Kilimanjaro weather

Being conscious of Kilimanjaro Weather before your tour up the mountain could prove to be highly beneficial. Given that Kilimanjaro lies near the equatorial region, the weather on the mountain stays constant throughout the course of the year.

A unique phenomenon on the mountain is that the Kilimanjaro Weather has its own range, i.e. Kilimanjaro creates its own weather. This is because of the high altitude zones of the mountain. Let’s dig deep and explore all the weather elements for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro below.

Typical Weather conditions on Kilimanjaro

Let’s put an end to the question that naturally arises in the mind of climbing enthusiasts, i.e. What is the weather on Mount Kilimanjaro? Because of the mountain’s high elevation, Kilimanjaro creates weather and microclimates of its own.

This is thanks to the varying vegetation and climatic zones on the various segments of the mountain. Putting an exact finger on Mount Kilimanjaro Weather is difficult as it remains unpredictable because of the different weather patterns of each climatic zone.

• One thing that you should prepare yourself for is the fluctuation in weather as it might be warm, cold, rainy, windy, and ice cold at the top.
• Landing on the Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro also goes hand in hand with the particular weather conditions on the mountain.
• Thus, remember to be critical of the dry and rainy seasons in the Kilimanjaro region.

Weather Facts – The temperature at the base of Kilimanjaro is around 21 to 27 Celsius and the nighttime temperatures at Uhuru Peak range from 20 Celsius to -20 Celsius.

Rainfall and Kilimanjaro Weather

Mount Kilimanjaro functions as an obstacle to the moisture-laden air masses from the Northeast and the Southeast (from the Indian Ocean). This forces the masses to rise over the three peaks – Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.

• When this natural phenomenon occurs, air temperatures drop and as the water vapours cool off it forms fog and eventually rain on the windward side of Kilimanjaro.
• When this same air mass descends on the other side of the mountain it contains a small amount of moisture.

And, as a result, a rain shadow or a dry climate develops on the side of Kilimanjaro where the Northern slopes are. The average humidity and amount of precipitation on Kilimanjaro are laid out in the table below:

Monthly Kilimanjaro Weather

Now we’ll look at the month-wise weather on Mount Kilimanjaro. This will give you insights as to what’s the Best Time of Year to Climb Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro weather based on the Climatic Zones

As you make your way higher up while on Kilimanjaro Climbing Tours, you’ll notice the Kilimanjaro Weather changing through the varying climatic zones. We’ve broken all these zones below, so let’s have a look:

Cultivation Zone

The cultivation zone surrounds the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and comprises mostly farmland due to its fertile volcanic soil. The area gets plenty of rainfall and experiences mostly temperate conditions. You’ll pass this region on a Kilimanjaro Climb on the way to the trailhead.

Altitude - 2,600 to 6,000 ft. (800 to 1,800 m)

Rainfall – 20 to 70 inches (500 to 1,800 mm)

Forest Zone

You’ll begin your climb in the Montane Forest region, a tropical rainforest that absorbs most of the moisture coming off the mountain. Kilimanjaro Weather conditions in this zone are generally moist and humid, with mists forming under the thick canopy.

Altitude – 6,000 to 9,200 ft. (1,800 to 2,800 m)

Rainfall – 79 to 40 in (2,000 to 1,000 mm)

Moorland Zone

After climbing through the forest, you’ll come out from the trees into the Moorland Zone. Here you’ll witness giant heathers and tall grasses and be exposed to more wind and rain.

Altitude – 9,200 to 13,200 ft. (2,800 to 4,000 m)

Precipitation – 51 to 21 in (1,300 to 530 mm)

Alpine Zone

This is the high desert zone of Kilimanjaro with arid conditions and is at an altitude where wind speeds increase and there’s little to no rainfall. Daytime temperatures here are quite warm though at night temperatures drop quickly.

Altitude – 13,200 to 16,500 ft. (4,000 to 5,000 m)

Precipitation – 10 in (250 mm)

Arctic Zone

This region experiences almost no rainfall and the precipitation that does come falls in the form of snow. The Arctic zone is characterized by huge rocky outcrops, glaciers, and volcanic screes. It’s also referred to as the extreme altitude zone and has about 49% of the oxygen at sea level.

Altitude: 16,500+ ft. (5,000+ m)

Precipitation: 4 in (100 mm)

Important Note – As you set forward on your summit attempt, keep in mind that there will be ice and snow below your feet. It’s also very cold, and even at midday, the radiation of the sun is challenging. Warm layers at night and sunscreen on any exposed parts of your body couldn’t be more recommended.

The ever-fluctuating weather conditions of Kilimanjaro!

As you may have gathered from the above information that the large structure of Kilimanjaro allows it to create its special weather. And there’s not much seasonality when it comes to the Kilimanjaro Weather. So, be prepared for the ever-changing conditions and equip yourself thoroughly with the right pieces of clothing and equipment and conquer a feat that few have – the Uhuru Peak!