African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
Field notes
How they live.
- Diet
- Herbivore (grasses, leaves, bark, fruit)
- Social structure
- Matriarchal herds led by the oldest female
- 01
Elephants flap their large ears to cool down their body temperature.
- 02
An elephant's trunk has around 40,000 muscles, making it incredibly dexterous.
- 03
They communicate over long distances using low-frequency rumbles that travel through the ground.
Where to see them
Your best chances.
Ranked by how reliably our guides find african elephant in each park. Nature makes no promises, but the odds are not equal.
- AmboseliKenya · Approx. 1,500+Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctAbundant
- SamburuKenya · Approx. 900Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctAbundant
- TarangireTanzania · Approx. 3,000Best months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, NovAbundant
- Tsavo EastKenya · Over 12,000 (Tsavo Ecosystem)Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctAbundant
- LaikipiaKenya · Approx. 6,000Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Lake ManyaraTanzania · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Masai MaraKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- NgorongoroTanzania · Approx. 300Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Ol PejetaKenya · Approx. 300Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- SerengetiTanzania · Approx. 5,000Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Tsavo WestKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Lake EyasiTanzania · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, OctRare
Also out there
The rest of the field guide.
Plan your journey
Go and find the african elephant.
Tell us this is what you came for, and we will build the route, the season and the guiding to give you the best possible chance.