Best time to climb Kilimanjaro

The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the two drier windows: late June to October, and January to the middle of March. Skies are clearer, trails are firmer and summit mornings are more likely to be bright. Those are also the busiest months, especially on the southern routes in July to September.

Climbing in the rains is possible, particularly on the Rongai route, which sheds the heaviest rain, but you will meet mud, cloud and colder nights on most other lines. Whatever the month, the number of days you take matters more to your summit chances than the weather, so choose the longest itinerary you can.

The long rains fall from roughly March to May, with April usually the wettest month, and the short rains arrive in November. On most routes the wet months are possible but muddier and colder, and cloud can hide the mountain. The upside is solitude: trails are far quieter and the forest is lush.

If you must climb in the long rains, the Rongai route on the northern side is the sensible pick. Its slopes are drier, the trail is quiet, and the lower forest holds wildlife such as elephant, buffalo and eland. Choose more days, bring a good waterproof shell and over-trousers, and expect to be honest with your guide about how you feel.

Kilimanjaro crowds depend on the route and the month. The southern lines, especially Machame and Marangu, carry the most climbers from July to September. The quietest routes in most seasons are the Northern Circuit and the Rongai, and Lemosho is calm until it merges with the southern circuit near Barranco.

Many climbers add a safari or a few days on the coast. Plan the mountain first and the rest as a reward, and check the best time to visit Tanzania so the safari months suit you too. If you can find one more day on the mountain, take it: more days usually means better odds of reaching the top.