The Out of Africa Challenge 2024

We’re delighted to share our highly commended, runner-up, and winning images selected for the Out of Africa category in the 2024 Pangolin Photo Challenge, along with the camera settings used to capture these incredible shots!

This round focused on wildlife subjects not found on the African continent. Any image taken on any continent outside of Africa was eligible, from the tiniest insects, reptiles, and amphibians to the largest of creatures. We even accepted birdlife, as long as they were not migrants to Africa.

The winner of this category will receive a 6-night stay for one person at The Pangolin Chobe Hotel or a $2,000 voucher to put towards any other Pangolin Photo Safari on our website!

View the video here, then share your thoughts on who you think should win. Afterwards, check out our amazing images below to see if your predictions were right.

Canon EOS R7 with a RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM lens

f/4.5 | 1/160 | 100 mm | ISO 100

“Hello Morning” by Laurie Chinn showcases a close-up of a tiny zebra spider nestled inside a flower, revealing the intricate beauty of this miniature world. Captured with a Canon EOS R7 and RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO lens, this highly commended image in the Out of Africa category highlights the delicate textures and details of both the spider and the flower.

NIKON Z 9 with a NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens

f/2.8 | 1/1600 | 400 mm | ISO 90

Nico Becka captures a breathtaking moment as a female puma gazes across the rugged terrain of Torres del Paine, Chile. Perched atop a high ridge with the Andes mountains looming in the background, the puma surveys the landscape for potential prey. The image, captured with a NIKON Z 9 and NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 lens, highlights the puma’s poised and powerful presence in its natural environment.

Canon EOS R5 with an RF600mm F4 L IS USM lens

f/4 | 1/1250 | 600 mm | ISO 320

“Caught in the Storm” by Paulo Perez shows a red fox peering out from behind snow-covered bushes, its amber eyes locking onto the camera. Amidst a snowstorm, the fox pauses in its hunt, surrounded by soft blue tones and a blanket of snow, capturing the quiet intensity of the moment.

OM-1 with an OLYMPUS M.40-150mm F2.8 lens

f/4 | 1/2000 | 110 mm | ISO 500

A grizzly bear, poised and powerful, leans across a rocky ledge with its jaws wide open, ready to catch a migrating salmon in Alaska. The salmon, suspended mid-air, stares directly into the bear’s eyes, aware of the imminent danger. This dramatic moment captures the tension of the hunt, as the fate of the salmon hangs in the balance.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV with an EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens

f/13 | 1/10 | 85 mm | ISO 2000

Taken with a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, this captivating image gives the illusion of a giant spider looming on a wall. The neon glow from street lights creates a dramatic backdrop as one particularly large spider casts an imposing shadow. The careful use of flashlights highlights the other spiders, adding depth and intrigue to this eerie, almost surreal scene.

NIKON Z 8 with a NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S Z TC-1.4x lens

f/4 | 1/2500 | 155 mm | ISO 640

Captured with a Nikon Z 8 and NIKKOR Z 70-200mm lens, this stunning image features a polar bear standing on an ice floe in the early hours of the morning. After spotting the bear swimming near their ship around 2am, the photographer and their team quickly launched Zodiacs to get a closer view. The bear climbed onto the ice and paused, allowing Shabbir to capture this rare and dramatic moment. With a fast shutter speed of 1/2500, the photographer beautifully freezes the intensity of the polar wilderness.

ILCE-7M4 with a FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens

f/8 | 1/640 | 600 mm | ISO 1000

Captured with a Sony ILCE-7M4 and FE 200-600mm lens, this striking image shows a proboscis monkey from the Kinabatangan region of Borneo. With an air of dominance, the monkey’s posture and expression seem to declare, “I’m the alpha here!” Using a shutter speed of 1/640 and a focal length of 600mm, Jeffery expertly captures the essence of this confident creature in its natural habitat.

Canon EOS R5m2 with an RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM lens

f/2.8 | 1/800 | 400 mm | ISO 500

Captured with a Canon EOS R5m2 and RF400mm lens, this intimate shot reveals a red panda in Sichuan, China, surrounded by berries in the cold. The panda’s piercing gaze, set against the wintry backdrop, evokes a sense of quiet intensity. With a wide aperture of f/2.8 and a shutter speed of 1/800, Idan beautifully isolates the subject, highlighting the delicate features of this elusive creature in its natural environment.

NIKON D500 with a 500.0 mm f/5.6 lens

f/5.6 | 1/500 | 500 mm | ISO 1250

Captured by Padmanava, a school librarian, with a Nikon D500 and a 500mm f/5.6 lens, this stunning image shows a tiger leaping across a canal in the Sundarban Tiger Reserve, India. The dramatic moment is perfectly frozen with a shutter speed of 1/500, showcasing the tiger’s impressive agility. The use of ISO 1250 and f/5.6 brings out the natural details of the scene, highlighting the power and grace of this magnificent predator in its wild, untamed environment.

NIKON Z 9 with an NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S lens

f/4 | 1/5000 | 600 mm | ISO 1100

This year’s winner of the Out of Africa category takes us on an unforgettable journey to Svalbard, where Malini, a graphic designer by profession, captured a mighty and inquisitive polar bear on her ninth sighting of the week. Initially just a tiny dot on the horizon, the bear approached slowly and cautiously, yet with unwavering curiosity, as it drew closer to the group. Malini and her team maintained a respectful distance as the bear, after playfully swimming in the water, hauled himself onto the ice right in front of them. With a 600mm telephoto lens, Malini captured this intimate portrait, revealing the bear’s raw strength, power, and the intensity of his gaze. This incredible moment beautifully reflects the majesty of one of the world’s most magnificent predators.

Congratulations, Malini, on this well-deserved win!

You have won a 6-night stay for one person at The Pangolin Chobe Hotel or a $2,000 voucher to put toward any Pangolin Photo Safari! Please contact challenge@pangolinphoto.com to claim your prize.

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