WEATHER CONDITIONS & Temperatures

Mountain temperatures range from -15° to 80°F, depending on elevation, and sporadic rain, snow or sleet are possible. Due to the high elevation and different climate zones, it’s essential to prepare for a full range of conditions any time of year.

Trekking Kilimanjaro is like traveling from the equator to the North Pole. That’s because Kilimanjaro is so massive it contains five distinct climate zones. You’ll pass through each of them on your way to the summit:

➡️ KILIMANJARO CLIMATE ZONE 1: RAINFOREST

ELEVATION: 6,000′ – 9,200′
DESCRIPTION: Warm, humid, and lush year-round, this section of the mountain is home to rare species, many of which are found nowhere else on earth!

DAY TEMPS: 70s – 90s F
NIGHT TEMPS: 40s – 60s F

➡️ KILIMANJARO CLIMATE ZONE 2: HEATH

ELEVATION: 9,200′ – 11,000′
DESCRIPTION: Sparser and drier than the forest, the heath includes bearded lichen hanging from the trees.

DAY TEMPS: 50s – 70s F
NIGHT TEMPS: 30s – 50s F

➡️ KILIMANJARO CLIMATE ZONE 3: MOORLAND

ELEVATION: 11,000′ – 13,200′
DESCRIPTION: The moorland is home to unique vegetation, such as the alien-looking giant groundsels that tower overhead.

DAY TEMPS: 50s – 70s F
NIGHT TEMPS: 30s – 50s F

➡️ KILIMANJARO CLIMATE ZONE 4: ALPINE DESERT

ELEVATION: 13,200′ – 16,000′
DESCRIPTION: Cold and dry, the alpine desert’s windswept, rocky landscapes have often been compared to the surface of the moon.

DAY TEMPS: 30s – 40s F
NIGHT TEMPS: 10s – 30s F

➡️ KILIMANJARO CLIMATE ZONE 5: ARCTIC

ELEVATION: 16,000’+
DESCRIPTION: Near the summit Kilimanjaro transforms into a frozen world of glittering ice and snow. You’ll feel like an Arctic explorer on your last steps to Uhuru Peak!

DAY TEMPS: 10s – 30s F
NIGHT TEMPS: -10s – 20s F