by
Team Africa Geographic
Thursday, 4 May 2023
Our Photographer of the Year 2023 is now closed for submissions. Cash prizes of US$10,000 have been set aside for the winner and two runners-up. Winners and their partners will also join our CEO Simon Espley and his wife Lizz on the ultimate private safari in Botswana.
Judging for Photographer of the Year will take place throughout the month of May 2023, and the winners will be announced in early June 2023.
Here is Gallery 1 of the best Photographer of the Year submissions for this week. To see the other gallery, follow the link: Gallery 2 .
Photographer of the Year is proudly brought to you by Hemmersbach Rhino Force and Mashatu Botswana .
In Surma culture, the lip plate inserted in the lower lips of women is a symbol of beauty, fertility and eligibility for marriage, while automatic weapons have become part of everyday life for some rural Ethiopian tribes. Kibish, Ethiopia. © Alexander Ley
“Shall we dance? One of Dzanga Baï’s more elegant forest elephants, fresh from its mudbath make-up, takes its turn on this remote stage.” Dzanga Baï, Central African Republic. © Andy Skillen
Moustached guenons (also known as moustached monkeys) are named for the strip of white fur under the nose, which is believed to emphasise visual communication. Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of the Congo. © Antoine Ede
A dusk sunbird aria. A male malachite sunbird in full cry on top of a black-bearded protea. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Western Cape, South Africa. © Braeme Holland
An African spoonbill executes a flawless temps de poisson as it takes flight. Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. © Christo Giliomee
A parent’s work is never done. A white-throated swallow feeding a beak full of dragonflies to its almost fully-grown chick. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa. © Dustin Van Helsdingen
The Temple of Doom. A Nile crocodile moves between a tusk from an elephant carcass and its reflection. Khwai Private Reserve, Botswana. © Ernest Porter
From dust thou art…At the height of the dry season, Chitake Springs turns into a dust bowl. The buffalo have no choice but to walk the lion gauntlet to drink each evening. Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe © Gail Odendaal
Every year during the sardine run, millions of sardines journey up the South African coast, prompting a feeding frenzy. These bait balls are typically formed by dolphins, but in this case, the photographer reports that the ball was kept together by hundreds of black tip sharks, later joined by Cape gannets, skipjack tuna and kingfish intent on partaking in the feast. Port St. Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa. © Geo Cloete
Cat scan. An African wildcat surveys the world from its vantage point. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. © Hugh Michler
A local fisherman on the serene waters of the Okavango Delta, surrounded by lily pads and patiently waiting for the next catch from his mokoro. Okavango Delta, Botswana. © Jack Swynnerton
Every mountain gorilla’s nose print is as unique as a human’s fingerprint and can be used to identify individuals. Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. © Laura Dyer
Postcard from Amboseli. Supertusker Craig strikes another picture-perfect pose in front of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Amboseli National Park, Kenya. © Licinia Machado
Beauty and the beests. Wildebeest file between a vast flock of lesser flamingos. Amboseli National Park, Kenya. © Mary Schrader
A heart-stopping moment for the photographer as a fast-moving dust cloud turned out to be a herd of elephants stampeding towards the water. “As for me…I cried and cried and silently wiped away the tears and dust from my eyes and cheeks.” Amboseli National Park, Kenya. © Mostahfiz Gani
A tiny terrapin turns into a bite-sized snack for a female giant kingfisher. Kruger National Park, South Africa. © Ona Ackermann
Standing on the shoulders (heads) of giants. A cattle egret hitches a ride. Amboseli National Park, Kenya. © Paul Joynson-Hicks
Are the wildebeest here yet? Ndutu region, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania. © Pierre van der Berg
Family portrait. These dwarf mongooses huddled for warmth on a windy day. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. © Ren Schiffer
Black-faced impala at a natural salt lick, supplementing their mineral intake. Etosha National Park, Namibia. © Rian van Schalkwyk
A pearl-spotted owlet with some yellow-bellied greenbul leftovers. Mapungubwe National Park, Limpopo, South Africa. © Stefan Toerien
If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Amboseli National Park, Kenya. © Yaron Schmid
To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place 🙂.