UK's biggest competition for amateur travel photographers

Get snapping and win a trip to Africa

4. Winner: Landscape category. Tornado cloud (Svalbard, Norway) by Andy Barnes

It's back! Your chance to enter the UK's biggest and best competition for amateur travel photographers. The Independent has teamed up once again with Wanderlust magazine to present the Travel Photo of The Year Competition, which attracted thousands of entries last year.

The winning photos, plus a selection of shortlisted shots, will be printed in The Independent and Wanderlust, as well as being showcased in a stunning exhibition at Destinations 2015, the UK's top holiday and travel show.

Entering the competition is simple. There are two categories: Amateur (open to amateurs only) and Portfolio (open to all). And there are some fantastic prizes for the winners:

WIN A TRIP TO GHANA OR SENEGAL

Amateur category: mix together a healthy dose of soul, culture and mystery and you get West Africa. From the lively beaches, colonial architecture and elephant-rich savannah of Ghana to the verdant jungles of Senegal, a visit here is an expedition. Wander past wind-sculpted Saharan dunes, navigate sunburnt mangrove mazes and stand on salty coastlines. It is one of the hidden corners of our planet: a land of rich diversity, nomadic, unique wildlife and a haven for intrepid photographers.

The four winners of the Amateur category (plus a companion each) will be whisked off to either Ghana or Senegal on an extraordinary photo-graphic commission, courtesy of Gambia Bird Airlines (gambiabird.com).

The selected results of the trips will be showcased in The Independent and Wanderlust on their return.

Photos entered in the Amateur category can be taken anywhere in the world, but must be a travel image and fit one of four themes: People, Wildlife, Landscape or Travel Icons.

The Travel Icons theme is designed to recognise shots of people, places and events that have achieved landmark status.

WIN £3,000

Portfolio category: This is open both to amateur and professional photographers, with a top prize of £3,000. Entrants need to assemble a set of five eye-catching images, which together present an inspiring and unique insight into one of the four themes (People, Wildlife, Landscape, Travel Icons). The top prize will be awarded to the best portfolio for telling a cohesive and spectacular story.

WIN NIKON CAMERAS

Runners-up prizes: all runners-up and highly recommended entrants will win Nikon cameras. The runners-up can get new perspectives with the Nikon D5300 and 18-55mm black kit, worth £719.99. It's packed with creative effects, a 3.2in swivel screen and a DX-format CMOS sensor.

Meanwhile, our highly recommended entrants will become proud owners of the Nikon COOLPIX P600, worth £359.99, and the "Visitor's Vote" winner – selected by readers and travellers who visit Destinations 2015 – will clinch a Nikon COOLPIX S9700, worth £249.99. For more information, see nikon.co.uk.

For more details, including full terms and conditions, see travelphotooftheyear.co.uk or the current issue of 'Wanderlust' magazine, on sale now (£3.99). The closing date for entries is 31 October 2014.