weather conditions. Tusker keeps you up to date with:
- Live Moshi Weather
- Live Summit Weather
- Live Wind Patterns
- Live Satellite Weather
- Weekly 10-Day Weather Forecast
- Tusker's own Kilimanjaro Webcam
- Average weather by Ecological Zone
- Weather based climbing tips
WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE ON KILIMANJARO?
Kilimanjaro's weather is largely dictated by it's geological feature of being a lone free standing mountain. The weather on Kilimanjaro can range from below freezing to hot and humid based on the season and altitude. Season to season temperature changes tend to be minor and more largely driven by time of day. Kilimanjaro is also made up of five major ecological climate zones, starting from subtropical and ending with "arctic", each zone with it's own weather condition. Then you throw in not one, but two monsoon seasons and just about every type of weather condition is possible.
LIVE SUMMIT WEATHER
Your ultimate goal is Kilimanjaro's summit at 19,491 ft. (5,895-m) above sea level. You may have a warm first day in Moshi but due to the high elevation, but due to the high elevation it's cold on the summit. See below. The temperature ranges around 21°F (-6°C) which means no rain, and the wind is generally light. But all you feel is the feeling of wonderment of reaching the highest point in Africa, and rising to the challenge of your lifetime.
LIVE WIND PATTERNS
Seasonal weather in Tanzania is largely driven by the shifting – north and south - of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a convergence of the Trade Winds of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. This belt of very low pressure fluctuates, creating Tanzania's two wet seasons. See below for the south winds in January and February, then the north winds in March, April and May.
KILIMANJARO TEMPERATURE RANGE
When you arrive in Tanzania for your climb you spend your first two nights in the town of Moshi at the base of Kilimanjaro. Here there are two rainy seasons – mid-March to May, and November to mid-January, when it is typically hot, humid and cloudy. Throughout the year temperatures stay in the range of 61°F (16°C) to 91°F (33°C) and at the summit the average is 21°F (-6°C).
KILIMANJARO'S WEATHER BY MONTH
Climbing Kilimanjaro is always exciting, but some months present more challenges when it comes to the weather. Choosing the appropriate time to climb is just one of many factors to consider when planning your trip. Here’s some information to help you decide when to climb.
JANUARY & FEBRUARY
From January to March, the average temperature on Kilimanjaro is 78°F (25.6°C) and rainfall is low. While not the driest season it's definitely dry enough for a very enjoyable climb. Plus, the cloudless skies make for amazing views.
THE RAIN IN APRIL
The rainiest part of the season begins in April when the temperature drops slightly. This is typically one of the least popular times to climb because the mud and wet rocks make climbing much more challenging. The upside is that there are far fewer people on the mountain.
MAY to AUGUST
May continues in April’s rainy footsteps, but it's a little dryer. The average temperature will be around 72°F (22.2°C). As June approaches the temperature and minimal rain is ideal for climbing. In fact, July and August are the least drizzly months of the year on Kilimanjaro, making it perfect for photography and exploring the slopes. However, the nights are still a bit cold.
SEPTEMBER
September is an ideal month for climbing Kilimanjaro which makes this one of the busiest months on the mountain. The average temperature is around 71°F (21°C). It’s also the driest month which is another reason it's a favorite month to climb.
OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER
Weather conditions during these months have a comfortable average temperature of 76°F (24.4°C) with rain slowly increasing in frequency with partly cloudy skies.
KILIMANJARO LIVE SATELLITE
THE BEST TIME TO CLIMB
The preferable time to climb Kilimanjaro is when you can expect lots of sunshine. This is ideal for spectacular views, great photography, and easier climbing. If you’re not sure or just have a question, just click here to ask us anything • Or Call: +1.775.833.9700 (International) • 1.800.231.1919 (North America). We're happy to share our decades of Kilimanjaro climbing experience and give you some great advice.
As weather changes so should your clothing. Watch Eddie Frank's video series on how to prepare for your climb, as he walks you through on how to pack and what to wear for each climate zone and change in the weather.
On Tusker’s live webcam, situated at the base of Kilimanjaro, you can track current weather conditions. Our KILICAM has been uploading hundreds of thousands of live photos of Mount Kilimanjaro -- every hour - since 2004. See below.
Today's view of Kilimanjaro.
Tusker's Live KILICAM gives you a firsthand perspective of the current weather conditions on the entire mountain. Click here to have a weekly Live-Cam snap shot sent to you.
WEATHER BY VEGETATION/CLIMATE ZONE
Kilimanjaro's enigma is that it has snow covered peaks and exists in five separate climate/vegetation zones, each with its own unique weather condition. The seasons on Kilimanjaro are also reversed on Kilimanjaro compared to the northern hemisphere. For example, July is mid-winter in Tanzania. The seasons tend to blend together and are defined as the "wet" season and "dry" season. These two seasons help define the weather in Moshi and shape Kilimanjaro's climate/vegetation zones.
Cultivation Zone
- Elevation: 2,600 - 6,000 ft. (792 – 1829 m)
- Annual Precipitation: 70 in. (1,778 m)
The Cultivation Zone attracts the most rain. The best weather is typically during April, May, June, July, August and September due to the average temperature ranging from 68°F (20°C) and 77°F (25°C). It’s great weather for cultivating produce and coffee.
Live Weather in Moshi
- Elevation: 3,000ft. (914 m)
- Annual Precipitation: 35.7 in. (907 m)
Moshi is located right in the "cultivation" climate/vegetation zone known for temperate conditions and plenty of rainfall. Moshi typically has great weather except for monsoon season. Keep checking back to keep track of the weather so you know what to wear around town.
Rain Forest Zone
- Elevation: 6,000 – 9,000 ft. (1,829 – 2,742 m)
- Annual Precipitation: 41 – 78 in. (1041 – 1981 m)
A few thousand feet above Moshi the rain-forest zone is abundant with life. As you trek beneath the tree canopy you are enveloped by the thick rich forest around you. Listen and you will hear wildlife all around, and as you look up in the tree canopy you'll see an incredible variety of birds and monkeys.
Heath/Moorland Zone
- Elevation: 9,000 – 13,000 ft. (2,743 – 3,962 m)
- Annual Precipitation: 21 – 51 in. (533 – 1,295 m)
Temperatures in the Heath/Moorland zone can soar over 100°F (38°C) and drop below freezing at night. There is less rain and winds tend to gust. At this altitude you're above the cloud line with blue skies during the day and a great view of the stars at night.
Alpine/High Desert Zone
- Elevation: 13,000 – 16,000 ft. (3,962 – 4,877 m)
- Annual Precipitation: 20 – 70 in. (508– 1,778 m)
The Alpine Desert zone contains sparse vegetation due to receiving less than 8 in. (203 mm) of rain per year. It's above the cloud layer so you'll encounter lots of sun, but you'll also experience cold temperatures, especially at night due to the high altitude.
Arctic Zone
- Elevation: 16,000 – 19,341 ft. (4,877– 5,895 m)
- Annual Precipitation: 4 in. (102 m)
The Arctic Zone gets its name because the temperatures averages around 20°F (-6°C). You won't have rain at this altitude because of the low temperature, but you can experience light winds and snow flurries.
CALL US BEFORE YOU BUY GEAR
The old saying, “There is not bad weather, just bad gear,” is very true on Kilimanjaro. So before you start shopping for new gear you might only use once, give us a call. Tusker has a very wide array of premier climbing gear for rent, so you don't need to spend thousands of dollars on equipment. Our rental gear is some of the best you'll see on Kilimanjaro and personally selected, and purchased by founder Eddie Frank, based on his experience and rigorous standards. Call our trip planners as: 1.800.231.1919 (North America) • +1.775.833.9700 (International) to coordinate your gear.
VEGETATION AND CLIMATE
Kilimanjaro’s five climate zones are also known as its five Vegetation Zones due to the varied types of plant life that are uniquely adapted to each zone. After decades of climbing through these zones, Tusker’s owners Eddie and Amy Frank always thought there was a need for a field guide to the flora of Kilimanjaro's magnificent vegetation. So they created one. Teaming up with Swiss Biologist Thomas Rüegg, Eddie and Amy spent the next ten years cataloging and detailing the flora of Kilimanjaro's five climate zones.
The result of that work is "The Flora of Kilimanjaro - A Field Guide". An indispensable resource for your climb, it provides you with an intimate intimate knowledge of the world around you as you climb to Kilimanjaro’s summit.
We will provide you with your own signed copy before your climb.
A LIFE-CHANGING ADVENTURE IN ANY WEATHER
Today we operate five routes based on their unique features and challenges in getting to the summit. When scheduling our departure dates we always take the best weather into consideration. Everything is designed around your comfort and rising to your challenge of a lifetime. Ask Us Anything • Or Call: 1.800.231.1919 (North America) • +1.775.833.9700 (International).
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