Best months for trek Mount Kilimanjaro

The best months for climbing are January, February, and September as they are the warmest months and almost clear of clouds, though one could easily succeed throughout the year.
April and beginning of May could get heavy rain or snow, but it could be worth it if you want a quiet clear mountain, as views are very good.
Also great are June to August (though colder), and November/December (could be wetter).
Through September and October it gets steadily warmer. October is particularly good if you want little or no rain, mild weather and few people on the mountain.
January to March are the warmest months, almost clear of clouds except of occasional brief rain showers, followed by the main rainy season during April & May. The temperatures will still be up, but massive clouds will block visibility, on top it might snow and heavy rains occur on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro.

note that you should bring enough clothes with you, as it is not possible to wash clothes while you are on the mountain (they do not dry)

FAQs for Kilimanjaro climbs

Does an extra day help acclimatization?
Most guidebooks recommend that climbers spend an extra day during the Marangu route climb especially. This is much a personal decision, but our statistics do not indicate any greater success rate amongst 6 day Marangu route climbers over 5 day climbers. More important for success is the overall approach to the climb, right from the start. That said, many people like an extra day spent on the ascent because it makes the whole climb more relaxed and gives an opportunity to go on some pleasant walks.

If there is a problem on the mountain what are the rescue procedures?
The national park operates a rescue service, and the huts on the Marangu route are linked to each other and to the park headquarters by radio. In the vast majority of emergency cases, the problem is altitude related and the solution is immediate descent to a lower altitude. Our mountain crew are all experienced at dealing with such cases and can bring climbers down to safe altitudes very quickly and without park assistance if it is not immediately available.

Is it possible to rent mountain equipment from us?
We have a large stock of equipment. This is primarily for the free use of our fully equipped climbers but we also make equipment available for hire to climbers where neccessary. Anyway, we encourage climbers to bring as much of their own warm clothing as possible. In particular, climbers should avoid having to hire or borrow boots.

I heard that the success rate on Kilimanjaro is less than thirty percent. Is this true?
Some people climb Kilimanjaro without knowing what they are letting themselves in for. Consequently they may be inadequately equipped and fed, and they then have a miserable and unsuccessful time. We make sure that you are properly informed and equipped, our success rate to the crater rim is 90%. Our success rate to Uhuru peak is 85%. However, we always stress that the main reason to climb Kilimanjaro is to have a safe and enjoyable time. Reaching the summit is a bonus, but should never be seen as the sole aim of the climb.

How cold does it get on Kilimanjaro?
The temperature at the top of the mountain can vary widely. Sometimes it is only a degree or two below freezing, but visitors should be prepared for possible temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius, especially in conjunction with wind.

What should I know about altitude sickness?
There are different types of altitude sickness. "Acute mountain sickness" is very common, and is not as frightening as its name suggests. The symptoms are headaches, nausea and vomiting, though not everyone suffers from all the symptoms. Normally, symptoms fade after a few hours, but if they do not a climber may need to turn back, especially if vomiting is leading to dehydration. Any enjoyment to be had from the climb will have disappeared by now anyway.

A much more serious type of altitude sickness is called oedema. This is a build-up of fluid in the body, and when the fluid collects in the lungs or the brain a serious condition develops which requires immediate action in the form of descent to a lower altitude, where recovery is usually miraculously fast.

In most cases AMS can be avoided by following guidelines: drink lots of water, walk slowly, stay warm, eat well. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the various affects that altitude can cause.

During your pre-climb briefing, we describe altitude sickness to you in detail, and advise you how to cope with it. The most important thing is not to fear it, but to respect it and to know how to deal with it. Our guides have seen every condition that the mountain produces, and they will always know how to deal with problems.

find here more informations about altitude sickness

How is cooking done on the mountain?
We use modern Kerosene stoves. These are very efficient (about 90% of the efficiency of gas, which is not always available here) and reliable. You can also feel satisfied that no firewood is being used which might damage the ecology of the mountain.

Do you pay wages to your guides and porters?
Yes, we do pay them wages, and we pay well above the levels recommended by Kilimanjaro National Park. Our staff all know that tips from climbers are discretionary. If you do want to give a tip, we always ask you not to do it on the mountain but back at the hotel after the climb. There everything is relaxed and open.

Medicines

Mosquito sprays and creams
Not very useful on the mountain itself. But when you get back down again it is useful to have some “protection” against the Anopheles mosquito. We recommend Autan.

Malaria prevention
Please consult your doctor regarding malaria prophylaxis.

Headache pills
paracet pills will help you in case of headaches.

Diamox
Diamox can be used to prevent Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Please try them first to see if you don't get too many side effects.

Sun cream
we recommend creams with SPF 30, as the sun near the equator is very strong. Don’t forget to have something to protect your lips as well.

Personal medical supplies (optional):
As your tour leaders, we will carry a group medical kit.

Personal Items & Toiletries
toothpaste & tooth brush, body lotion, toilet paper and other personal hygiene items.

Tipping
The tips below are purely given as a guideline, to your discretionary. We recommend the following amounts are not exceeded except in special circumstances:

Tips for Kili staff, based on 2 people climbing

• guide 12 US$ per day (1 guide)
• assistant guide 10 US$ per day (1 assistant)
• cook 10 US$ per day (1 cook)
• per porter 7 US$ (6 or 7 porters for 2 clients)

  For two people climbing Kilimanjaro we send the following staff

  • 1 guide
  • 1 assistant guide
  • 1 cook
  • 7-9 porters

  So for 2 people climbing tips are around 25 US$ per person per day

  find here a list of equipment that we can rent:

  equipment Kilimanjaro

  We use state-of-the-art North Face Tents, VE25