![](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Weekly-Selection-week-2-1.jpg)
Best photos of the week
![Africa Geographic Stories & Galleries Africa Geographic Stories & Galleries](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AG-logo-2020-GALLERIES-red-black-1.png)
Our Photographer of the Year 2020 is now open for submissions!
Here is the first gallery of entrants:
![A spotted hyena pops its head out of the carcass of a giraffe that had died while giving birth. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Nitin Michael](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Nitin-Michael-hyena-at-giraffe-carcass-Maasai-Mara-Kenya.jpg)
? A spotted hyena pops its head out of the carcass of a giraffe that had died while giving birth. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Nitin Michael
![A bull elephant in Nxai Pan douses himself in the white powder so iconic of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans network in Botswana © Melanie van Zyl](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Melanie-Van-Zyl-Elephant-dust-bath-Nxai-Pan-National-Park.jpg)
? “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”. A bull elephant in Nxai Pan douses himself in the white powder so iconic of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans network in Botswana © Melanie van Zyl.
![A southern ground-hornbill snacks on a grasshopper. Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana © Willem Kruger](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Willem-Kruger-southern-ground-hornbill-with-grasshopper-Moremi-NR-Khwai-Botswana.jpg)
? A southern ground-hornbill snacks on a grasshopper. Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana © Willem Kruger
? A massive dust storm brings this thirsty wildebeest to water. Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana © Kevin Dooley
![A saddle-billed stork with a mud fish in the Sand River. Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Anthony Goldman](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Anthony-Goldman-saddle-billed-story-with-mud-fish-Ulusaba-South-Africa.jpg)
? A saddle-billed stork with a mudfish in the Sand River. Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Anthony Goldman
? Portrait of a young cheetah. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Ivan Glaser
![A Temminck's ground pangolin is released back into the wild after being confiscated from the illegal wildlife trafficking trade © Jo Taylor](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Johanna-Taylor-Temminck_s-Ground-Pangolin-South-Africa.jpg)
? “Disappearing textures”. A Temminck’s ground pangolin is released back into the wild after being confiscated from the illegal wildlife trafficking trade © Jo Taylor
![](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/moremi-magic-large.jpg)
![A yellow-billed hornbill. Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa © Jo Taylor](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Johanna-Taylor-Yellow-billed-Hornbill-Madikwe-Game-Reserve-South-Africa.jpg)
? A yellow-billed hornbill waits his turn to try and steal the biscuits I was enjoying with my morning coffee. Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa © Jo Taylor
![A brown hyena tries to intimidate black-backed jackals at an eland carcass – that was killed the night before by lions – by raising its hair to look bigger. Kij Kij waterhole, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa/Botswana © Willem Kruger](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Willem-Kruger-jackals-and-brown-hyena-at-eland-carcass-Kgalagadi-TP-SA-Botswana.jpg)
? A brown hyena tries to intimidate black-backed jackals at an eland carcass – that was killed the night before by lions – by raising its hair to look bigger. Kij Kij waterhole, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa/Botswana © Willem Kruger
![A coalition of lions intently focus on potential prey. Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania © Marino Bilato](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Marino-Bilato-four-lions-on-the-prowl-Ndutu-marsh-Ngoronogoro-conservation-area-Tanzania-1.jpg)
? A coalition of lions intently focus on potential prey. Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania © Marino Bilato
![Kudu bull at sunset. Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe © Ralph Stutchbury](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ralph-Stutchbury-kudu-bull-Gonarezhou-National-Park-Zimbabwe.jpg)
? Kudu bull at sunset. Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe © Ralph Stutchbury
![](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Maasai-Mara-Secret-green-season.jpg)
![A male leopard makes his way to higher ground after a morning drink at the waterhole. Thornybush Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Michael Raddal](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Raddall-male-leopard-Thornybush-GR-South-Africa.jpg)
? A male leopard makes his way to higher ground after a morning drink at the waterhole. Thornybush Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Michael Raddal
![A crested francolin on a windy day. Karongwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Willem Kruger](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Willem-Kruger-francolin-Karongwe-PNR-South-Africa.jpg)
? A crested francolin on a windy day. Karongwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Willem Kruger
![A spotted hyena makes off with a zebra leg. Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Michael Wessels](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Wessels-Spotted-Hyena-zebra-leg-Welgevonden-South-Africa.jpg)
? A spotted hyena makes off with a zebra leg. Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Michael Wessels
![A coalition of five male cheetahs successfully take down a wildebeest. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Diana Knight](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Diana-Knight-five-male-Cheetah-Maasai-Mara-Kenya.jpg)
? A coalition of five male cheetahs successfully takes down a wildebeest. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Diana Knight
![](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/large-mag-cape-town-to-kruger.jpg)
![A battle between a small monitor lizard and a baboon spider. After about 15 minutes the lizard eventually took control and overpowered the spider and carried it off. Kruger National Park, South Africa © Ruggiero Barreto](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ruggiero-Barreto-Monitor-lizard-Baboon-spider-Kruger-South-Africa.jpg)
? A battle between a small monitor lizard and a baboon spider. After about 15 minutes, the lizard eventually took control and overpowered the spider and carried it off. Kruger National Park, South Africa © Ruggiero Barreto
![A Coqui francolin slinks across the road. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa © Jo Taylor](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Johanna-Taylor-Coqui-Francolin-Pliansberg-South-Africa.jpg)
? A Coqui francolin slinks across the road. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa © Jo Taylor
![A mother elephant comes to the rescue to save her calf from a lioness. Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe © Kevin Dooley](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Kevin-Dooley-Elephant-protects-calf-from-lion-Mana-Pools-Zimbabwe.jpg)
? A mother elephant comes to the rescue to save her calf from a lioness. Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe © Kevin Dooley
![A mother cheetah with her thirsty cubs. Etosha National Park, Namibia © Kevin Dooley](https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Kevin-Dooley-Thirsty-Cheetah-Etosha-Namibia.jpg)
? A mother cheetah with her thirsty cubs. Etosha National Park, Namibia © Kevin Dooley
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