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 4 of the Top 109. To see the other Photographer of the Year Top 109 galleries, click here: Gallery 1 ; Gallery 2 ; Gallery 3
A hippo’s carcass tells a layered tale. First, this hippo died quietly in a pool. Later, lions spent hours at its carcass, enjoying an easy meal. Here, a hyena feasts on the leftovers. What will follow? Death may come quietly, but the cleanup crew does not. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya . © Alia Noordin The hush before the sprint. A leopard in South Luangwa locks eyes on an impala just beyond the veil of shrubbery. South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. © Mateusz Piesiak Clinging like a rucksack, a juvenile diademed sifaka hitches a ride through the canopy. Listed as critically endangered, these sifakas face severe threats from habitat loss, making each new generation vital to the survival of the species. Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar . © Tomasz Szpila Caked in an armour of mud, a buffalo stands like a weathered statue against the open plains. “We found this bull near a waterhole just after a rainstorm.” Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya . © Randall Ball Safely huddled in its mother’s frame, a milk-drunk young lion cub peers out with wide-eyed curiosity. South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. © Roderick Jongschaap A wildebeest meets its fate in the jaws of an ancient predator, one of four claimed in the chaos of the day’s crossing: a lifeblood offering to the crocodiles who have waited in patient ambush. Mara River, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya . Editor’s note: This image was included in the final selection in recognition of the photographer’s exceptional editing skills. The transformation from the original version highlights a strong understanding of post- processing techniques, resulting in a more compelling and visually impactful photograph. © Adam Barnard Dust and chaos as the Great Migration herds move to water. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya . © Shihai Shao A view over the centuries-old Chouara Tannery, where colour and chaos swirl in Fez’s ancient heart. Morocco. © Jianjun Liu “Among endless stretches of white sand and golden dunes illuminated by the sun, it doesn’t even seem to be touching the ground. Merging with the colours of the desert, the little fennec fox moves nimbly and silently as if pushed by the wind.” Douz Desert, Tunisia. © Marcello Galleano “Locking eyes with a chimpanzee is a humbling experience, a silent exchange that reminds us we are not alone on this planet.” Kibale National Park, Uganda . © Zenya Lepper Boswell, the famous vertical feeder of Mana Pools, stretches the laws of elephant anatomy. At sunset, he strikes his signature pose, balancing on hind legs to browse far above. Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe . © Jordan Fry Bat blizzard at dawn. Thousands of straw-coloured fruit bats return from a night of feasting, painting the sky with wings. “Sneaking off to the fringe of the forest, in the pitch dark of my last morning in Kasanka National Park, I set my camera up on a tripod and waited. The sun seemed to take forever to rise and when it finally did, I looked to the opposite horizon and saw an almighty bat blizzard on its way back to the forest. The bat blizzard continued for the next hour, giving me time to contemplate that I was witnessing the largest mammal migration on Earth.” Zambia . © Greg du Toit The cattle egret becomes a brushstroke of ivory against a painterly backdrop, at Rondevlei Bird Hide. Wilderness Section, Garden Route National Park, South Africa . © Erhard Kruger “A lioness growls in defiance at the dominant pride male, signalling she is not yet ready to mate. Despite her protests, he remains persistently at her side, shadowing her every move with unwavering determination.” Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana . © Hannes Lochner Well-known super tusker Craig stands patiently as a Maasai guide captures his image. Amboseli National Park, Kenya . © Hesté de Beer Great egrets duel over fishing rights at Long Pool, the largest of Mana Pools’ four water bodies. Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. © Christopher Scott In the tea plantations alongside the tangled forest, a young gorilla contemplates the photographer. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park , Uganda. © Eduardo del Alamo A large lowland bongo bull encounters the photographer in a forest clearing, undeterred from his journey as he shadows a travelling group of females. Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Congo-Brazzaville . © Dylan Smith An elephant bull wanders through the iconic ana tree forest of Mana Pools, signature light reflecting in the dry-season dust. Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe . © Charlie Wemyss-Dunn A living tapestry – intricate wrinkles that tell an elephant’s history. South Luangwa National Park, Zambia . © Michael Stavrakakis A ground pangolin crosses the road, armoured grace on tough claws. South Africa . © Matthew Holland An adult cheetah lies in recovery after veterinary sedation for a health assessment. “Translocated from Australia to South Africa to diversify the gene pool, this female had just reopened her eyes post-check-up when this photo was captured. She was released to Mziki Game Reserve.” South Africa. © Wiki West A pre-flight stretch worthy of a stage. A southern ground-hornbill prepares for lift-off. Kruger National Park, South Africa . © Sharlene Cathro Swathed in smoke, a young Mundari herder stands watch over his livestock. The Mundari rub ash from burnt cow dung onto their skin, and onto their livestock, to ward off insect bites and sunburn. South Sudan. © Romain Miot In the first light of the day, two young brothers clash in the middle of a wet-season Kalahari pan. Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana . © Muriel Moreau The skeleton of a river, etched in ochre. From above, the Namib becomes a surrealist’s dream. Namibia . © Marcio Lisa The wild spirit of painted wolves at play. Wild dogs share a moment of abandon after a long rest in the heart of Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe . © Guillaume Niger To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place 🙂.
