Dec → Feb
29 to 31°
nights 19°
- 8 rainy days · 38 mm
When is the best time to visit Kilimanjaro?
- Jan30°recommended
- Feb31°recommended
- Mar30°fair
- Apr26°not recommended
- May24°fair
- Jun24°recommended
- Jul24°recommended
- Aug26°recommended
- Sep28°recommended
- Oct30°recommended
- Nov29°fair
- Dec29°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Kilimanjaro, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 19° | 35 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| February | 31° | 19° | 32 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| March | 30° | 20° | 155 mm | 13 d | |
| April | 26° | 19° | 259 mm | 26 d | |
| May | 24° | 18° | 117 mm | 17 d | |
| June | 24° | 17° | 22 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| July | 24° | 16° | 21 mm | 5 d | ✓ |
| August | 26° | 17° | 21 mm | 5 d | ✓ |
| September | 28° | 18° | 17 mm | 4 d | ✓ |
| October | 30° | 18° | 43 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| November | 29° | 19° | 87 mm | 14 d | |
| December | 29° | 19° | 47 mm | 10 d |
The four seasons in Kilimanjaro, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Moshi) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
24 to 30°
nights 18 to 20°
- 19 rainy days · 177 mm
Jun → Aug
24 to 26°
nights 16 to 17°
- 5 rainy days · 21 mm
Sep → Nov
28 to 30°
nights 18 to 19°
- 9 rainy days · 49 mm
Book early for January to February and June to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Kilimanjaro, month by month
EventsKilimanjaro MarathonFebruary to MarchDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: June, July, August, September
- Towns & culture: January, February, June, July, August, September, October, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Kilimanjaro, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- February to MarchKilimanjaro Marathon
The race starts in Moshi, at the foot of the mountain, on a Sunday in late February, alongside a half marathon and a ten-kilometre run.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended30°19° at night
- 35 mm · 7 d
High season, book early
February
Recommended31°19° at night
- 32 mm · 6 d
High season, book early
March
Fair30°20° at night
- 155 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended26°19° at night
- 259 mm · 26 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair24°18° at night
- 117 mm · 17 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended24°17° at night
- 22 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended24°16° at night
- 21 mm · 5 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended26°17° at night
- 21 mm · 5 d
High season, book early
September
Recommended28°18° at night
- 17 mm · 4 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended30°18° at night
- 43 mm · 8 d
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair29°19° at night
- 87 mm · 14 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair29°19° at night
- 47 mm · 10 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 30 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Rain stays light: 35 mm over 7 days. High season: book early.
February. 31 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Rain stays light: 32 mm over 6 days. High season: book early.
March. 30 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (155 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 26 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. A very wet month, 259 mm of rain over 26 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 117 mm over 17 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 22 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 21 mm over 5 days. High season: book early.
August. 26 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Rain stays light: 21 mm over 5 days. High season: book early.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Rain stays light: 17 mm over 4 days. Busy season, without the crush.
October. 30 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (43 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Frequent rain: 87 mm over 14 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 29 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (47 mm). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Kilimanjaro?
January to February and June to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 24 to 31 °C, with 6 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Moshi).
Which month should you avoid in Kilimanjaro?
April: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 259 mm over 26 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Moshi).
What is the hottest month in Kilimanjaro?
February, with 31 °C on average in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Moshi).
What is the coldest month in Kilimanjaro?
May, with 24 °C at best during the day and 18 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Moshi).
What is the driest month in Kilimanjaro?
September: 17 mm over 4 days of rain, against 259 mm in April, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Kilimanjaro?
The gap between day and night reaches 12 °C in February: 31 °C in the afternoon, 19 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Kilimanjaro?
June, July, August, September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Moshi), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Kilimanjaro guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Tanzania: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Bushland Adventure Travel / Pexels · Balazs Simon / Pexels · Dick Hoskins / Pexels · KpokeJlJla / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Penfran Tanzania / Pexels