The Weather You'll Face on Your Climb
The weather on Mount Kilimanjaro is mostly good and reliable, providing 2 climbing seasons that coincide with northern Tanzania’s dry seasons.
It’s said that to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is to climb through 4 seasons in 4 days. There are few other places on earth where you can experience such diversity. Climbers experience all weather and scenery conceivable on Kili: from average temperatures of 20ºC that can soar to 45ºC in the highland desert and plummet to -25ºC on the summit, climbing below the cloud, through the cloud and above the cloud, climbing in the tropical sun, rain and snow, climbing through a forest, over heather, across a desert and finally on ice fields to the summit.
Once you get above the forest, the mornings and evenings are cold until the sun fully rises. It’s normal to wake up to frost on the ground and frozen water droplets on your tent. Throughout the morning, some clouds usually build up, dissipating mid-afternoon. If you’re climbing through the clouds, it can get chilly, especially if there is a bit of wind building up.
You will be climbing in and out of sunshine for much of the day, and when under the midday sun, it gets very warm. On the higher slopes, you sometimes get a few flakes of snow if you’re climbing close to the rainy season.
Rainy Season
There are two rainy seasons in Kilimanjaro: the long rains and the short rains. The long rains are from March to late May, and the short rains are from mid-October to late December. In saying that, Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year round.
Of course, throughout the dry season, there are still localized sporadic rain showers on the mountain, so don’t forget the waterproofs.
Temperature on Mount Kilimanjaro
On Mount Kilimanjaro, the general rule of thumb for the temperature is a drop of 1ºC for every 656 ft/200 m climbed.
This has led to the natural formation of five distinct vegetation zones, each approximately 1,000 m in height, on the mountain.
What Do You Eat On the Mountain?
Remember to tell us if you have any special dietary requirements because meat and nuts form a substantial part of the food in Kilimanjaro. One of the marvels of a trek on Kilimanjaro is the skill with which the cooks can conjure up tasty and nutritious food despite having little equipment and ingredients.
They are also able to obey almost any dietary restrictions, so vegans, vegetarians, gluten—and lactose-intolerant people, and those with restrictions due to their religious beliefs are all accommodated. Just make sure you tell your company about any dietary restrictions you may have.
Breakfast
A typical Kilimanjaro breakfast involves eggs (boiled or fried), porridge, a saveloy (possibly with some tomatoes too), a piece of fruit such as a banana or orange, some bread with jam, honey, or peanut butter, and a mug or two of tea, hot chocolate, or coffee.
Lunch
Lunch on Kilimanjaro is usually prepared at breakfast and carried by the trekker in his or her daypack. This packed lunch often consists of a boiled egg, some sandwiches, a banana or orange, and some tea kept warm in a flask and carried by your guide. KINAPA are trying to stop climbing operators from making cooked lunches along the trail for environmental reasons.
Dinner
At the end of the day’s walking, afternoon tea is served with biscuits, peanuts and, best of all, salted popcorn. The final and biggest meal of the day, dinner usually begins with soup, followed by a main course including chicken or meat, a vegetable sauce, some cabbage, and rice or pasta; if your porters have brought up some potatoes, these will usually be eaten on the first night as they are so heavy.