What You Need to Know: Our full-moon Kilimanjaro climb is the private 8-day Lemosho Route, timed so that summit night falls on or next to the full moon. It costs the same as any 8-day Lemosho: from US$2,335 per person for two climbers with a mid-range Moshi hotel (US$2,160 budget, US$2,480 luxury). The table below gives each full moon in the best climbing months of 2027 and 2028, with the summit night and the day to arrive in Moshi.
Why Climb Kilimanjaro on a Full Moon?
Summit night starts around midnight from Barafu Camp, and most of the climb to Stella Point happens in the dark. A full moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, so it lights the mountain the whole way up. Climbers tell us three things about it:
- You see where you are. The crater rim, the glaciers and Mawenzi's spires stand out in the moonlight, and the view down to the clouds makes the slow pace feel less endless.
- It feels less claustrophobic. Instead of a small circle of headlamp light, you see the line of climbers and the slope around you; guides and climbers still carry headlamps for the rocky sections.
- The photographs are unforgettable, especially the moon setting as the sun rises behind Mawenzi.
Full-moon nights are popular, so the summit trail is busier than on a dark night, and lodges and flights for those dates fill earlier. Book as soon as you choose your month.
Full-Moon Kilimanjaro Dates for 2027 and 2028
Each full moon in our recommended climbing months, in Tanzania time (EAT), with the summit night we would plan, the day to arrive in Moshi and the day you fly home:
| Full moon (Tanzania time) | Summit night | Arrive in Moshi | Fly home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2027, 15:17 | Night of Jan 22 to Jan 23, 2027 | Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 25, 2027 |
| Feb 21, 2027, 02:23 | Night of Feb 20 to Feb 21, 2027 | Feb 14, 2027 | Feb 23, 2027 |
| Mar 22, 2027, 13:44 | Night of Mar 22 to Mar 23, 2027 | Mar 16, 2027 | Mar 25, 2027 |
| Jun 19, 2027, 03:44 | Night of Jun 18 to Jun 19, 2027 | Jun 12, 2027 | Jun 21, 2027 |
| Jul 18, 2027, 18:45 | Night of Jul 18 to Jul 19, 2027 | Jul 12, 2027 | Jul 21, 2027 |
| Aug 17, 2027, 10:29 | Night of Aug 16 to Aug 17, 2027 | Aug 10, 2027 | Aug 19, 2027 |
| Sep 16, 2027, 02:04 | Night of Sep 15 to Sep 16, 2027 | Sep 9, 2027 | Sep 18, 2027 |
| Oct 15, 2027, 16:47 | Night of Oct 15 to Oct 16, 2027 | Oct 9, 2027 | Oct 18, 2027 |
| Jan 12, 2028, 07:03 | Night of Jan 11 to Jan 12, 2028 | Jan 5, 2028 | Jan 14, 2028 |
| Feb 10, 2028, 18:04 | Night of Feb 10 to Feb 11, 2028 | Feb 4, 2028 | Feb 13, 2028 |
| Mar 11, 2028, 04:06 | Night of Mar 10 to Mar 11, 2028 | Mar 4, 2028 | Mar 13, 2028 |
| Jun 7, 2028, 09:09 | Night of Jun 6 to Jun 7, 2028 | May 31, 2028 | Jun 9, 2028 |
| Jul 6, 2028, 21:11 | Night of Jul 6 to Jul 7, 2028 | Jun 30, 2028 | Jul 9, 2028 |
| Aug 5, 2028, 11:10 | Night of Aug 4 to Aug 5, 2028 | Jul 29, 2028 | Aug 7, 2028 |
| Sep 4, 2028, 02:48 | Night of Sep 3 to Sep 4, 2028 | Aug 28, 2028 | Sep 6, 2028 |
| Oct 3, 2028, 19:25 | Night of Oct 3 to Oct 4, 2028 | Sep 27, 2028 | Oct 6, 2028 |
The moon is almost as bright for a night either side, so one day earlier or later still gives you a moonlit summit. We calculated the times from the standard astronomical method; they agree with published moon tables to within a few minutes.
Full-Moon Lemosho Route Itinerary
The climb is our standard 8-day Lemosho, the route we recommend for the best chance of the summit, with a hotel night in Moshi on either side. Summit night is the night of day 6 to day 7:
-
Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa
A long drive round to the western gate, registration, then 3 to 4 hours through quiet rainforest to Mti Mkubwa Camp, about 8,700 ft (2,650 m).
RainforestMountain campAll meals -
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1
Through giant heather onto the Shira Plateau to Shira 1 Camp, 11,500 ft (3,500 m).
MoorlandMountain campAll meals -
Day 3: Across the plateau to Moir Hut
Across the Shira Plateau via Shira 2 to Moir Hut camp, 13,800 ft (4,200 m), the high night that sets the Lemosho apart.
MoorlandMountain campAll meals -
Day 4: Lava Tower, then down to Barranco
Up to Lava Tower (about 15,100 ft / 4,600 m) and down to Barranco Camp (about 13,000 ft / 3,960 m).
Alpine desertMountain campAll meals -
Day 5: Barranco Wall to Karanga
The Barranco Wall scramble, then on to Karanga Camp, 13,238 ft (4,035 m), for an afternoon of rest.
Alpine desertMountain campAll meals -
Day 6: Karanga to Barafu
A short climb to Barafu Camp, 15,354 ft (4,680 m): the briefing, a health check and an early night.
Alpine desertMountain campAll meals -
Day 7: Summit night to Uhuru Peak, down to Mweka Camp
Around midnight you set off for Stella Point and Uhuru Peak, 19,341 ft (5,895 m), then descend to Mweka Camp, 10,138 ft (3,090 m). See summit night step by step.
SummitMountain campAll meals -
Day 8: Mweka Gate and back to Moshi
Down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, your certificate, and back to Moshi for a shower and a night in a bed.
RainforestMoshi hotelBreakfast, lunch
The full day-by-day detail, with distances and walking times, is on the 8-day Lemosho Route page.
What a Full-Moon Summit Night Is Like
You go to bed at Barafu Camp in the early evening, are woken around 11 pm for tea and biscuits, and set off around midnight. Under a full moon, the switchbacks of loose scree above Barafu are lit pale grey, and you can see the lights of other groups strung up the slope. It is still very cold, often well below freezing with wind, so the moon changes what you see, not what you wear. You reach Stella Point on the crater rim around dawn, as the moon sets in the west and the sun rises over Mawenzi, then walk about an hour along the rim to Uhuru Peak. Our summit night guide explains each stage.
How Much Does the Full-Moon Kilimanjaro Climb Cost?
The same as our 8-day Lemosho on any other date, per person by group size:
| Climbers | Budget hotel | Mid-range hotel | Luxury hotel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$2,190 | US$2,375 | US$2,565 |
| 2 | US$2,160 | US$2,335 | US$2,480 |
| 3 | US$2,170 | US$2,370 | US$2,470 |
| 4 | US$2,160 | US$2,335 | US$2,480 |
| 5 | US$2,165 | US$2,355 | US$2,475 |
| 6 | US$2,160 | US$2,335 | US$2,480 |
What the Full-Moon Kilimanjaro Climb Includes
Your price covers:
- Every park fee for eight days and seven nights on the mountain
- Your own camp: sleeping tents, mats, mess tent and private toilet tent
- A mountain guide, a cook and five porters for each climber, and three meals a day
- Oxygen and pulse checks morning and evening, emergency oxygen, first aid and a stretcher
- Airport pickup, gate transfers and a Moshi hotel night before and after the climb
Not included in the Full-Moon Kilimanjaro Climb price
Budget separately for:
- International flights, and a Tanzanian visa (US$50; US$100 for US citizens)
- Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult
- Insurance that covers trekking to 6,000 m (19,700 ft) and helicopter evacuation
- Personal gear (you can rent it in Moshi), drinks and laundry
- Tips for your mountain crew (see how tipping works)
Can You Do a Full-Moon Climb on Another Route?
Yes. Any of our private climbs can be timed to the full moon: we count back from the summit night in the table. The 7-day Machame and 9-day Northern Circuit are popular alternatives; on the Northern Circuit, summit night starts from School Hut on the north side. Our group departures run on fixed dates, which do not always match the moon.
How to Book the Full-Moon Kilimanjaro Climb
Tell us which full moon you'd like and how many of you are climbing, through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com. A 30% deposit holds your dates and the balance is paid when you arrive. Cancel 60 days or more ahead for a full refund; the shorter-notice refunds are in our refund policy.
Common Questions About Full-Moon Kilimanjaro Climbs
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
When is the next full moon for climbing Kilimanjaro?
In our recommended months, the 2027 full moons fall from January to March and June to October; the table on this page gives each one with the summit night and the day to arrive in Moshi.
How much is a full-moon Kilimanjaro climb?
The same as our 8-day Lemosho on any date: from US$2,335 per person for two climbers with a mid-range Moshi hotel, US$2,160 budget and US$2,480 luxury.
Do you need a headlamp on a full-moon summit night?
Yes. The moon lights the slope, but you still need a headlamp for rocky sections, for camp and in case of cloud.
Is a full-moon summit night busier?
Usually, yes: full-moon dates are popular. The 8-day Lemosho's quiet western start helps, but expect more people on the summit trail than on a dark night.
What if it is cloudy on the full moon?
Clouds usually lie below the summit at night, so the moon is often clear from the upper slopes, but weather is never guaranteed.
Should You Book the Full-Moon Kilimanjaro Climb?
Book it if you want summit night lit by the moon and the best chance of reaching Uhuru Peak, at the price of any 8-day Lemosho, from US$2,335 per person for two. Pick a date from the table, add a Serengeti safari afterwards if you like, and book early: full-moon dates go first.