Kilimanjaro's climate zones
On my itineraries you walk up through montane forest, moorland (heath), semi-desert and alpine desert, to the scree and ice of the summit at 5,895 m. [NEEDS JOSEPH: the altitude where each zone starts on your routes, and what each one is like to walk through]
Key facts
- Zones on the way up
- Montane forest, moorland, semi-desert, alpine desert, summit
- Lowest start gate
- Umbwe Gate, 1,660 m
- Summit
- Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m
- Temperatures
- [NEEDS JOSEPH: typical range from the forest to summit night]
What is the forest like?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: the montane forest on your routes: how high it reaches, the weather, what you might see (e.g. monkeys, birds).]

What is the moorland like?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: the moorland and heath zone, e.g. on the Shira Plateau: plants, weather, views.]

What is the alpine desert like?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: the semi-desert and alpine desert zones, e.g. around Lava Tower, Barafu Camp or Kibo Hut: wind, dust, cold nights.]


What is it like at the summit?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: the scree, the crater rim, the glaciers and the cold at sunrise.]
Which route passes through the most zones?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: e.g. the long western routes. Each route page shows the habitat for every day in its itinerary: see Kilimanjaro routes compared.]
Questions people ask
How many climate zones does Kilimanjaro have?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: how you describe them to climbers]
Will I see wildlife on Kilimanjaro?
[NEEDS JOSEPH]
Which zone is the coldest?
[NEEDS JOSEPH]
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