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Kilimanjaro Full Moon Dates – See Kilimanjaro At Its Most Beautiful! 

By  Mark Whitman

Last Updated: February 10, 2025 | Comments: 3


Climbing Kilimanjaro is an incredible experience. The sunsets, the views and the wild and ever changing landscape make it one of the best treks on earth.

What many people don’t know is that on the final day of ascent, you actually trek through the night to reach the summit near dawn.

A great option then is to make sure you trek when there is a full moon that night.

This makes the trek just that little bit more special as the magnificent glaciers light up under the full moon to create a simply stunning landscape!

There is also a practical reason in trekking under a full moon – it illuminates your path.

Normally you would be forced to wear a head torch (see: headgear for Kilimanjaro) on summit night, however, under a full moon on a clear night you could get away without using a head torch (I still recommend you bring a head torch just in case conditions aren’t perfect).

My Quick Takeaways:

Thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro under a full moon? Here’s why (and how) to plan for it:

  • A Spectacular Summit Experience: A full moon lights up the glaciers and trails, making the final ascent even more breathtaking.
  • Less Need for Headlamps: The bright moonlight improves visibility, especially on the dark, rocky paths of Kibo’s summit night.
  • Book Early—It’s Popular! Full moon climbs are in high demand, so secure your spot months in advance.
  • Arrive a Few Days Before: To reach the summit on a full moon night, start your trek 5–6 days earlier, depending on your route.
  • New Moon = Epic Stargazing: If you prefer clear night skies and dazzling stars, a new moon climb offers an unforgettable experience.

A full moon trek adds a magical touch to Kilimanjaro—ready to see the summit in a whole new light? Let’s learn more!

kilimanjaro-full-moon-dates-01

The only negative side of trekking under a full moon is that the stars are obscured by the brightness. If you’re a passionate star gazer then you would be best to trek under a new moon when the whole of Kilimanjaro lies under a blanket of beautiful stars.

In order to summit on a full moon date, you’ll need to time your climb right.

This means that if you are trekking a 7 day route (for example, on the Lemosho, Machame or Rongai) you should depart 5 day prior to the full moon and if you are trekking a 6 day route (for example, on the Marangu) you should depart 4 days before the full moon.

Remember though, full moon dates are by far the most popular climbs and if you would prefer a less crowded trek, then avoiding the full moon is wise.

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Kilimanjaro Full Moon Dates  (2025 & 2026)

Below I have provided a complete list of the Kilimanjaro full moon dates for 2025 and 2026.

Please note: these dates are best estimates. Please do not rely on this data as gospel. I recommend you double-check dates on other weather websites.

Month

2025

2026

January

14th

3rd

February

12th

1st

March

14th

3rd

April

13th

2nd

May

12th

1st and then the 31st (known as a wolf moon!)

June

11th

29th

July

10th

29th

August

9th

27th

September

7th

26th

October

7th

25th

November

5th

24th

December

5th

23rd

Kilimanjaro New Moon Dates

Kilimanjaro new moon dates are great for stargazing.

Month

2025

2026

January

29th

18th

February

28th

17th

March

29th

19th

April

27th

17th

May

27th

16th

June

25th

15th

July

24th

14th

August

23rd

12th

September

21st

10th

October

21st

10th

November

20th

9th

December

20th

9th

Remember, weather will affect your climb also and the rainy season clouds will often obscure the full moon from view. Choosing the right time of year to trek is very important.

Please see my best time to trek Kilimanjaro guide and visit Mountain Forecast to get an accurate weather forecast for Kilimanjaro.

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My Final Thoughts

There you have it: A great table showing the Kilimanjaro full moon dates for 2025 and 2026. If you have any further questions or queries about Kilimanjaro full moon dates, please just leave a comment below and I’ll get back you as soon as possible.

Want more Kilimanjaro guides? Check these out:

Mark Whitman

Hi, I'm Mark! Welcome to Climb Kilimanjaro Guide - the Web's No.1 Trekking Guide to Mount Kilimanjaro. This site is your one stop shop for everything Kilimanjaro. To date over 5 million people have visited Climb Kilimanjaro Guide, many of which have gone on to summit Kili! I hope you find all the answers you are looking for, but if you have any questions don't hesitate to drop a comment below!

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  1. Thank you so much for this fantastic informative website! There is such helpful information and writers. The thoughtfulness in this article alone is excellent. Thanks 🙂

  2. I am looking at climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and wanted to start the climb on a specific date which is 23rd September 2017. I have been to 4 companies and 2 run the trek on this date and 2 don’t. I asked one of the operators why there isn’t a trek on this date and they have said that it isn’t a good moon so they don’t run treks due to Health and Safety issues. Would there be a safety issue trekking if there isn’t a full moon?

    1. Hi Caroline, there is no health and safety risk of a summit push that doesn’t coincide with a full moon. There will be 100s of summits everyday in September as its the busy season. Hope this helps!

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