The Game Rangers’ Association of Africa has announced the winners of the 2026 African Conservation Awards, recognising rangers, ranger teams and supporters whose work is making a significant contribution to conservation across the continent.
The Awards provide an opportunity to bring the work of Africa’s rangers into the spotlight and to recognise the individuals, teams and organisations whose commitment protects wildlife, natural landscapes and marine ecosystems, often under exceptionally challenging circumstances.
The 2026 recipients represent conservation work across the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Their work ranges from frontline law enforcement and rhino protection to marine conservation, community partnerships, ranger support and the development of stronger and more resilient ranger teams.
Best Field Ranger
Winner: Dimanche Élysée, Patrol Team Leader, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park, Central African Republic (CAR)
Dimanche Élysée is a Patrol Team Leader working in Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park in the north-eastern Central African Republic, part of a challenging conservation landscape along the borders with Chad and Sudan. Born in the village of Idongo within the protected landscape, Élysée began working with the park’s biomonitoring team in 2021, trained as a field ranger in 2023, and was promoted to Patrol Leader in 2024 after completing his Field Leadership Course. Today, he leads an eight-person patrol team and combines frontline law enforcement with biodiversity monitoring, navigation, digital data collection and operational planning.
Over the past year, his team has been responsible for more than 20 wildlife-crime-related arrests. In February 2026, Élysée led a 13-ranger operation targeting an established commercial bushmeat trafficking network. The operation resulted in 11 arrests and the seizure of 1,924 kg of illegal bushmeat, one of the largest bushmeat seizures recorded in the park. His nomination also highlights his remarkable composure under pressure: after his team came under fire from an armed poacher during another operation, Élysée helped bring the threat under control before personally administering first aid to the wounded man and coordinating his evacuation. His actions demonstrated a combination of courage, restraint, professionalism and respect for human life.
1st Runner-Up: Stephen Dell, Commander, Pilanesberg Rhino Protection Unit, North-West Parks and Tourism Board, South Africa
2nd Runner-Up: Feleg Asefa, Head Ranger, Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority – Awash National Park, Ethiopia
Best Marine Ranger
Winner: Fikiri Kiponda, Local Ocean Conservation, Watamu, Kenya
Fikiri Kiponda leads Local Ocean Conservation’s bycatch response programme in Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve, working directly with local fishers to rescue sea turtles accidentally caught in fishing gear. His work has helped transform a conservation challenge into a partnership: by building trust with fishing communities, Fikiri has encouraged fishers to report turtle captures so that animals can be rescued, while the information collected contributes to long-term data on bycatch and sustainable fishing.
Under his coordination, the programme reached its landmark 25,000th sea turtle rescue and expanded to a network of 2,240 fishers, with response teams reaching callouts in an average of 42 minutes. Fikiri also leads five young nest monitors, training them in turtle handling, nest relocation and data recording. His journey into conservation is itself remarkable: he left a career in accounting to enter marine conservation and built a new career around fieldwork, community relationships and sea turtle protection. His leadership demonstrates how lasting conservation results can be achieved by working with communities rather than apart from them.
1st Runner-Up: Victoir Myong Cham Kandolo, Marine Ranger, Mangroves Marine Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
2nd Runner-Up: Bakari Mohamed Sheumbe, Marine Ranger, Kenya Wildlife Service, Malindi Marine National Park, Kenya
Best Ranger Team
Winner: Upemba LE/LAB Ranger Team, Upemba National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
The Upemba LE/LAB Ranger Team is a 13-ranger anti-poaching team supported by a Law Enforcement Mentor at Upemba National Park. Their nomination tells a remarkable story not only of conservation leadership, but of courage and resilience in circumstances few ranger teams should ever have to face.
On 3 March 2026, more than 80 armed Mai Mai fighters launched an attack on the park headquarters at Lusinga. Vastly outnumbered, members of the team worked to defend the station, rescue trapped staff and coordinate evacuations under fire. After the attackers withdrew, they searched for survivors and helped evacuate staff before facing a second attack later that afternoon. Seven colleagues lost their lives. In the days that followed, members of the team remained at Lusinga, regrouping scattered ranger units, securing critical park assets and helping re-establish operational control.
Their achievements extend beyond this extraordinary event. Over the past year, the team has helped restructure Upemba’s Law Enforcement Department through improved patrol planning and operational command, new law-enforcement procedures, stronger discipline and accountability, and the park’s first Section Commanders’ training programme. Through mentoring and leadership, they continue to build a more professional and resilient generation of rangers at Upemba.
1st Runner Up: Oceans Without Borders Benguerra Community & Conservation Rangers, Mozambique
2nd Runner Up: Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit, Zimbabwe
Best Ranger Supporter
Winner: Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust, South Africa
Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust (PWT) is a non-profit organisation established by the North-West Parks and Tourism Board to mobilise conservation support in and around Pilanesberg. The Trust acts as a bridge between the needs of rangers in the field and the donors, partners, expertise and resources able to meet them. Its support for the Pilanesberg Rhino Protection Unit includes ranger training and equipment, ground and aerial surveillance, rhino monitoring, veterinary interventions and community engagement across the rugged 50,000-hectare conservation area.
Between October 2025 and May 2026, PWT organised and documented at least ten rhino-management interventions, each requiring funding, veterinary expertise, aircraft and close coordination with park staff. It also supports the Bat Hawk aerial surveillance project and rhino identification and monitoring through ear notching, tags and transponders. Beyond operational support, PWT supported the BE BOLD Children’s Camp, which brought 88 learners from four neighbouring schools into the park after months of mentoring by Rhino Protection Unit members.
Through its partnerships, PWT connects rangers with veterinarians, pilots, technology providers, conservation organisations, schools, tourism businesses, corporates, volunteers and donors. Its strength lies in converting that support into practical capability on the ground and ensuring that Pilanesberg’s rangers do not stand alone.
1st Runner Up: Bush Babies Environmental Educators Team, Transfrontier Africa, South Africa
2nd Runner Up: Mara Elephant Project, Kenya
Recognising Africa’s Conservation Community
The winners and runners-up of the 2026 African Conservation Awards demonstrate the breadth of the modern ranger profession and the network of people required to support it. Their work encompasses wildlife protection, law enforcement, marine conservation, scientific monitoring, community engagement, education, ranger safety, leadership development and organisational support.
While four winners have been selected, the GRAA recognises the exceptional contribution of all twelve individuals, teams and organisations placed in this year’s Awards. Each represents a different part of the conservation effort, and each demonstrates the dedication required to protect Africa’s natural heritage.
The African Conservation Awards are hosted annually by the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa (GRAA). The Awards recognise individuals and teams making significant contributions to conservation and to the ranger profession across Africa.
For more information about the African Conservation Awards, visit African Conservation Awards – 2026 Awards.