by
Team Africa Geographic
Tuesday, 26 March 2024
Our Photographer of the Year 2024 is open for submissions. Each of the three winners (the overall winner plus two runners-up) will become a personal sponsor of a wild Hwange lion research collar. Winners and their partners will also join our CEO Simon Espley on a conservation safari in Botswana. Read more about the prizes here .
Photographer of the Year is open for entries from 1 March 2024 to midnight on 31 May 2024. Judging will take place throughout those months and for the month of June 2024, and the winners will be announced in early July 2024.
Photographer of the Year is sponsored by Imvelo Safari Lodges . In association with Southern African Conservation Trust (SACT) and WILDCRU .
Here are the best Photographer of the Year submissions for this week
“Visiting the penguin colony at Boulders Beach during their breeding season, we were completely struck by the tenderness shown between partners. Keeping fingers crossed for healthy chicks!” Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town, South Africa . © Aleksandra Zorawska Peekaboo, I see you! A grey crowned crane peeks over a sand wall. Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. © Rian van Schalkwyk Two grey-cheeked mangabeys sit for their portrait. Rwanda . © Benine du Toit Power and instinct. Concealed behind its freshly caught impala kill, a leopard fixes the photographer with an intense stare. Sabi Sands Game Reserve , South Africa. © Michael Raddall
“We found unknown worlds with hidden secrets while flying above the ancient Namib Desert. On this rare trip, we were searching for alien landscapes that could only be located from the air, in the middle of nowhere.” By enhancing the colour and contrast of the original image, and playing with shadows and light, the photographer created an image that could be mistaken for a painting. Namib Desert, Namibia. © Panos Laskarakis Portrait from a village in Borena. As climate variability, diseases and raiding threaten cattle production among the Borana community, many Borana have changed their preference from cattle to camel rearing. Oromia, Ethiopia. © Ashenafi Yemane All ruffed up. A side portrait of a vulturine guineafowl highlights the bright collar of fur on an otherwise bare-skinned, blue-grey head and neck. Laikipia, Kenya. © Tullio de Boer An African paradise flycatcher feeds her chicks. “I was so excited when I finally saw a chick’s head pop up out of the nest. I sat for hours watching the mum feed the two chicks over a few days. It was incredible how much the chicks changed over just 4 days.” Laikipia, Kenya . © Jade Gosrani Wraiths at dawn. “This image was taken in the early morning. The night before, we heard the pride of lions near the waterhole – so we made sure to get there extra early to see if they came drinking.” Central Kalahari, Botswana . © Lukas Walter Fantasm of colour. “I took this macro photo at Maidstone Reef dive site at a depth of 24 metres. This dive site falls in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Table Mountain National Park. I was amazed at the congregation of red fan worms. These animals extend their fans to catch drifting food particles, forming a colourful display of red fans against white tubular bodies.” False Bay, South Africa. © Peet J van Eeden A black-backed jackal in pursuit of a meal disturbs a covey of Burchell’s sandgrouse. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana. © Rian van Schalkwyk
A nesting southern ground-hornbill is gifted a meal. The female incubates the egg for 40-45 days, and during this time she is fed by group members. Kruger National Park , South Africa. © John Mullineux Upon encountering the photographer and fellow travellers on a game drive, a spotted hyena fetches her cub from the den – almost as if to present her offspring to the onlookers. Kruger National Park, South Africa. © Kendra StoneThe growls and grimaces of mating lions. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana. © Oliver Rood A water-level hide presents a unique perspective of a lioness quenching her thirst. Onguma Nature Reserve, Namibia. © Jan-Joost Snijders Elephant calves eagerly traipse towards the waterhole. Madikwe Game Reserve , South Africa. © Michael Raddall Dust to ashes. A Mundari cattle camp in Central Equatoria, South Sudan. Cow dung is laboriously collected in the mornings and dried with dust for fuel. Once the dung is burnt, the Mundari use the ash to protect their skin from insects and the sun. Central Equatoria, South Sudan © Trevor Cole
A brave little warrior faces the photographer head-on, ready to protect. A little coaxing from mom draws the calf away onto new adventures. Namibia © Malika Franceshini A dip in the road provides a fresh perspective, showing the regal side of three magnificent buffalo. Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda . © Rudi Veestraeten “This young hyena cub crept closer and closer to me, trying to see what kind of a creature I am.” MalaMala Game Reserve, South Africa. © Greg du Toit “I was told that the change in temperature at sunrise causes the wind to rise and blow sand off of the newly lit dunes. I was delighted to capture that tiny movement amidst a perfectly still landscape and the haunting appearance of the partially lit branches.” Deadvlei, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia. © Rajarshi Banerji A white-backed vulture, moments before flight. Phalaborwa, South Africa. © Kendra Stone “This young cheetah cub was walking through the long winter grass, stalking its mother and practising its pouncing.” Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa © John Mullineux Blood in the water. Adjusting the colour levels and shadows of the original photo creates an artistic image, giving the illusion of blood flowing through the desert. Namib Desert, Namibia. © Panos Laskarakis Smelling danger at the waterhole. Nxai Pan, Botswana. © Oliver Rood Stand off. In mid-pursuit of a kudu cow, a pack of wild dogs is interrupted by a leopard. After a brief altercation, the leopard takes refuge on the dead winterthorn and the wild dogs continue their hunt – leaving the disgruntled leopard to its own devices. South Luangwa National Park , Zambia. © Michael Davy The queen appears from the shadows of the bushveld, dappled light highlighting her muscles and gaze. Erindi Private Game Reserve, Namibia © Panos Laskarakis To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place 🙂.
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