Africa Regional Winners: 2023 Photo Contest

The Nature Conservancy is proud to announce the Africa Regional winners of the 2023 Global Photo Contest.

These photographers—all based in Africa—captured the power and beauty of their continent.

Our judges—African photographers Christopher Leon, Roshni Lodhia, and Sarah Waiswa—picked their favorite photos from more than 5,000 entries. The following photos rose to the top for our judges. 

Grand Prize Winner 

Helen Walne, South Africa
@helen_walne

From the Photographer:

“I spotted this odd couple during a dive at a rather unglamorous site near Cape Town. Heading to shore, I was excited to see this night-light jelly drifting in the shallows. I am obsessed with jellies. I wish I could be one! On closer inspection, I saw it had a cheeky hitchhiker.

At first I thought the fish—likely a man-of-war fish (Nomeus gronovii)—was either being eaten by the jelly or had died and become ensnared by its tentacles. However, it soon became apparent that the fish was wriggling. In fact, it seemed rather relaxed and was languidly nibbling on bits of the jelly—a ride and lunch rolled into one! These fish are usually found further offshore, where they practise this hitchhiking technique on the Portuguese man o’ war, a hydrozoan, known for its venomous tentacles. As suggested by its name, the man-of-war fish has adapted to being agile enough to hide amid the man o’ war’s tentacles for protection.

Perhaps on this day the fish couldn’t find one of its usual rides, and had plumped for the night-light jelly instead. Whatever the reason, it was an extraordinary sight that affirmed to me that if you are curious and deeply in love with the ocean, there is no such thing as a bad dive.”

From the Judges:

“For me the winning image was very poetic. In a sense it portrays the bliss of working in harmony, of coexistence, which is how humans should work with nature."
—Sarah Waiswa

Honorable Mentions

Hugh Michler, South Africa

From the Judges:
"In the heart-pounding pursuit of wildlife, this photo captures the essence of raw adventure and untamed beauty. It earns an honorable mention place as a testament to the wild spirit of the chase and the breathtaking moments that unfold on nature’s stage.”
—Christopher Leon

William Steel, Botswana
@williamsteelphotography

From the Judges:
"I absolutely love this composition. There's a natural frame created by the hue of the lions that forces the viewer to hone in on the intentful eye of a predator, who even after making a kill, must fight for a piece of the meat. There's struggle and satisfaction in this image.”
—Roshni Lodhia

Ryan Kuhne, South Africa

From the Judges:
"Wild Dogs are fiercely protective of their young. This is a powerful composition that highlights the dynamic of adult wild dogs and pups. There is a tutorial happening here where knowledge is being passed down.”
—Roshni Lodhia

Michiel Duvenhage, South Africa

From the Judges:
“In the mastery of focus, time stands still. This photo encapsulates the art of freezing moments with pinpoint precision, deserving recognition for its ability to turn the ephemeral into a timeless visual masterpiece.”
—Christopher Leon

Rajesh Shah, Kenya

From the Judges:
“In the wilderness chaos, simplicity emerges as the silent hero. Nailing focus in a hectic wildlife catch, this photo attests that sometimes, simplicity crafts the most compelling narratives, capturing the essence of untamed beauty in the heart of the moment.”
—Christopher Leon