Mount Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and stands on the northern boundary of Tanzania, south of the equator. Its location on an open plain close to the Indian Ocean, and its great size and height strongly influence the climate, vegetation, animal life and the climbing conditions. It´s made up of three extinct volcanoes: Kibo 5,895 meters, Mawenzi 5,149 meters and Shira 3,962 meters. Equatorial to arctic conditions are present on Kilimanjaro. The range begins with the warm, dry plains with average temperatures of 28°C, ascends through a wide belt of wet tropical forest, through zones with generally decreasing temperatures and rainfall, to the summit where there is permanent glacier (even if it´s slowly melting) and temperatures below freezing.

Even though you can climb throughout the year, January, February and September are the best months with July, August, November and December also being good. January and February are usually dry, warm and clear with brief rainshowers which make for good climbing conditions. The dry season, beginning in late June and through July can be very cold at night, but usually is clear of clouds. August and September are also cool and can have completely clear days, but usually a dripping cloud belt girdles the mountain above the forest and moorland. The summit can be totally clear and the successful climber looks down on a vast sea of clouds with distant mountain peaks poking through like islands. The shorter rainy period of October to December often has thunderstorms that pass over the mountain, dropping rain as they go. Typically the clouds disappear in the evening, leaving nights and mornings clear with excellent visibility.

Further reading and satellite pictures