HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO?
Travellers planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro frequently ask: How long does it take to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
It takes five to nine days in order to reach the Mount Kilimanjaro Summit and then descend to the finishing point. The more days spent on Mount Kilimanjaro, the more likely you will successfully summit, as you will become more acclimatised to the altitude and will be less fatigued.
Trekkers, who spend only 5 days, have the lowest Summit success rate.
Trekkers, who spend 8 or 9 days, have a much better chance of summiting. Read more about the best routes to climb Kilimanjaro and the days they take.
Kilimanjaro Safety & Trail Conditions
If you're an experienced hiker, you might not be concerned with slippery trails and a bit of mud.
For inexperienced hikers, we recommend climbing during the drier months. Less chance of rain means less stress and discomfort, giving you more time to enjoy your surroundings.
On the lower slopes, through the forest, the trail can become quite muddy, and higher up, slippery, rocky trails can be a challenge.
We take your safety very seriously. Climbing Kilimanjaro guides are highly experienced and have hiked Kilimanjaro in all weathers. We monitor the weather and are flexible enough to be able to alter the daily itinerary during inclement conditions.
Getting wet increases your chance of getting extremely cold. As you ascend, your body is already having to deal with the effects of altitude, and wet clothes can be the difference between a slight chill and hypothermia.
It's extremely important for your safety and comfort to keep your gear dry, avoid getting soaking wet, and never stay in wet clothes!
You'll need some very robust wet-weather gear (which we recommend at all times of the year). Choose one of the less challenging itineraries, and make sure your gear, both in your daypack and duffel bag, is in waterproof bags.
Note: The Tanzanian Government has banned the use of all plastic bags, so please don't use garbage bags or ziploc bags to store any of your gear. We recommend waterproof stuff sacks such as these.
Your Schedule
Depending on what you want to do before and after your climb – a Tanzanian safari or a Zanzibar holiday perhaps – or simply when you can get time off work to travel can inform your decision about when to climb.
Ultimately, apart from the really wet months (April and November), there's no "bad" time to climb Kili. Nor is there a "perfect" time to climb. Weather conditions on any mountain can be unpredictable - that's all part of the adventure.
Full Moon (& New Moon) climbs.
Picture this: A cloudless midnight sky illuminated by a full moon. You dress in your summit gear, come out of your tent and see the majesty of the mountain you are about to climb, lit by the moon. You hardly need your head torch as you ascend.
There's something magical about climbing Kilimanjaro in the light of a full moon. Treks around the full moon can get quite busy, so bear this in mind if crowds are a problem for you.
You'll need to start your trek ahead of the full moon date: For a 7-day trek, your start date would be five days before the date of the full moon. But bear in mind that the night before and after the actual full moon will be just as spectacular (and possibly quieter). Kilimanjaro Full Moon Dates
If the full moon makes you feel like a wolf and start howling or find it difficult to sleep with the light, schedule your dates around the New Moon. With less light, you get fantastic star-gazing, with the constellations clearly visible.
A Note on the Kilimanjaro Climate Zones
You'll trek through five main Kilimanjaro climate zones, each with unique weather patterns. Some have compared it to walking from the Equator to the North Pole.
The lower slopes, cultivated/savanna zone and rainforest, will normally be hot and humid and experience the most rainfall.
The heath and moorland/low alpine zone is cooler, with less rainfall – precipitation is mostly fog and mist – and temperatures can drop dramatically at night.
The alpine desert zone has very little rainfall, with scorching sun during the day and freezing temperatures at night.
Arctic Zone – this is the mountain at its most inhospitable. Bitterly cold, with barely any rainfall – only snow – very little surface water and no protection from the sun.
Summing Up: The best time to climb Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro can be climbed year-round, but for your safety and comfort, Climbing Kilimanjaro avoids the long and short rains (April-May and November) and recommends the drier months. We can accommodate you if your schedule only allows you to trek in the colder seasons.