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African Elephant

Discover the best places to see African elephants on safari and find out about elephant interaction.

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Everything you need to know about seeing African elephants on safari

The ground rumbles as you sit tentatively, cameras poised. You hear them before you see them, an almighty crunch as the lead female breaks through the foliage and onto the wide savannah plains, shortly followed by the rest of the herd. The first time you see an African elephant in the wild is a moment to behold; overwhelming in size and beauty, they move almost gracefully across the plains.


We can put you in the right place at the right time for lunch with rescued elephants in Botswana, witnessing shy forest elephants in the Congo, or even to see the rare desert adapted elephants of Namibia.


On a safari in Africa, most assume that you’ll just see an elephant anyway without giving it much thought, but they really are one of the most impressive animals to see in the wild.

african elephant safari gallery

elephant interaction

Meet three rehabilitated elephants at Baines' or Stanley's Camp in Botswana, and even go for lunch with them.

Explore Baines' Camp
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close encounters

Head to Abu Camp where you can get up close and personal with the resident herd; the ele's here are so individual and full of character.

Explore Abu Camp
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photography

Elephants are one of the most photogenic species on the African plains; their mighty stature always makes for a great shot.

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game drives

Often seen on safaris throughout Africa; game drives are a great way of seeing African elephants in their natural, wild environment.

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Experts view: Will Bolsover

Experts view: Will Bolsover

I was privileged enough to walk with the trio of orphaned elephants and enjoyed lunch with them on the grassy plains. This interaction will stay with me for a lifetime. 

The African Elephant

There are two species of African elephant: the African bush elephant and the African forest elephant. The larger of the two, the bush elephant, is the largest and heaviest land mammal on the face of the planet, with males weighing in at up to 5.5 tonnes.

 

The trunk they are famed for is used for communicating as well as handling objects and food; the trunk alone contains about 100,000 muscles. The two finger-like features at the end of the trunk assist them with grasping objects and sticks. Their huge tusks continue to grow each year, and are used in fights with fellow elephants as well as for marking and digging. The iconic ears of an African elephant look almost like the African continent; they are used for radiating heat, and when it gets too hot, there’s nothing they enjoy more than splashing around in the water, shooting cooling sprays from their trunks.


Elephants can be found across Africa - they charge across the savannah plains of Kenya and Tanzania, bathe in the cooling waters of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, and even walk through a certain lodge reception in Zambia.

african elephant facts

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CONSERVATION STATUS The status of African elephants is considered to be threatened, and many have been killed for their valuable ivory tusks.


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HABITAT From the savannahs and deserts of sub-Saharan Africa, to the rainforests of central Africa.
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COMMITMENTS Elephants have the longest pregnancy of any mammal, lasting nearly 22 months, and calfs already weigh an astounding 91 kilos at birth.

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