Everything you need to know about African elephants – and the best places to see them in the wild

The African elephant is arguably the most lasting symbol of nature’s beauty and vulnerability.

These gentle giants are the largest land mammals on Earth and are frequently spotted by those on safari in Africa. However, these magnificent creatures are currently facing unprecedented threats, highlighting the urgency of learning more about them and the importance of experiencing them in their natural habitat.

We’re here to assist you with both endeavors.

African Elephants 101

An adult African elephant is impressively large. A fully grown male can weigh around 13,334 lb (6,048 kg), and even the smallest adult males typically weigh no less than 8,820 lb (4,000 kg)—that's two and a half times heavier than an average family car. Females usually weigh just over half as much as males. The height difference is less pronounced: the tallest males reach 13 ft (4 m), while the tallest females stand at 11 ft (3.4 m). Besides their overall size, the most noticeable distinction between males and females is that females have angular foreheads, while males have more rounded ones—unless the male is, well, aroused.

Aside from humans, elephants have few natural predators. In certain areas, like Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe or the Savuti region of northern Botswana, some lion prides have learned to target young and adolescent elephants, though this behavior is not common.

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The Elephant Sisterhood

Elephants live in tight-knit, multi-generational female groups. An elephant mother endures one of the longest pregnancies in the animal kingdom, lasting about 650 days. Typically, she gives birth to a single calf, which is able to walk (though unsteadily) within hours. Baby elephants nurse for the first two years of their lives and often do not gain full independence until they reach around 10 years old.

If the calf is male, he will leave his birth herd between the ages of 10 and 14. Some of these young males may stay solitary or join an experienced older bull. In contrast, young female elephants remain with their natal herd, which may include their mother, grandmother, aunts, and female cousins. (What’s not to love?)

The bond among female elephants lasts throughout their lives. The herd is typically led by an older matriarch, a wise female who guides the group to water during droughts and is the first to defend its members.

The Most Voracious Vegetarians

As strict herbivores, elephants feast on grass, leaves, fruits, and even branches or twigs. In a 24-hour period, they can spend up to 19 hours eating, consuming as much as 750 lb (340 kg)—around 5% of their considerable body weight. Over a year, this totals approximately 50 tons of food. Conversely, elephants can defecate up to 30 times daily, releasing about 330 lb (150 kg) of dung. This waste plays a vital ecological role by dispersing undigested seeds, which serve as food for insects, baboons, and birds, thus aiding in the propagation of trees. One study found that a single piece of elephant dung contained nearly 5,700 acacia seeds.

Elephants consume between 26 to 52 gallons of water each day, and for good reason: they can lose up to a gallon of moisture hourly through transepidermal (skin) water loss and urinate up to 13 gallons daily.

A Country-by-Country Guide to Spotting Elephants on Safari

Among the two species of African elephants, the larger bush elephant is typically found in the savanna and light woodlands of East Africa and Southern Africa, with smaller groups in West Africa. In contrast, the forest elephant mainly inhabits the forests of Central Africa but can also be found in parts of East and West Africa.

The 2016 Great Elephant Census – the most extensive survey of elephants ever conducted – recorded 352,271 African bush (or savanna) elephants across 18 countries.

Elephants in Botswana

Botswana is home to more elephants than any other nation, boasting over 130,000 as of 2016. The entire Okavango Delta offers fantastic opportunities for elephant enthusiasts, but Chobe National Park is particularly renowned for its large herds.

Elephants in Kenya

Kenya is one of the top destinations for elephant viewing on the continent. We recommend Amboseli National Park for the best sightings, along with the Masai Mara, Tsavo East, Tsavo West national parks, and the Samburu National Reserve as excellent alternatives.

Elephants in South Africa

A favored destination for travelers, Kruger National Park is an excellent choice for observing elephants. Additionally, Addo Elephant National Park is South Africa’s third-largest national park and provides some of the finest elephant viewing experiences in the world.

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Elephants in Namibia

For the best chance of seeing elephants, head to Etosha National Park. Another highlight is observing the desert-adapted elephants in Damaraland, located in the northern part of the country.

Elephants in Tanzania

Although Tanzania’s elephant numbers are on the decline, sightings are still typically great in national parks like Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, and Ruaha.

Elephants in Zambia

For the best chances of spotting elephants in Zambia, head to South Luangwa National Park.

Elephants in Zimbabwe

As of 2016, Zimbabwe boasted over 80,000 elephants, ranking second after Botswana. Notable locations for viewing include Hwange and Mana Pools national parks, with Hwange hosting about half of the country's elephants.

Elephants in Malawi

Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Malawi is a beautiful park, particularly following the recent historic relocation of 500 elephants to its area.

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Elephants in Mozambique

For fantastic elephant sightings, Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique is an excellent choice.

Elephants in danger

Due to the allure of their ivory tusks and its persistent demand, especially in Asia, elephants have faced extensive poaching since the 1970s, leading to a significant decline in their population. The African elephant is currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In the 1970s and ’80s, rampant poaching drastically reduced the African elephant population from approximately 1.3 million to just 500,000. This devastation was curtailed in 1989 when the ivory trade was banned under the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Following the ban, the global price of raw ivory dropped by 90%, significantly decreasing the poaching and smuggling market. In that same year, Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi symbolically incinerated 12 tons of ivory in Nairobi National Park to demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to combating poachers.

However, poaching is once again increasing. Since 2010, Africa has lost over 30,000 elephants annually, equating to about 7% of the continent's elephant population each year. That translates to 673 elephants killed weekly, or 96 each day, which is roughly four elephants slaughtered for their tusks every hour.

In 2014, a significant turning point occurred when, for the first time in decades, more elephants were being killed than born across the continent.

According to the 2016 Great Elephant Census, Africa experienced a 30% drop in elephant populations over just seven years. Despite this alarming trend, there were some hopeful signs: Kenya’s elephant population was reported as 'relatively stable' at 25,959; in contrast, Uganda's 4,864 elephants signaled a recovery from just 800 in the 1980s. Conversely, Tanzania suffered a staggering 60% decrease in elephant numbers from 2011 to 2016, leaving only 42,871 elephants and revealing 2.6 carcasses for every living elephant.

In 2023, an aerial survey of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, spanning 40,000 square miles across five Southern African nations, reported with optimism that the region's elephant population – the largest on the continent – remained stable. The conservation community is eagerly awaiting additional data to determine if their efforts to protect elephants have effectively reduced the rate of poaching.

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