Our Photographer of the Year 2025 is underway. The overall winners, runners up and their partners will enjoy a teamAG safari to explore the primal forests of Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the remote north of Congo-Brazzaville – in search of lowland gorillas, forest elephants, forest buffaloes, bongos and much more. Read more about the Photographer of the Year 2025 prizes here . Photographer of the Year is held in association with Ukuri and African Parks .
Photographer of the Year is now closed for entries. Final judging will take place during the month of May 2025, and the winners of Photographer of the Year will be announced in June 2025.
This is Gallery 3 of the Top 109. To see the other Photographer of the Year Top 109 galleries, click here: Gallery 1 ; Gallery 2 ; Gallery 4
A dust-choked duel of tusks and tempers. These warthogs clashed for over half an hour in an operatic scuffle. Shompole Conservancy, Kenya . © Alex Appleby A black-backed jackal surveys the sandstone folds of Golden Gate – a sliver of predator in a cathedral of rock. Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa . © Björn Donnars Nestled in the warmth of its mother’s arms, a young vervet monkey forgets the world beyond mom’s heartbeat. Kruger National Park, South Africa . © Benjamin Loon Morning rush at Hapoor Waterhole. On a warm January morning, elephants gathered in droves, herds merging as they came to drink. Amid the chaos, protective trunks encircled young calves – until the dust settled and the little ones could finally play. Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa . © Charmaine Joubert An elegant portrait of a lion king. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. © Raymond Stone “A Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon blends into its habitat among the reproductive fronds of a cycad. Endemic to South Africa, this vulnerable species relies on intact forest patches in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.” South Africa . © Wiki West Silent travellers in the deep. A bull shark glides through the watery abyss. Suctioned to its frame, remoras hitch a free ride – ghostly passengers in the ocean current. Aliwal Shoal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa . © Rómeó Bodolai In the tangled forests of Gabon, a forest elephant mock charges – a display more warning than attack. Then, just as suddenly, she melts back into the forest. Loango National Park, Gabon. © Turgay Uzer Brisk walk. Low-light camera panning captures the leopard known as ‘Koboso’ ghosting across the Mara. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya . © Ajay Kumar Singh A cantankerous companion. This Cape buffalo was less than thrilled with the oxpecker’s diligent parasite removal. Even symbiosis has its social tensions. Kruger National Park, South Africa . © Ilna Booyens Red lechwe on the plains, ghostlike in morning mist. Kafue National Park, Zambia . © Greg du Toit A young lion watches over an elephant carcass in the delta. Okavango Delta, Botswana. © Devon Jenkin A windblown ember in a desert village. A young woman clothed in orange smiles through her veil. Nouakchott, Mauritania. © Daniel Rodrigues A soggy king withstands an African tempest. After a deluge, Olepolos – the Topi pride’s rain-drenched monarch – performs his mane-flinging finale. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya . © Ivan Glaser The dominant silverback mountain gorilla and one of his female companions attempt to relax in a clearing in the forest. Their peace is upended by a restless youngster, a tangle of limbs, nips, and mischief. He bites, pulls legs and arms, and tries to evoke playtime – to no avail. Giving up, he sits in between his guardians for a sulk. Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda . © Dewald Tromp Wildebeest in motion – trying to keep up with the rest of the herd. Photographed during the Great Migration calving season, complemented by cloudy weather and vibrant green grass. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. © Charlie Wemyss-Dunn “We had the great pleasure of sharing in the lives of chimpanzees for three days in Budongo Forest, during a habituation exercise. It was an extraordinary experience to spend the whole day with them, watching them eat, rest, move around in search of fruit, communicate, and exchange glances so close to us. An indelible mark on my memory.” Budongo Central Forest Reserve, Uganda . © Patrice Quillard Balguda the legend. “Only a handful of people have ever photographed super tusker Balguda from the ground. His elusiveness contributes to his almost mythical status and this image preserves that aura of mystery.” Tsavo East National Park, Kenya . © George Dian Balan “As we watched the Great Migration , a spotted hyena suddenly emerged, weaving through the thundering herds in relentless pursuit. It raced among them until its eyes locked onto a weakened youngster. After a long, heart-pounding chase, the predator finally closed the gap, seizing the wildebeest.” Serengeti National Park, Tanzania . © Liz Hart A camel caravan crosses the vast and sparse grasslands of northern Chad, seeking water and fresh grazing. Birds in the caravan’s wake chase stirred-up insects, an easy meal guaranteed by these wanderers of the Sahel. Chad. © Serena Luthe Perched on a thorny stage, a rufous-eared warbler lets loose its spring song over the yellowed veld. Soetdoring Nature Reserve, South Africa . © Erhard Kruger Braving the muddy Khwai River, a lioness wades through the currents. Driven by her desire to reach a kill on the opposite bank, she is undeterred by the waters. Khwai Community Concession, Botswana . © Jannes Drotsky A mother’s back, a floating cradle. A young hippo naps midstream, mid-dream, as the pod goes about their business nearby. Mzima Springs, Tsavo West National Park. © Roan Carr-Hartley Muzzle blood-soaked, an African wild dog pauses mid-feast, sensing a presence nearby, as its pack mates continue eating. Madikwe Game Reserve , South Africa. © Tania Cholwich A bull elephant pauses mid-journey to test the air, Mt Kilimanjaro looming behind him. Amboseli National Park, Kenya . © Nili Gudhka Two black-maned lions face off in a ferocious battle. “The confrontation was nothing short of brutal, as claws tore through fur and powerful jaws snapped with deadly force. Both lions demonstrated unmatched determination, but eventually, one was forced to concede. The defeated male retreated with a bruised ego and a collection of deep, fresh scars.” Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa . © Hannes Lochner A black-backed jackal pup watches its mother intently, her form reflected in his eyes. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa . © Ernest Porter To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place 🙂.
