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Full moon Kilimanjaro climbs: 2026 and 2027 dates

Reaching the crater rim under a full moon is one of the great Kilimanjaro experiences. Use the dates below to pick your start day.

Sunrise above a sea of cloud from a Kilimanjaro camp

Summit night starts around midnight and the final climb is done in the dark. Under a full moon the snow and the glaciers glow, and you may barely need your headlamp. It is not essential: weather and acclimatisation matter much more than the moon. But if you can combine them, it is a beautiful way to reach the top.

How to read the table

Summit night is the night between the last two days of your climb. If you start your climb on the date shown for your itinerary length, the summit push falls on the night of the full moon. The moon looks nearly full for a day or two on either side, so there is a little flexibility. Highlighted rows are in months that are usually dry.

Full moon dates and suggested start dates
Full moon (EAT) Time Start 5-day climb Start 6-day climb Start 7-day climb Start 8-day climb Start 9-day climb
Mon 26 Oct 2026 07:11 22 Oct 2026 21 Oct 2026 20 Oct 2026 19 Oct 2026 18 Oct 2026
Tue 24 Nov 2026 17:53 20 Nov 2026 19 Nov 2026 18 Nov 2026 17 Nov 2026 16 Nov 2026
Thu 24 Dec 2026 04:28 20 Dec 2026 19 Dec 2026 18 Dec 2026 17 Dec 2026 16 Dec 2026
Fri 22 Jan 2027 15:17 18 Jan 2027 17 Jan 2027 16 Jan 2027 15 Jan 2027 14 Jan 2027
Sun 21 Feb 2027 02:23 17 Feb 2027 16 Feb 2027 15 Feb 2027 14 Feb 2027 13 Feb 2027
Mon 22 Mar 2027 13:43 18 Mar 2027 17 Mar 2027 16 Mar 2027 15 Mar 2027 14 Mar 2027
Wed 21 Apr 2027 01:27 17 Apr 2027 16 Apr 2027 15 Apr 2027 14 Apr 2027 13 Apr 2027
Thu 20 May 2027 13:59 16 May 2027 15 May 2027 14 May 2027 13 May 2027 12 May 2027
Sat 19 Jun 2027 03:44 15 Jun 2027 14 Jun 2027 13 Jun 2027 12 Jun 2027 11 Jun 2027
Sun 18 Jul 2027 18:45 14 Jul 2027 13 Jul 2027 12 Jul 2027 11 Jul 2027 10 Jul 2027
Tue 17 Aug 2027 10:29 13 Aug 2027 12 Aug 2027 11 Aug 2027 10 Aug 2027 09 Aug 2027
Thu 16 Sep 2027 02:03 12 Sep 2027 11 Sep 2027 10 Sep 2027 09 Sep 2027 08 Sep 2027
Fri 15 Oct 2027 16:47 11 Oct 2027 10 Oct 2027 09 Oct 2027 08 Oct 2027 07 Oct 2027
Sun 14 Nov 2027 06:26 10 Nov 2027 09 Nov 2027 08 Nov 2027 07 Nov 2027 06 Nov 2027
Mon 13 Dec 2027 19:09 09 Dec 2027 08 Dec 2027 07 Dec 2027 06 Dec 2027 05 Dec 2027

Dates are for East Africa Time (UTC+3). Cloud can hide the moon on any night, and the rainy seasons (about March to May, and November) make clear skies less likely.

Which route for a full moon climb?

  • 7 and 8 days (Machame, Lemosho, Rongai) give you the best balance of acclimatisation and timing.
  • 9 days (Northern Circuit) gives the most time to adjust, and a quiet route.
  • 5 and 6 days are possible, but leave less margin for altitude.

Read our route comparison and the guide to summit night before you choose.

Tips

  • Book early: full moon dates in the dry months are popular.
  • Pack a headlamp anyway, and warm layers. It is very cold on summit night, moon or not.
  • Tell us your preferred month and we will suggest the best start date and route.

Kilimanjaro climbs

  • The Mandara Hut sign at 2,720 metres on the Marangu route, Kilimanjaro

    Mount Kilimanjaro

    5 Day Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Climb

    5 days•Challenging
    • 5 days
    • Challenging

    Marangu route, commonly known as the coca cola route is more popular because it can be done in fewer days and has permanent sleep huts at the campsites.

    From $1,850 per person

  • A hiker on a moorland trail on Mount Kilimanjaro

    Mount Kilimanjaro

    6 Day Rongai Route Kilimanjaro Climb

    6 days•Challenging
    • 6 days
    • Challenging

    Experience the adventure of a lifetime on this 6-day Kilimanjaro trek via the Rongai Route, one of the mountain’s most scenic and less crowded trails.

    From $1,950 per person

  • Hikers and porters scrambling up the Barranco Wall on Kilimanjaro

    Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

    7 Day Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climb

    7 days•Challenging
    • 7 days
    • Challenging

    Climb Mount Kilimanjaro on the 7 Day Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climb with certified KINAPA wilderness guides and high summit success.

    From $2,250 per person

  • Giant groundsel plants beside the trail on Mount Kilimanjaro

    Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

    8 Day Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climb

    8 days•Moderate
    • 8 days
    • Moderate

    Climb Mount Kilimanjaro on the 8 Day Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro Climb with certified KINAPA wilderness guides and high summit success.

    From $2,485 per person

  • Hikers crossing a boulder field high on Mount Kilimanjaro

    Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

    9 Day Northern Circuit Kilimanjaro Climb

    9 days•Moderate
    • 9 days
    • Moderate

    Climb Mount Kilimanjaro on the 9 Day Northern Circuit Kilimanjaro Climb with certified KINAPA wilderness guides and high summit success.

    From $3,150 per person

  • Hikers walking towards the mountain huts on Kilimanjaro

    Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

    6 Day Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Climb

    6 days•Moderate
    • 6 days
    • Moderate

    Climb Mount Kilimanjaro on the 6 Day Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Climb with certified KINAPA wilderness guides and high summit success.

    From $1,950 per person

All Kilimanjaro climbs →

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