7-Day Machame Route Kilimanjaro Trek

Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year round. Generally, the main tourist seasons are from mid-June to October, then from December to February. These months coincide with the dry season in Tanzania.

There are two wet periods – the long rainy season and the short rainy season. The long rainy season begins in March and ends in May. The short rainy season is during the month of November. Note that weather is unpredictable so these time periods will vary from year to year. Sometimes the rains come early, come late, are mild, or are torrential.

For most people, prefer July, August and September. The next tier of good months consists of October, January and February. These six months, plus December, are considered to be Kilimanjaro’s high season. The transition season months are December, March and June. Lastly, the rains come in April, May and November. These three months are considered to be Kilimanjaro’s low season.

It is possible to climb Kilimanjaro year round, however it is best to climb when there is a lower possibility of precipitation. The dry seasons are from the beginning of December through the beginning of March, and then from mid-June through the end of October. These are considered to be the best times to climb in terms of weather, and correspondingly are the busiest months (high season). Most of our group climb are scheduled to correspond with the dry season.

From January through mid-March are the warmest months, with clear skies in the mornings and evenings. During the day, clouds may appear along with brief showers. The long rainy season spans from the end of March to early June. We do not recommend climbing during this time unless you are an experienced backpacker who has trekked in similar conditions. It can be very wet, and visibility may be low due to heavy clouds. The crowds are gone, however. From mid-June to the end of October, the mountain is generally a bit colder, but also drier. The short rainy season spans from the beginning of November to the beginning of December. Afternoon rains are common, but skies are clear in mornings and evenings.

Note that the rains are unpredictable and may come early or extend beyond their typical time frames. It is possible to experience mostly dry weather conditions during the rainy season, just as it is possible to have heavy rain during the dry season.

Some climbers prefer to summit during a full moon.

During the full moon, you will summit Mount Kilimanjaro on cloudless evening, it is very bright, very beautiful and helps illuminate your path, landscape without using headlamps, This makes the Climb more special as the magnificent glacier light up under the full moon to create a simply stunning landscapes

However, a practical reason for climbing at these times is that a bright moon along with a clear sky will improve your visibility throughout your climb, and most importantly, during the summit attempt.

Month
Temperature
Precipitation
Cloudiness
Crowds

January
Warm
Medium
Low
High

February
Warm
Medium
Low
High

March
Moderate
High
Medium
Low

April
Moderate
High
High
Low

May
Moderate
High
High
Low

June
Cold
Medium
Medium
Medium

July
Cold
Medium
Low
High

August
Cold
Low
Low
High

September
Moderate
Low
Low
High

October
Moderate
Low
Medium
Medium

November
Moderate
High
Medium
Low

December
Moderate
Medium
Medium
Medium

The 7-Day Machame Route has an exceptionally high summit success rate of approximately 85% to 90%. The additional day spent on the mountain provides crucial natural acclimatization, particularly on Day 4 (hiking high to Lava Tower at 4,650m and sleeping low at Barranco Camp at 4,000m).

Despite its intimidating appearance, climbing the Barranco Wall is a non-technical scramble that requires no special rock climbing skills or equipment. You will use your hands for balance over simple rock steps. Most trekkers find the Barranco Wall to be one of the most fun and memorable highlights of the entire climb.

All nights on the mountain are spent in high-quality, four-season mountain camping tents set up by our porter crew before you arrive at camp. A dedicated dining tent equipped with folding tables and chairs is provided for meals, social gatherings, and daily health briefings.

The best conditions for climbing the Machame Route occur during Tanzania's dry seasons:

• January to March: Warm, clear skies with lower trail traffic.
• June to October: Dry weather, cool temperatures, and excellent trail visibility.

Our lead guides conduct comprehensive health assessments twice daily using pulse oximeters to check your blood oxygen levels and heart rate. We carry emergency oxygen cylinders, comprehensive wilderness first-aid kits, and are trained in medical evacuation protocols.