Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro under a beautiful full moon and the stars is one of the most sought-after adventures on this mountain located in the Northern region of Tanzania. Most climbers use their headlights to navigate summit night on normal occasions, but for those that climb when there is a full moon, the moon’s beautiful light illuminates the whole nighttime on our quest to push for the Uhuru Peak summit attempt!
Learn the best times to hike to a mountain under the full moon!
There is one caveat to this rule, though, and that involves hiking during a full moon. At Tranquil Kilimanjaro, we’ve written on the value of returning to the campsites before nightfall and carrying a light in case of emergencies.
Those seeking a unique and maybe more mystical experience from time spent in their hiking boots have been more and more interested in full moon hiking in recent years.
Read about how to find the right hiking boots for your trek
Hiking under the full moon offers a peaceful experience when you have nature all to yourself, in contrast to hiking during the day or like on the Kilimanjaro summit nights of total darkness on the various routes on the mountain. The moon has traditionally been associated with femininity, contemplative moods, and immortality in ancient societies. For this reason, yoga and meditation are sometimes combined with full-moon hiking.
It could possibly be a unique method for you to connect with nature. Regardless of its importance, many individuals discover that hiking in the moonlight has the effect of making the experience more concentrated and reflective since you have to pay more attention to where you put your feet.
The moon is fascinating since it constantly changes its appearance and rises and sets at various times.
When compared to the sun, which is always there and brilliant, it is like a wild banshee.
The tides follow the moon’s whims because she is so enticing. And sure, in order to refer to her, the feminine pronoun must be used since women have a unique relationship with that oblong lamp in the sky. Similar to a menstrual cycle, the lunar cycle lasts 29.5 days.
We simply cannot stop raving about how beautiful the mountain looks on a full moon. So keep reading for our advice on how to enjoy full-moon hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro.
1. Join a group trek.
Joining a Kilimanjaro climbing group has many advantages, especially during these peak times when many admire summiting on a full moon on Kilimanjaro. Going on a well-established route and going with a knowledgeable group or a professional guide are your best bets. To also lower the costs of climbing Kilimanjaro, choose a route that you and/or they are extremely acquainted with. Check to see what’s scheduled around you because many trekking companies in Moshi or Arusha in Tanzania now offer seasonal or yearly full moon hikes.
Click here to join a group trek.
2. Check the weather
Naturally, before you go, you should check the hourly weather prediction. A moonlit trek in the rain or snow wouldn’t just be unpleasant, but you wouldn’t truly benefit from the moonlight. Make sure the location where you’ll be trekking is going to be clear or only mildly overcast at night, and make sure the nightly lows won’t be too low.
Learn more about the Kilimanjaro weather.
4. Know moon cycles
To go full moon hiking, you don’t need to be an astrologer, but you do need to know how to determine the day the moon will be full. Your dates should coincide to find out when it will happen as you will need to determine when to begin your trek so that you reach the summit just at the right time, on a full moon. If it’s vital to you to be outside at the precise time of the full moon, you may also check the time.
See the best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
5. Dress for the cold and use layering.
It will be cooler than day hiking whether you go on a full moon hike in the summer or the winter. Check out our post on what to dress for winter hiking to learn how to be warm and well-layered.
Even though you could begin your journey as the sun is setting, the temperature will decrease as night falls, especially if you are traveling an uphill track. You’ll find that layers are your greatest friend when the weather changes. Look at the weather for the evening and put on the right shoes (Traction is your friend—and protect those toes!)
What to pack for your Kilimanjaro climb
6. Do not forget your headlamp and flashlights
The moon would naturally illuminate the entire trail in an ideal world, negating the need for a flashlight. However, the last thing you want to happen is for the moon to slip behind unforeseen clouds and leave you in the dark. Just in case things don’t go according to plan, bring a light.
7. Pole Pole – Take it slow.
With reduced light it’s easy to overlook that tree root or rock ahead that might send you flying, so move slowly and cautiously. Hiking also allows you to see nature in a tranquil, awestruck, and magical way while you would otherwise be indoors or asleep.
Night treks shouldn’t be as strenuous as day walks, so take it easy and take many breaks to enjoy the scenery and soak up the moonlight. When you need a break from your adventure, you may also halt and check out this full-moon yoga practice.
Kilimanjaro full moon group joining adventures
During the dry season, we provide a number of full moon summit group climbs each month. It is best to reserve much in advance because these treks have a tendency to fill up very rapidly.
Trek Kilimanjaro to the summit at a full moon. A full moon climb up Mount Kilimanjaro is undoubtedly one of them.
Many climbers plan their ascent to coincide with the full moon dates listed below for the breathtaking vistas of dazzling glaciers on a clear night. Your whole ascent of the mountain will be enhanced by the shimmering moonlight, which will also help you on the final ascent on summit night and may make it unnecessary for you to even turn on your headlamp. Most of the overnight camps will also provide some spectacular nighttime views of Kibo.
A full moon summit should be planned so that the journey departs a few days before the full moon date, for example, a 7-day trek should depart five days before the full moon date.
A day on either side of the full moon’s date is also extremely helpful because it is not necessary to reach the peak on the precise day of the full moon. There are several benefits to climbing around a full moon, which naturally draws a lot of people to the sport. Avoid scheduling your journey around these days if you want a less congested hike and are more interested in the stars.
Summiting under a full moon on Kilimanjaro
Carrying a headlamp or a flashlight is typically required while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at night. Not so while you’re scaling to the summit of the mountain in the bright light of a full moon; if you’re lucky, the night will be cloudless and brilliantly clear.
It’s absolute magic, this! It definitely takes some excellent timing to observe the incredible occurrence of a full moon over the tallest peak in Africa. You must schedule your flight to arrive on time, pick the proper climbing route, and ascend to the top around the full moon night.
We both agree that it is difficult, but you can do it!
4 tips for climbing to Uhuru Peak summit
Kilimanjaro full moon calendar and dates
Please refer to our lunar calendar or the Full Moon Group Climbs we have planned just for you. This may help to further enhance the remarkable nature of your peak night! Please be aware that, despite our best efforts, we cannot guarantee that the full moon dates we provide are 100% correct.
Please use these dates as a general guide and get in touch with us for more information. We will be pleased to help you reach Uhuru Peak with a full moon. To ensure that we can make all the arrangements, you should start thinking about a Full Moon climb and get in touch with us at least three months before your climb. Click here to join a full moon climb
- January 5th
- February 5th
- March 7th
- April 5th
- May 5th
- June 3rd
- July 3rd
- July 30th
- September 29th
- October 28th
- November 27th
- December 26th
What is the best time of the year to climb Kilimanjaro?
The full moon is fantastic for hiking.
Using the moon as a light source at night because it reflects between 3 and 12 percent of the sun’s rays has a highly mystical quality.
We get to appreciate the forest, mountain, or meadow in silence and serenity without the bustling crowds we frequently encounter on our walks during the day. As a result of having to adjust to the decreased light, our senses are sharpened. Our ears listen for sounds in the stillness.
Our mind leaps into action as we look into the shadows or are startled by odd sounds. Is that a tree or an elderly woman in a cloak? That noise—was it just a mouse, really? A mountain lion, perhaps? Stories start to form.
We come face to face with our concerns in the strange and unsettling nocturnal environment, and in the stillness, we are given the chance to accept and relax.
Instead, we might focus on the hidden side of nature that we overlook while we’re nestled up at night. This is the realm of the nocturnal animals, the spider, and the moth. Darkness has beauty as well.
We gain a fresh perspective on things that have grown monotonous in our everyday lives on our night treks. The moon’s silvery light reflects off of foliage and tree trunks in shades of gray, black, and blue, allowing us to view the familiar environment in almost complete monochrome.
The moon is also our sole satellite and helps to maintain our planet rotating steadily at a distance of 238,900 miles away by controlling the tides in our oceans and, according to some research, even the movement of plant leaves.
We are reminded that we are on a planet that is speeding around a star and how magnificent this world is when we pause in our trek to lift our eyes to the sky and bask in her moonbeams. So gather your clan, take a walk beneath the full moon, and rediscover your passion for nature.
So, what is a full moon?
The moon is entirely lighted during a full moon because the earth lies directly between the sun and the moon at that time (it looks completely round and bright). Every 29 days, there is a full moon above Mount Kilimanjaro.
Why is it vital to go climbing during full moons?
You won’t need your headlamp because it is a clear, bright night, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at a full moon will improve your whole experience because the moonlight will provide you a wonderful perspective of the mountain and its surroundings.
Advantages of full moon dates
The full moon illuminates your path to the peak.
On Kilimanjaro, the majority of trekking and climbing occur during the day.
You only ascend at night, starting soon before midnight, for the summit attempt. If you try a summit with a full moon, the entire path will be well-lit, and you won’t need to use your light much.
Summit evenings spent in and around the camp
If you plan to summit during a full moon, your nighttime surroundings in camp will be illuminated by a nearly flawless full moon, providing you with breathtaking moonlit views.
Astonishing universal energy
It is said that the Full Moon is a potent moment when the level of universal energy is maximum and the optimum time to replenish good energy.
A full moon is symbolic of higher energies and opens a conduit of communication between the spirit and soul in various faiths.
Why is the full moon climb up Mount Kilimanjaro so well-liked?
You’ll be escorted and directed on your night-time trip by the dazzling light of the full moon. It lights your six-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, making the rolling clouds below you shine and the glaciers sparkle. The ground beneath your feet shines in the moonlight as well.
The brightness of the full moon (when combined with a clear sky) makes it easier to see throughout your Kilimanjaro hike and, in particular, during your summit attempt. This is a practical reason to climb during a full moon.
The majority of the overnight stays on Kilimanjaro with a full moon provide you with breathtaking nighttime views of Kibo.
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