Call for Entry: The Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards

Two rhinos dust bathing in dry earth, creating large clouds of dust around their bodies.

Following the success of its inaugural competition last year, the African Wildlife Foundation and Nature's Best Photography have launched the second annual Mkapa African Wildlife Photo Awards. Get your entries in before the June 1, 2022 deadline.

The Mkapa Awards sets itself apart from other wildlife photography competitions through its core commitment to conservation. For example, there are several entry categories that are specific to topics of concern in African conservation.

Elephant trunk reaching down into a cluttered kitchen sink with dishes and utensils.
Gunther De Bruyne's Elephant Trunk

Furthermore, the Mkapa Awards include: African Conservation Heroes, Coexistence and Conflict, African Wildlife at Risk, Fragile Wilderness, and African Wildlife Behaviour. 

Worker in yellow-green safety vest feeding animals through metal cage bars.
Anthony Onyango's Chimp Caregivers

Entrants can also enter into more traditional wildlife competition categories: African Wildlife Portraits, Africa's Backyard Wildlife, Art in Nature, Creative Digital, Mobile, Africa in Motion (video), and an 18 and under photographer category. 

Silhouetted figure sitting in a windswept acacia tree against a dramatic sunset sky with storm clouds.
Paul Goldstein's Maasai Guide

Winning photos and videos will be revealed at the 2022 Mkapa Photo Awards exhibition, scheduled to open on October 27, 2022, at Nairobi National Museum, in Kenya. Other global locations are being planned for traveling exhibitions.

Four rhinoceroses grazing in grassland with a city skyline visible across the water in the background.
Jose Fragozo's White Rhinos

In addition, all finalists will be published in a special edition of Nature's Best Photography magazine devoted to African imagery and stories from the field.

Man and young gorilla embracing outdoors, black and white portrait photograph.
Marcus Westberg's Gorilla Rescue

Entries for this year's edition are $30 USD for up to 20 images, with a total of $30,000 in prizes and African sculpture awards.

All images courtesy of Nature's Best and Mkapa Awards. Lead image, Ingrid Vekeman's Battle of Giants, winner of the Wildlife At Risk category for 2021. Please check out the photographers links as credited.

Mark is a Toronto based commercial photographer and world traveller who gave up the glamorous life of big law to take pictures for a living.

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