It is with great pleasure that we announce the winners of this year’s Wilderness Safaris Photographic Competition, Africa in Focus.
We received an amazing 3 850 entries – a great record considering the travel limitations this year – and raised a staggering ZAR250 000, to be donated to our Conservation Heroes COVID-Relief initiative providing food and essentials to communities within and surrounding Wilderness Safaris’ areas of operation.
We hope some of your favourites made the cut...
WINNERS
2020 Wilderness Safaris Photographer of the Year
Scaly Protection by Lance van de Vyver
Tswalu Private Game Reserve, South Africa
When a pride of lions found this pangolin they thought it was the most entertaining thing ever. A puzzle that moves, but cannot be opened.
Category Winners
African Wildlife
Shield Wall by Manoj Shah
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Baby elephants are inexperienced and oblivious to danger. The adult members take it upon themselves to protect the young. The herd is taking a morning walk to a marsh in the Masai Mara. Being on high alert to predators nearby, they surround baby, creating a “wall” to shield the infant. This fortress of mighty legs is impenetrable. Any attempt to do so will encounter a strong defence by the largest terrestrial mammals on earth!
African Landscapes
Rising Moon by Peter Pickford
Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Rising moon and gemsbok. In the foothills of the coastal mountains bordering the Skeleton Coast, the moon rises behind three gemsbok that stand and watch, wary and alert to danger.
People / Cultures & Communities of Africa
Willow by Giovanna Aryafara
Omo Valley, Ethiopia
Very late in the afternoon just as the light was starting to fade, I spotted this young girl from the Suri tribe, at a distance. She appeared like a nymph in the wild lush wilderness. I didn’t have any time to change my lens otherwise she would have disappeared. I quickly held up my camera and took this shot, holding my breath, hoping she wouldn't look away. I felt a rush of excitement when I pressed the shutter twice, as she stared into the lens for a short few seconds, as I knew I had captured the moment.
Conserving Africa’s Wilderness
To save a Species by Meghan McCabe
Gauteng, South Africa
While documenting the de-horning process at a game reserve in Gauteng, Joel Alves, the vet in charge, guides a bull after being tranquilised.
2020 Overall Guest Winner
Summer Dawn by Hougaard Malan
Namib Rand, Namibia
A small herd of zebra graze on young shoots of grass after recent summer rains in a valley of the Namib Rand. This area of Namibia has an incredibly unique and photogenic landscape, where different biospheres seem to intermingle. It features impressive dolerite and granite mountains dotted with quiver trees, while the valleys feature lone acacia trees and the occasional dune. When rare summer rain is added to the mix, the sandy valleys flourish with grass akin to earth’s great savannahs.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNERS
Overall Winner
Unbreakable Bond by Sam Turley
Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe
Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy’s anti-poaching K9 unit come together and embrace after a long training session. The unit trains tirelessly to ensure they always stay one step ahead of poachers, and ultimately protect the wildlife in their care. Murwi is the first anti-poaching dog to be introduced onto Imire.
Category Winners
African Wildlife
The Grevy's Illusion by Yaron Schmid
Lew Conservancy, Kenya
I’ve been dreaming of getting such a shot for a while, but with zebras in general and with the Endangered Grevy’s in particular, the second you stop the car, they’ll turn around and walk away. I find the zebras in the Lewa Conservancy in Kenya to be a bit less skittish and a lot more photogenic than the plains zebra, so when I stopped the car and one of the zebras looked at me, I waited for another to walk behind it and then took the shot. Luckily, the two bodies created almost a symmetrical background, and the illusion of one head with two bodies.
African Landscape
Rising Moon by Peter Pickford
Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Rising moon and gemsbok. In the foothills of the coastal mountains bordering the Skeleton Coast, the moon rises behind three gemsbok that stand and watch, wary and alert to danger.
People / Cultures & Communities of Africa
Willow by Giovanna Aryafara
Omo Valley, Ethiopia
Very late in the afternoon just as the light was starting to fade, I spotted this young girl from the Suri tribe, at a distance. She appeared like a nymph in the wild lush wilderness. I didn’t have any time to change my lens otherwise she would have disappeared. I quickly held up my camera and took this shot, holding my breath, hoping she wouldn't look away. I felt a rush of excitement when I pressed the shutter twice, as she stared into the lens for a short few seconds, as I knew I had captured the moment.
Conserving Africa’s Wilderness
Caretaker by Munezero Pascal
Ol Pejeta, Kenya
The last two remaining Northern White Rhinos are guarded 24/7 and they have a deep connection with their caretakers. This moment was captured when the rhino was approaching to get some food from him.
SUPPORT OUR CONSERVATION HEROES
Wilderness Safaris COVID Relief
The impact of COVID-19 in Africa has been profound – particularly on wildlife conservation and rural communities dependent on tourism. Please join us to support our Conservation Heroes. Together we are stronger, and together, we can continue to change lives. It only costs USD50 to feed a family for a month. Or USD5 000 to cover the monthly operations of an anti-poaching team. Every single contribution, no matter how big or small, makes a significant difference. To learn more about Wilderness Safaris COVID relief efforts, click here
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