Some climbers prefer to summit during a full moon.
Summiting Kilimanjaro on a cloudless full moon night is without a doubt
an unforgettable experience. The glaciers glittering in the moonlight
are absolutely stunning. For obvious reasons the moonlight will also
make the final night climb on your summit night easier and most of the
time it will be unnecessary to even switch on your head lamp. Planning
your summit attempt to coincide with the full moon dates can enhance
your whole trek up the mountain and offer you some magnificent night
views of Kibo from most of the overnight camps.
To summit during a full moon, a 7-day climb should start 5 days prior
to the full moon date. It is not necessary to summit on the exact full
moon date to take advantage of moonlight. Reaching the summit on the
day before or day after is just as good.
For those who favor a less crowded climb, avoid the full moon completely
as these dates attract many climbers. Another method of escaping crowds
is to choose an "off" day of departure. Most climbers will
begin their climbs on Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
Month |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
January |
4 |
23
|
12
|
1/31
|
February |
3 |
22
|
10
|
--
|
March |
5 |
23
|
12
|
1/31
|
April
|
4 |
21
|
11
|
29
|
May
|
3 |
21
|
10
|
29
|
June
|
2 |
20
|
9
|
27
|
July
|
1, 31 |
19
|
8
|
27
|
August
|
29 |
18
|
7
|
26
|
September
|
27 |
16
|
6
|
24
|
October
|
27 |
15
|
5
|
24
|
November
|
25 |
14
|
3
|
23
|
December |
25 |
13 |
3 |
22 |
|