Seasonal Forecasting - Best Times To Travel Kilimanjaro
Seasonal Forecasting for Kilimanjaro can be difficult. However, unlike mountains such as Mount Everest and K2, Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed virtually any time of the year. Rainy days during most months literally are few and far between, making Conditions in general more than adequate for climbing. Certain months of the year are however nevertheless definitely better climbing months than others.
January, February and September have been voted 'peak' months to climb the mountain, with July, August, November and December are all coming in a close second. January and February generally consist of sunny skies and balmy temperatures, making them ideal for climbing.
March to mid June is officially the rainy season around Kili. The combination of warm temperatures and moisture cause clouds and haze to enfold most of the mountain, making visibility particularly bad. Snow falls and rain make the ground slippery and hazardous, rendering climbing conditions less than ideal to say the least. Late June to early August sees a drop in precipitation and temperatures where crisp, clear evenings become the norm. If you can stand the cold, climbing conditions are ideal due to lack of cloud cover on the mountain.
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August to September is still sunny and cool, although on most days a cushion of cloud will be seen balancing above the treetops of the rainforest. The apex however remains cloudless, and those climbers successful enough to reach the summit of the Shining Mountain will be greeted by the sight of a never ending blanket of white, pierced only occasionally by the lonely peaks of the humbler mountains below.
During the shorter rainy season from October to December, the surface of the mountain is once again decorated by raindrops, although this time around seasonal rain occurs in the form of thunder storms rather than never ending showers. Generally the storms gather during the daylight hours and then dissipate into nothing by the time the sun disappears over the horizon, leaving the evenings cloudless with amazing visibility of the countryside below.
When Planning your climb, it is important to keep in mind the fact that no matter what time of year it may be or how much advice you have been given, the weather on Kilimanjaro is as unpredictable as it gets, and rain, snow and ice can wreak havoc on the mountain at any time. It may also be worth your while to consider the phases of the moon when planning your trip. Due to the fact that virtually all summit attempts begin at midnight, it may be worth your while to plan your trip so that the final leg of your climb falls during the phase of the full moon.
The Kilimanjaro Experience
