In the 2022 edition of the Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards, this striking image of a contemplative gorilla, taken in Rwanda, was awarded the "Grand Prize." The photographer, US-based Michelle Kranz, said she was especially drawn to this endangered ape's "striking, mesmerizing gaze." <strong>Explore the gallery to see more selected photos from this year's awards. </strong>
In the 2022 edition of the Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards, this striking image of a contemplative gorilla, taken in Rwanda, was awarded the "Grand Prize." The photographer, US-based Michelle Kranz, said she was especially drawn to this endangered ape's "striking, mesmerizing gaze." Explore the gallery to see more selected photos from this year's awards.
Michelle Kranz/Mkapa Awards
This rare creature is the endangered white-bellied pangolin. South Africa-based photographer Prelena Soma Owen won the "Creative Digital" award for this image, taken at Saint Mark's Animal Hospital in Nigeria, where 40 orphaned pangolins have already been reared and released into a protected area. The animals are particularly at risk from poachers, due to their sought-after scales.
This rare creature is the endangered white-bellied pangolin. South Africa-based photographer Prelena Soma Owen won the "Creative Digital" award for this image, taken at Saint Mark's Animal Hospital in Nigeria, where 40 orphaned pangolins have already been reared and released into a protected area. The animals are particularly at risk from poachers, due to their sought-after scales.
Prelena Soma Owen/Mkapa Awards
Kenyan photographer Anthony Ochieng Onyango is a second-time entrant to the Mkapa awards, and this time he won the category "Conservation Heroes." "Elephants exhibit affection using their trunks through touching and caressing," he explained, and this photo illustrates the strong mutual bond between an elephant and a ranger.
Kenyan photographer Anthony Ochieng Onyango is a second-time entrant to the Mkapa awards, and this time he won the category "Conservation Heroes." "Elephants exhibit affection using their trunks through touching and caressing," he explained, and this photo illustrates the strong mutual bond between an elephant and a ranger.
Anthony Onyango/Mkapa Awards
A wild caracal crouches down to have a cool drink in this photo, taken on an Apple iPhone. It's the winner of the "Mobile" category and was taken by photographer Jon Warburton in South Africa. The cat, named Duke, had recently been returned to the wild after a year of rehabilitation, during which Warburton had built a trusting relationship with him. "I miss him, but am happy he is living his life as intended," he said.
A wild caracal crouches down to have a cool drink in this photo, taken on an Apple iPhone. It's the winner of the "Mobile" category and was taken by photographer Jon Warburton in South Africa. The cat, named Duke, had recently been returned to the wild after a year of rehabilitation, during which Warburton had built a trusting relationship with him. "I miss him, but am happy he is living his life as intended," he said.
Jon Warburton/Mkapa Awards
This image, taken in Kenya by Jose Fragozo, won the "Coexistence and Conflict" category. In 2019, Kenya completed building a railway that cuts through Nairobi National Park, and here a giraffe is pictured running between the railway pillars. "It was likely feeling the vibrations and noise from an approaching train," said Fragozo.
This image, taken in Kenya by Jose Fragozo, won the "Coexistence and Conflict" category. In 2019, Kenya completed building a railway that cuts through Nairobi National Park, and here a giraffe is pictured running between the railway pillars. "It was likely feeling the vibrations and noise from an approaching train," said Fragozo.
Jose Fragozo/Mkapa Awards
Driving through Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, US-based photographer Russ Burden managed to snap this amazing image of a male African lion, winning the "African Wildlife Portraits" category. AWF estimates that lion populations have decreased by 43% over the past two decades alone.
Driving through Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, US-based photographer Russ Burden managed to snap this amazing image of a male African lion, winning the "African Wildlife Portraits" category. AWF estimates that lion populations have decreased by 43% over the past two decades alone.
Russ Burden/Mkapa Awards
This photograph of a karoo prinia, a small passerine bird, is the winner of the "Africa's Backyard Wildlife" category. "Every morning, this warbler searches for insects from the security gate at my front door," Botswana-based photographer William Steel told AWF.
This photograph of a karoo prinia, a small passerine bird, is the winner of the "Africa's Backyard Wildlife" category. "Every morning, this warbler searches for insects from the security gate at my front door," Botswana-based photographer William Steel told AWF.
William Steel/Mkapa Awards
Marc Quireyns believes that with wildlife photography, "one click is an everlasting memory." His photograph of a mother chimpanzee and her baby in Uganda took home the prize for "African Wildlife at Risk." According to the AWF, the number of chimps in the wild is decreasing rapidly due to the alarming rate of deforestation and a dramatic increase in bushmeat hunting.
Marc Quireyns believes that with wildlife photography, "one click is an everlasting memory." His photograph of a mother chimpanzee and her baby in Uganda took home the prize for "African Wildlife at Risk." According to the AWF, the number of chimps in the wild is decreasing rapidly due to the alarming rate of deforestation and a dramatic increase in bushmeat hunting.
Marc Quireyns/Mkapa Awards
Jaime Freeman was just 15 years old when he took this powerful picture in South Africa, winning the "Youth in Africa" category. "We rushed to a small clearing and found a lioness in a tree feeding on a pungent impala carcass; she looked up and was foaming at the mouth," Freeman told AWF.
Jaime Freeman was just 15 years old when he took this powerful picture in South Africa, winning the "Youth in Africa" category. "We rushed to a small clearing and found a lioness in a tree feeding on a pungent impala carcass; she looked up and was foaming at the mouth," Freeman told AWF.
Jaime Freeman/Mkapa Awards
This photo of three bare-faced go-away-birds was captured in Tanzania by 18-year-old, US-based Sadie Hine, winning her the "Youth International" award. The birds are named for their distinctive cry that sounds like "go away, go away".
This photo of three bare-faced go-away-birds was captured in Tanzania by 18-year-old, US-based Sadie Hine, winning her the "Youth International" award. The birds are named for their distinctive cry that sounds like "go away, go away".
Sadie Hine/Mkapa Awards
"Seeing such a large gathering is very rare," said photographer Tomasz Szpila of this image. Born in Poland, he makes several trips a year to Africa to take photos like this one, which was captured in Namibia and won the "Fragile Wilderness" category.
"Seeing such a large gathering is very rare," said photographer Tomasz Szpila of this image. Born in Poland, he makes several trips a year to Africa to take photos like this one, which was captured in Namibia and won the "Fragile Wilderness" category.
Tomasz Szpila/Mkapa Awards
This aerial shot of a flamboyance of flamingos in Lake Solai, Kenya looks almost like a painting, which is why it won best "Art in Nature." Kenya-born Paul Mckenzie returned to his home-country from Hong Kong on a photography trip to capture this breathtaking image.
This aerial shot of a flamboyance of flamingos in Lake Solai, Kenya looks almost like a painting, which is why it won best "Art in Nature." Kenya-born Paul Mckenzie returned to his home-country from Hong Kong on a photography trip to capture this breathtaking image.
Paul Mckenzie/Mkapa Awards
These dueling oryx, clashing horns in a Kenyan sunrise, won the "African Wildlife Behavior" category. India-based photographer Vijayram Harinatham, said that the pair's "constant movement was challenging to frame", but in the end he managed to capture this "magical scene."
These dueling oryx, clashing horns in a Kenyan sunrise, won the "African Wildlife Behavior" category. India-based photographer Vijayram Harinatham, said that the pair's "constant movement was challenging to frame", but in the end he managed to capture this "magical scene."
Vijayram Harinathan/Mkapa Awards