To celebrate its 60th anniversary and raise awareness of conservation issues, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) launched the inaugural Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards this year. The Grand Prize winner, Italian photographer Riccardo Marchegiani, received a cash prize of $5,000 and a large Shona elephant sculpture for his photo "Gelada and Baby" (pictured) shot in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. <strong>Explore the gallery to see other selected photos. </strong>
To celebrate its 60th anniversary and raise awareness of conservation issues, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) launched the inaugural Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards this year. The Grand Prize winner, Italian photographer Riccardo Marchegiani, received a cash prize of $5,000 and a large Shona elephant sculpture for his photo "Gelada and Baby" (pictured) shot in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Explore the gallery to see other selected photos.
Riccardo Marchegiani/Mkapa Awards
For the "Coexistence and Conflict" category, British photographer James Lewin captured both sides in his photo, "Elephant Orphans from Reteti Elephant Sanctuary." Rescued elephants from the first community-owned sanctuary in Africa were led to a symbolic mural at a rock that once served as a poacher's hideout in Samburu, Kenya, before being returned to the wild.
For the "Coexistence and Conflict" category, British photographer James Lewin captured both sides in his photo, "Elephant Orphans from Reteti Elephant Sanctuary." Rescued elephants from the first community-owned sanctuary in Africa were led to a symbolic mural at a rock that once served as a poacher's hideout in Samburu, Kenya, before being returned to the wild.
James Lewin/Mkapa Awards
Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammal, as their scales are highly sought after in traditional Chinese medicine. Mozambican wildlife veterinarian Mércia Ângela, (pictured) rescued Boogli, a female Cape pangolin, when she was an infant and raised her. Photographer Jennifer Guyton from Germany snapped this photo a few weeks before Boogli was released back into the wild.
Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammal, as their scales are highly sought after in traditional Chinese medicine. Mozambican wildlife veterinarian Mércia Ângela, (pictured) rescued Boogli, a female Cape pangolin, when she was an infant and raised her. Photographer Jennifer Guyton from Germany snapped this photo a few weeks before Boogli was released back into the wild.
Jennifer Guyton/Mkapa Awards
While driving around the Solio Reserve in Kenya, Belgian photographer Ingrid Vekemans captured two sparring rhinos with her 500mm lens. "In the end, they stood facing each other for a long time until the long-horned one walked away, leaving the other battered and dazed," Vekemans told AWF.
While driving around the Solio Reserve in Kenya, Belgian photographer Ingrid Vekemans captured two sparring rhinos with her 500mm lens. "In the end, they stood facing each other for a long time until the long-horned one walked away, leaving the other battered and dazed," Vekemans told AWF.
Ingrid Vekemans/Mkapa Awards
At the Ruacana Falls in northern Namibia, Swiss photographer Anette Mossbacher climbed steep cliffs with heavy camera gear and tripods, and waited three hours in the heat until she had the perfect light for her photograph.
At the Ruacana Falls in northern Namibia, Swiss photographer Anette Mossbacher climbed steep cliffs with heavy camera gear and tripods, and waited three hours in the heat until she had the perfect light for her photograph.
Anette Mossbacher/Mkapa Awards
Wildlife photographer Kevin Dooley from the US captured a baby elephant among its family at the Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, for his entry into the "African Wildlife Portraits" category. "Adult elephants are some of the kindest and most expressive animals with their young," Dooley told AWF. "In this photo, a baby had popped out from under a group of elders to drink. They made space and were extremely careful not to step on the calf."
Wildlife photographer Kevin Dooley from the US captured a baby elephant among its family at the Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, for his entry into the "African Wildlife Portraits" category. "Adult elephants are some of the kindest and most expressive animals with their young," Dooley told AWF. "In this photo, a baby had popped out from under a group of elders to drink. They made space and were extremely careful not to step on the calf."
Kevin Dooley/Mkapa Awards
After extreme rains in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, caused the Talek River to flood in January 2020, Australia-based photographer Buddhilini de Soyza captured this image of a group of male cheetahs crossing the river after spending hours finding the best place to swim. De Soyza told AWF that the scene is a "reminder of the extreme weather caused by climate change."
After extreme rains in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, caused the Talek River to flood in January 2020, Australia-based photographer Buddhilini de Soyza captured this image of a group of male cheetahs crossing the river after spending hours finding the best place to swim. De Soyza told AWF that the scene is a "reminder of the extreme weather caused by climate change."
Buddhilini de Soyza/Mkapa Awards
While Spanish photographer Javier Lobón-Rovira was on a scientific expedition to survey amphibians in Madagascar, a local farmer called his attention to a small, green frog that he held in his hands. The frog, a "boophis doulioti" from the Malagasy frog family, is endemic to Madagascar.
While Spanish photographer Javier Lobón-Rovira was on a scientific expedition to survey amphibians in Madagascar, a local farmer called his attention to a small, green frog that he held in his hands. The frog, a "boophis doulioti" from the Malagasy frog family, is endemic to Madagascar.
Javier Lobon-Rovira/Mkapa Awards
While this photo might look like a galaxy far, far away, it's actually a bird's-eye view of the mud flats of Lake Natron in Tanzania, where flamingos gather to feed in the shallow, algae-rich waters. Hong Kong-based wildlife photographer Paul Mckenzie shot this photo from a light aircraft that had the doors removed on one side, for the "Art in Nature" category.
While this photo might look like a galaxy far, far away, it's actually a bird's-eye view of the mud flats of Lake Natron in Tanzania, where flamingos gather to feed in the shallow, algae-rich waters. Hong Kong-based wildlife photographer Paul Mckenzie shot this photo from a light aircraft that had the doors removed on one side, for the "Art in Nature" category.
Paul Mckenzie/Mkapa Awards
Just 19 years old, Cathan Moore from South Africa won the "Youth in Africa" prize for his photo of wildebeest migrating across the plains of Timbavati Nature Reserve in South Africa. "Drenched in sweat and bombarded by flies, I was about to call it quits when the lead (wildebeest) took the first steps out into the open, and the rest followed. To my amazement, they headed in my direction and lined up beautifully for this portrait," he told AWF.
Just 19 years old, Cathan Moore from South Africa won the "Youth in Africa" prize for his photo of wildebeest migrating across the plains of Timbavati Nature Reserve in South Africa. "Drenched in sweat and bombarded by flies, I was about to call it quits when the lead (wildebeest) took the first steps out into the open, and the rest followed. To my amazement, they headed in my direction and lined up beautifully for this portrait," he told AWF.
Cathan Moore/Mkapa Awards
Another young photographer, Zander Galli from Florida, US, captured a one-month-old infant gorilla playing on his mother's chest while visiting Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Galli's photo, taken when he was 15, will be exhibited with the other 78 selected entries in a traveling exhibition through Africa, Europe, Asia and North America in 2022.
Another young photographer, Zander Galli from Florida, US, captured a one-month-old infant gorilla playing on his mother's chest while visiting Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Galli's photo, taken when he was 15, will be exhibited with the other 78 selected entries in a traveling exhibition through Africa, Europe, Asia and North America in 2022.
Zander Galli/Mkapa Awards
Located on an island in Lake Victoria Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda is home to 52 orphaned or rescued chimps. Kenyan conservation photographer Anthony Ochieng Onyango captured this image of one of the caregivers at the sanctuary feeding the chimps.
Located on an island in Lake Victoria Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda is home to 52 orphaned or rescued chimps. Kenyan conservation photographer Anthony Ochieng Onyango captured this image of one of the caregivers at the sanctuary feeding the chimps.
Anthony Onyango/Mkapa Awards
On the outskirts of Kenya's capital, Nairobi-based Portuguese photographer Jose Fragozo captured white rhinos roaming Nairobi National Park, against the skyscraper-filled backdrop of the city. A <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.savetherhino.org%2Frhino-species%2Fblack-rhino%2Frhinos-increase-in-kenya%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">wildlife census</a> carried out in Kenya earlier this year found that Southern white rhino populations had increased from 510 to 840 between late 2017 and mid 2021.
On the outskirts of Kenya's capital, Nairobi-based Portuguese photographer Jose Fragozo captured white rhinos roaming Nairobi National Park, against the skyscraper-filled backdrop of the city. A wildlife census carried out in Kenya earlier this year found that Southern white rhino populations had increased from 510 to 840 between late 2017 and mid 2021.
Jose Fragozo/Mkapa Awards
Canadian photographer Kathy Karn shot this intimate portrait of an orphaned elephant calf and keeper at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage, Kenya, showing the parent-child relationship between them.
Canadian photographer Kathy Karn shot this intimate portrait of an orphaned elephant calf and keeper at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage, Kenya, showing the parent-child relationship between them.
Kathy Karn/Mkapa Awards
A private reserve of over 27,500 hectares, the Mara North Conservancy is a non-profit which partners tourism operators with over 900 Maasai landowners. Spending much of his time in this part of Kenya, British wildlife photographer and safari camp owner Paul Goldstein captured this shot of a safari guide in a tree, overlooking the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
A private reserve of over 27,500 hectares, the Mara North Conservancy is a non-profit which partners tourism operators with over 900 Maasai landowners. Spending much of his time in this part of Kenya, British wildlife photographer and safari camp owner Paul Goldstein captured this shot of a safari guide in a tree, overlooking the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Paul Goldstein/Mkapa Awards