Mountain Climbing and Wildlife Safari in Tanzania

Mountain Climbing in Tanzania

1. Mount Kilimanjaro

• Overview: The highest mountain in Africa and one of the Seven Summits, Mount Kilimanjaro stands at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet). It’s a non-technical climb but requires endurance and acclimatization to high altitudes.
• Main Routes:
  • Machame Route: Known as the “Whiskey Route,” it is scenic but challenging, taking about 6-7 days.
  • Marangu Route: The “Coca-Cola Route,” considered the easiest path, offers hut accommodation and takes 5-6 days.
  • Lemosho Route: A longer route (7-8 days), with diverse landscapes and fewer crowds.
  • Rongai Route: Approaches from the north, it’s quieter and takes 6-7 days.
  • Umbwe Route: The steepest and most difficult, suited for experienced climbers.
• Best Time to Climb:
  • January to March and June to October. These are the dry seasons with the most favorable weather conditions.

2. Mount Meru

• Overview: Located near Arusha, Mount Meru is the second-highest mountain in Tanzania at 4,562 meters (14,968 feet). It’s often climbed as a warm-up for Kilimanjaro. The trek is shorter but steeper, with breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.
• Trekking Duration: 3-4 days.
• Best Time to Climb: Same as Kilimanjaro – January to March and June to October.

3. Ol Doinyo Lengai

• Overview: Known as the “Mountain of God,” this is an active volcano and a sacred site to the Maasai people. It stands at 2,962 meters (9,718 feet) and offers a challenging climb with dramatic landscapes.
• Trekking Duration: 1-2 days.
• Best Time to Climb: June to September.

Tanzania Wildlife Safari

Tanzania is renowned for its abundant wildlife and spectacular landscapes. Here are some of the key safari destinations:

1. Serengeti National Park

• Overview: Famous for the Great Migration, where over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra, and antelope migrate in search of fresh grazing lands. The Serengeti is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) and offers world-class game viewing.
• Best Time to Visit:
  • June to October: The best time to witness the Great Migration.
  • November to March: Excellent for general wildlife viewing and seeing newborn animals.

2. Ngorongoro Crater

• Overview: A UNESCO World Heritage site, this massive volcanic caldera offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa. It’s home to a dense population of lions, elephants, rhinos, and flamingos in the crater lake.
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round, but the dry season (June to October) is best for wildlife viewing.

3. Tarangire National Park

• Overview: Known for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees, Tarangire is a quieter alternative to the Serengeti. The Tarangire River attracts wildlife year-round, making it an ideal location for game drives.
• Best Time to Visit: June to October (dry season).

4. Lake Manyara National Park

• Overview: Famous for its tree-climbing lions and large flamingo population, this park is located between the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara. It’s smaller than other parks but offers a diverse range of habitats and wildlife.
• Best Time to Visit: July to October (dry season), and November to June for bird watching.

5. Ruaha National Park

• Overview: One of the largest national parks in Tanzania, Ruaha is less visited than the northern parks, offering a more secluded experience. It’s known for its large population of elephants, lions, and African wild dogs.
• Best Time to Visit: June to October (dry season).

6. Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere National Park)

• Overview: One of the largest wildlife reserves in the world, Selous offers boat safaris along the Rufiji River, as well as traditional game drives and walking safaris. It’s home to elephants, lions, giraffes, and hippos.
• Best Time to Visit: June to October.

7. Zanzibar Archipelago

• Overview: Though not a traditional safari destination, Zanzibar offers the perfect post-safari relaxation with its stunning beaches, coral reefs, and historic Stone Town. It’s ideal for those wanting to combine wildlife with beach holidays.
• Best Time to Visit: June to October and December to February (dry seasons).

Combination Packages

• Kilimanjaro + Safari Package: Many travelers opt for a combined adventure where they climb Mount Kilimanjaro first and then embark on a wildlife safari to Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater.
• Meru + Safari Package: For those looking for a shorter, less strenuous trek, Mount Meru can be paired with a safari, providing a well-rounded adventure experience.

When to Visit

• Best Time for Safaris: The dry season (June to October) is ideal for game viewing because animals congregate around water sources. However, some parks, like the Serengeti, offer excellent game viewing year-round.
• Best Time for Mountain Climbing: For Kilimanjaro and Meru, the best times are the dry seasons of January to March and June to October.

Mountain Host Tanzania offers an unparalleled combination of mountain climbing adventures and wildlife safaris. Whether you’re trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro, exploring the caldera of Ngorongoro Crater, or witnessing the awe-inspiring Great Migration in the Serengeti, Tanzania provides a diverse range of thrilling experiences for every traveler.

Climbing Kilimanjaro in January and February to early March

Ideal trekking conditions with mostly dry, clear days, and good visibility. Occasional showers and a good chance of snow over 14,000ft, making for some epic photo opportunities.

While this is considered “high season”, it’s often quieter on the slopes than the main climbing season of June to September, making it a good balance of not-too-crowded and decent weather.

Best for: Hikers who want to minimize crowds, whilst still having dry conditions. Snow on the summit is a bonus.

Climbing Kilimanjaro in March, April and May

Early March can be lovely, but as the month progresses, the rains can start to set in, making for muddy trails, cloudy skies, and poor visibility. In late March and late May, you can get lucky with some dry weather, but it’s a bit hit or miss.

April to early May are the long rains, and not suitable for climbing.

If your schedule dictates that you need to go during the shoulder seasons – late March and late May – you need to be prepared for wet weather, and not be disappointed by poor visibility.

Ideally, you’ll have some trekking experience already and won’t be phased by trickier trail conditions.

Best for: Experienced trekkers who want to avoid crowds, and who don’t mind unpredictable weather. We recommend the routes on the north side of the mountain.

Climbing Kilimanjaro in June/ July/ August and September

A combination of the best weather and the US and Europe summer vacations means this is the main climbing season and the busiest time on the mountain. July and August are the most popular months, so if you want to try and avoid crowds, opt for June or September, or October if you don’t mind a bit of rain.

Occasional showers are always possible, particularly in the forest, but it’s a predominantly dry time of year. Routes tend to be busier during this period, especially over the full moon.

Best for: Climbers wanting the best weather for their trip, who aren’t deterred by crowds, which are mostly on the Marangu and Machame route.

Climbing Kilimanjaro in October / November

Short rains usually come in November and last for 3-4 weeks. Often the rain is less persistent than in April-May (the “long rains”) and mostly come in the late afternoon. The mountain is very quiet during this time.

We would recommend the Rongai route or Northern circuit route as the northern side of the mountain is more sheltered and has less overall rainfall.

Best for: Avoiding crowds, experienced trekkers who aren’t put off by wet weather.

When can you climb Kilimanjaro – Important Considerations

Weather Conditions

Kilimanjaro is close to the equator and doesn’t experience the same four seasons as the more temperate parts of the world. Instead, it has rainy seasons and dry seasons, both of which alter the complexion of the mountain.

The best time to climb Kilimanjaro are the months of January through early-March and June through October. The clear skies, great views, and sunshine make for spectacular photo-opportunities and comfortable hiking conditions.

These are also usually the drier months of the year and the busiest. Read more: Guide to Kilimanjaro Weather.

Temperature

Temperatures on the mountain vary with the seasons and also within the different climate zones as you climb higher.

The summit zone is considered “Arctic” and temperatures drop well below freezing at all times of the year.

December to March, and June (just after the rains) are usually the coldest, and there’s a good chance you’ll see snow on the summit. This reduces the number of visitors (as compared to July through August which is the busiest time).

Rain Rainy season

There are two distinct wet seasons in the Kilimanjaro area:

Long rains: End of March through May

Short rains: November

April and November usually have the highest rainfall, although this can vary.

The rainy season begins around mid-March and typically extends well into May. During this time, conditions can be wet, stormy and muddy on Kilimanjaro, particularly along its southern face.

Even in the dry season, it’s always possible to get some rain. That’s why we always carry good wet-weather gear in our daypacks.

Visibility: clouds, mist, and fog

You didn’t come all this way to trek through cloudy skies and fog. During late March to the end of May, and all of November, the visibility can be poor due to cloud cover. You won’t be seeing the panoramic vistas, and you won’t be getting great photos.

Crowds: Number of climbers on Kilimanjaro

As climbing Kilimanjaro becomes more popular, the favorable weather in January through early March, and June through October makes the mountain busier.

It’s usually the Marangu and Machame routes that suffer from some overcrowding. If you opt for one of the less busy routes, such as the Northern Circuits, Rongai or Lemosho, you’ll still get to enjoy the vistas without too many people.

One of the main downsides that climbers try to avoid when trekking during busy times is the overcrowding of the toilet facilities at campsites. We take care of our climbers by providing you with private toilet tents, used only by our group.

The sense of camaraderie and friendships forged by meeting other climbers more than makes up for it being a bit “busy”. Many of our clients have made lifelong friendships with people they’ve met on the mountain.

What’s the best time to climb Kilimanjaro without the crowds?

If you don’t mind the possibility of getting rained on and are well prepared, the shoulder-seasons just before and after the rains are the quietest time of year.

If you’re looking for solitude, it can be a worthwhile trade-off to risk a bit of wet weather to have the mountain to yourself.

We avoid climbing in the height of the rainy season (April/May and November).

Alternatively, choose one of the routes that has less foot traffic. In the wetter months, we recommend the routes on the northern side of the mountain, which tend to experience less rainfall, and are more sheltered.

Best time to climb Kilimanjaro

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, are 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 you find 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 be trekking 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 rain forest 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 it’s most inhospitable. Bitterly cold, 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 recommend the drier months. We can accommodate you if your schedule only allows you to trek in the shoulder-seasons.

Check out Climbing Kilimanjaro gear recommendation gear you need to climb Kilimanjaro.