Climbing Kilimanjaro is an unforgettable experience, as anyone who has already accomplished the feat will attest.

Words often fail to sum up what makes climbing this mountain so special, but what about images?

Here are some of our favourite pictures taken on the mountain, which we feel, together, capture some of the most wonderful and memorable things about climbing to the Roof of Africa:

Courtesy of Josh John

Everyone who climbs Kilimanjaro quickly learns that the porters are the real heroes on the mountain, and without them you’d probably never get to the top. They go about their hard work with a minimum of fuss, and are always ready to share a word of encouragement or a smile as they hurtle past you.

Courtesy of Sama93

The star-studded night skies on Kilimanjaro are among the most spectacular you’ll find anywhere in Africa, and the light of the moon, particularly when it’s full, also offers a striking vision of the shimmering glaciers.

For many of our climbers, the bond they form with their fellow climbers is an important part of the overall experience they have on the mountain. Trying times can bring people together, and you’ll certainly have a few of those moments on Kilimanjaro. But you’ll probably have plenty of laughs too.

Courtesy of Josh John

The strange and striking climate zones are another distinctive feature of the Kilimanjaro experience. All five of the climate zones you’ll pass through invoke awe and intrigue, and as you ascend you’ll feel as though you are gradually entering an entirely different world.

Courtesy of Christopher Clark

Looking up at the summit of Kilimanjaro, the constantly changing shape of the fickle clouds that often hover around the summit adds to the mountain’s enigmatic allure, while before you know it they can also envelop you from below.

Courtesy of Josh John

Kilimanjaro’s glaciers around its arctic summit are obviously its most famous feature, made all the more so by the fact that they might not be around for that much longer. As you near the summit, the different formations are breathtaking.

Courtesy of Christopher Clark

Throughout your climb up Kilimanjaro, you’ll find yourself regularly stopping and staring at the expansive vistas in awed silence. Sunset and sunrise can be particularly spectacular, especially as you near the summit.