Photographer of the Year 2026 – PRIZES
In association with African Parks and Ukuri.
Entrants compete for the coveted title of Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2026.
We are open for entries from 16 February 2026 to 7 May 2026. Judging will take place during May and June 2026, and the winners will be announced in June 2026.
For more information on how to enter, visit our Entry Details page.
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2026 PRIZE
Rwanda’s enchanted forest: chimps, canopy views and a primate-rich wilderness in Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park. Our base for the exciting explorations will be the newly-built rustic Munazi Lodge – the only lodge inside the national park.
The overall winner (plus partner) and the two runners-up (plus their partners) will enjoy a five-night stay at Munazi Lodge – a fully catered forest camp deep in Nyungwe National Park. Guests will also stay one night in Kigali before and after travelling to Nyungwe National Park.
This prize is designed for photographers who love wild places that reward patience: misty mornings, birds calling from hidden branches, and primates moving like shadows through the canopy. Nyungwe is Africa’s most extensive protected tract of montane forest, a biodiversity stronghold.
Prize dates (seven nights): 26 August – 2 September 2026
Group size: 10 guests in total (winners + partners + Africa Geographic and Ukuri representatives), accommodated in five cottages with shared double rooms.
Where you’ll stay: Munazi Lodge (Nyungwe National Park)
Munazi Lodge is a fully catered lodge set beneath the shady canopy of Nyungwe’s towering trees. The lodge accommodates guests in ensuite wooden chalets connected by forest boardwalks to a central main area.
The heart of the lodge overlooks the forest and includes a reception, dining room, lounge and bar (with a fireplace), a small shop and an outside firepit – the sort of place where the day’s best sightings are re-lived over warm drinks and a crackling fire.
A key part of Munazi’s story is its light footprint: the lodge and furniture are constructed using reclaimed exotic wood from within the national park, supporting the regeneration of indigenous plant communities and creating a space that feels rooted in its landscape. Munazi Lodge is unfenced and located about 5km along forest tracks from Uwinka Visitors Centre, and within easy reach of Nyungwe’s trails and signature experiences.
What you’ll do in Nyungwe
Nyungwe is made for exploring on foot and at canopy level. Your prize includes a curated set of activities designed to showcase the park’s extraordinary biodiversity and forest scenery. Nyungwe’s bird list stands at 337 recorded species, including a superb selection of Albertine Rift endemics. Nyungwe and its famed afro-montane forest supports 75+ mammal species, from primates to secretive forest carnivores.
Included activities (highlights):
- Chimpanzee trekking – track Nyungwe’s chimps on foot for one of Africa’s most exhilarating primate encounters
- Black-and-white colobus monkey trekking – seek out Nyungwe’s famed Rwenzori pied colobus, including the iconic mega-troop of 400 individuals
- Waterfall hike (Kamiranzovu or Ndambarare) – a rewarding rainforest walk to one of Nyungwe’s most scenic cascades
- Zipline followed by the Canopy Walkway – glide through the treetops, then continue on foot across Nyungwe’s iconic suspended bridges
- Rope Course Adventure – an exhilarating (and safe) forest challenge for those who enjoy a little adrenaline
- Uwinka Visitor Center – meet guides, learn about the park, and get the inside track on Nyungwe’s trails and wildlife
- Umuyove Trail or Imbaraga Trail – explore Nyungwe on foot via one of its classic rainforest routes, with the chance of birds, primates and dramatic forest scenery.
Nyungwe’s wildlife can be secretive, and forest photography comes with its own challenges: shifting light, dense vegetation and quick movement. But for photographers, that’s part of the magic – the sense that every frame is earned.
Conservation impact
Nyungwe National Park is one of Africa’s most important montane forest refuges and requires sustained protection. African Parks works in partnership to support the long-term conservation of Nyungwe and to strengthen sustainable tourism that benefits local communities. By travelling responsibly to places like Nyungwe, visitors help create a viable future for ecosystems that can’t be replaced.
Dates (7 nights):
Arriving in Kigali on 26 August 2026 and Munazi on 27 August 2026, and departing Munazi 1 September 2026 and Kigali 2 September 2026. We will spend 6 days/5 nights in Munazi Lodge, and two nights in Kigali (one night on either side of our Munazi stay).
Flights and logistics:
Winners must organise their own transport to and from Kigali. All other costs, excpet for personal expenses, will be covered by Africa Geographic.
About the prize sponsor:
African Parks | Nyungwe National Park | Munazi Lodge is the exclusive prize sponsor for the full duration of the 2026 Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year competition.
