Are you fascinated by the beauty and power of the largest land mammal in the world? Ever wondered what it is like to be up close and personal with a big yet graceful elephant? A true adventure surely awaits you.
I’m a big fan of Elephants myself – in awe of the big, smart creature’s gentle nature.
We decided to include elephants in the wild, rather than elephants in sanctuaries as it is a more captivating experience seeing them in their natural habitat, able to exist and live in their own way.
The Magnificient Elephant
Human beings have long admired elephants, the largest land mammals with long trunks and floppy ears, we have always been fascinated by these impressive creatures. They can march with thundering dominance across the savannas of Africa as well as the grasslands of national parks in Asia.
Nothing can quite beat the feeling of seeing an elephant nearby. These intelligent and loyal creatures are known to live in large groups, separated by male and female. They never abandon each other. These are just a couple of reasons why we have compiled a list of the best places to see elephants.
Endangerment of Elephants
Native to Africa and Asia, the numbers of elephants have decreased significantly over the last half a century.
Elephant numbers have declined by 62% over the last decade and there are fears that they could be mostly extinct by the end of the next decade.
With frightening numbers including an estimated 100 African elephants being killed a day by poachers, there are only 400,000 elephants in the wild in Africa, with just 40,000-50,000 elephants living on the Asian continent.
The illegal ivory trade
An extremely profitable industry, elephants are killed for their ivory. Despite there being an international ban on the ivory trade, between 2010-2014, ivory pricing within China tripled, which led to an increased rate of the killing of elephants.
Elephants with larger tusks are more in danger of being killed, leading to many female elephants being slaughtered for their ivory. This in turn leads to orphaned baby elephants.
Currently, more elephants are being killed than being born; which is a warning sign to humanity that we cannot afford to lose this precious species.
Severe habitat loss
The Asian elephant lives in over 13 countries in Asia. However, as the numbers decline, Asian elephants are suffering severe habitat loss due to deforestation, development, and changes in land use due to agriculture.
This has led to the destruction of millions of acres of forests and land for elephants to roam and use as their own.
Where Can You Find and See Elephants
Elephants can be divided into two groups, the African and the Asian. Each group has it’s own distinct features, all based on their geographical distribution, let’s delve a little more into each group and what makes them unique.
Geographic distribution of the African Elephant
The African Elephant is the world’s largest land mammal, with the largest African Elephant at 7.5m long and weighing 6 tonnes.
You can find Savannah elephants roaming around Eastern and Southern Africa, specifically in countries ranging from Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Likewise, you can find the forest elephant around the equatorial zone of West and Central Africa. Males normally live alone, but sometimes they too will form a herd with other males.
African elephants are grazers and mostly eat various types of grasses, as well as other plants including bark and twigs.
Physical Traits of the African Elephant
African elephants, both male and female, generally grow tusks. Tusks are modified incisors and almost no different from any other teeth as they continuously grow throughout the life of an elephant.
The average length of tusks has decreased over time due to the side effects of hunting larger elephants with large tusks for ivory. As a result, larger tusks are considerably rare to find.
Geographic distribution of the Asian Elephant
Slightly smaller than their African cousins, the Asian Elephant can be found in India and South East Asia. They used to have their habitat across the whole continent, but now Asian elephants are restricted to just 15% of their original habitat.
Among Asian Elephants, there are three subspecies: Indian, Sri Lankan and Sumatran. Their physical differences are related to their geographical location. The Sri Lankan subspecies is the largest and the darkest of the Asian elephants with areas of no skin colour on different parts of the body (such as the trunk and belly).
The Indian Elephant can spend up to 19 hours a day eating, and they feed on mainly grasses but also bananas and rice. You may be lucky enough to see one of these Indian Elephants near a water source as they have to drink at least once a day.
Physical Traits of the Asian Elephant
Like their African cousins, Asian Elephants live in small herds of females, their calves as well as younger male elephants. Asian elephants are social and form relationships with others in the group. Male elephants will leave the herd once they reach a mature age, and once they are old enough, they will usually spend more time alone.
Best Places to See Elephants in the Wild
The following ranking is sorted after criteria that we believe are the most relevant for those seeking to see elephants. We have compiled a list of seeing elephants in the wild.
So, our ranking is based on this criteria:
- How Likely is it to see the Elephants
- The ranking of the ethical nature of the safari
- The overall setting
Chobe National Park, Botswana
Home to one of the largest populations of elephants, Chobe National Park should be at the top of the list for anyone who wants to see elephants in the wild.
Estimated to have around 50,000 elephants, these majestic animals are able to roam freely across borders to Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Chobe National Park is located in the North-west part of Botswana and is the third largest national park within the country. It has 12,000 square kilometres and its location next to the Chobe River makes for a perfect safari setting.
Large numbers of elephants can be found roaming around the park. Within the herd of elephants, there is always a matriarch and related elephants with their calves.
Best tours in Chobe National Park to see the elephants
Multiple tours offer wildlife experiences, including seeing elephants. Here are the most reliable ones (Rated on Google Maps and Trip Advisor)
- Safari with Us
- Indigo Safari
- Savanna Safaris & Tours
- Aritsamaye Safaris
- Ker & Downey Africa
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Etosha National Park is a national park located in Northwestern Namibia. Covering an area of 13,000 square miles, the Etosha pan covers around 25% of the total area of the park. The Etosha pan is essentially a salt pan which is dry in the wintertime.
There are around 2500 elephants in Etosha National Park. Usually, the elephants will visit the waterholes when it gets dark, but can also be seen during the day.
As you drive around the park, there are very few roads meaning that you can spot the elephants from your vehicle. What is even better is that many of the accommodations within Etosha have their own waterhole, which makes elephant sightings more common.
Periyar National Park, India
Spreading over 413 square kilometers, Periyar National Park is one of the most ecologically rich regions in the world, as well as being a well-protected reserve area to view all kinds of wildlife and learn more about important ecosystems. It is a well-known and important Elephant and Tiger Reserve. Not only is the setting calm, green, and beautiful, but the chances of seeing an Indian Elephant are steep.
Another area of natural beauty with a water source, the Periyar Lake, means that it is a popular point for the Asian elephants to come and drink. Combined with the grassy fauna, means that elephants can thrive in this environment.
Best tours in Periyar National Park to see the elephants
Multiple tours offer wildlife experiences, including seeing elephants. Here are the most reliable ones (Rated on Google Maps and Trip Advisor)
- India Trotter
- Uvamai Niche Tourism
- Travelogy India
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, covering an area of 13,000 square kilometers. With rich ecology, the park holds a range of biodiverse fauna and flora as well as various rivers like the Limpopo River, ensuring that the wildlife has reliable water sources.
Kruger has experienced significant elephant poaching since the 1980s. Multiple measures have been implemented including a summit to vote down one-off ivory sales. Despite these ongoing problems, Kruger is a beautiful and peaceful area of the wild, where elephant viewing is a must!
Take a tour in a vehicle or hire your own 4×4 and drive around the park, taking in the natural beauty, and the range of vegetation as well as keeping an eager eye for any elephants that you may encounter!
Best tours in Kruger National Park to see the elephants
Multiple tours offer wildlife experiences, including seeing elephants. Here are the most reliable ones (Rated on Google Maps and Trip Advisor)
- Kruger Travel
- Intrepid Travel
- African Safari Adventures
- Endless Summer Tours
- G Adventures
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
The largest natural game reserve in Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park lies on the western side of the country. The park is based on the edge of the Kalahari desert, an area with little water and sparse vegetation. An estimated 44,000 elephants are roaming around the park, making it almost half the population of elephants in Zimbabwe.
Take the time to observe the water sources within the park, as here, herds of elephants will take their time to rest and rehydrate before moving on with their journey. You can spend hours at a time watching and observing the elephants interacting with one another. The young calves playfully splash in the water, and the matriarch is always on alert to ensure her troops are well protected.
And even though there are issues with the lack of natural surface water in the dry season, solar-powered pumps have been set up to make sure that water is present at all times of the year.
Best tours in Hwange National Park to see the elephants
Multiple tours offer wildlife experiences, including to see elephants. Here are the most reliable ones (Rated on Google Maps and Trip Advisor)
- Wild Planet Safari
- The Safari Source
- DK Tours and Safaris
- Zambezi Safari & Travel Company
- Vayeni
Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Amboseli National Park covers 151 square kilometers and is an ecosystem that spreads across Kenya and Tanzania. The local people are mainly Maasai.
The system of swamps as well as the low rainfall means that it is one of the best wildlife viewing locations globally. Added to this, the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro makes it an ideal setting to view animals, including elephants.
1200 elephants are estimated to roam around this park, and it is not hard to spot herds and super herds of elephants in this fascinating bastion of biodiversity. The national park is known for being one of the best places in the world to get up close to elephants.
Best tours in Amboseli National Park to see the elephants
Multiple tours offer wildlife experiences, including to see elephants. Here are the most reliable ones (Rated on Google Maps and Trip Advisor)
- Mufasa Tours and Travels
- Amazing Memories Safari
- Tazama Africa Holidays
- Soul of Tanzania
- Tekko Tours
How long do elephants live?
African elephants have a lifespan of anywhere up to 70 years in the wild. African elephants are the largest land mammal, which works in their favour, as they have fewer natural predators.
Asian elephants have a shorter lifespan of around 48 years. Asian elephants are generally smaller, and with the ongoing human-wildlife conflict, as well as habitat destruction, these mammals have a shorter lifespan.
Elephants ears and Skin
There is a difference in ear size between Asian and African elephants and it is related to their geographic location. African elephants usually live in hotter climates than the Asian elephant, so they need larger ears. They flap their ears, to keep cool in the harsh African Sun.
The skin of an elephant can weigh up to 900kg. More specifically, the skin of the African elephant is more wrinkled than their Asian cousins. This helps the elephant to retain moisture.
Elephants Diet
Elephants are herbivores; their diet mainly consists of grass, leaves, fruits, and bark. They can consume about 300 lbs/270kg of food in a single day. With Africa having a more diverse habitat, African elephants are able to have a more varied diet than their Asian cousins.
Both African and Asian, can consume over 100l/27gal per day.
Summary See Elephants in the Wild
In conclusion, going to see elephants in the wild is a captivating and unforgettable adventure.
Being amongst such majestic yet powerful creatures is a unique experience. Go and explore elephants, you will not regret it.
From exploring the marine wonders in the Azores and witnessing the vast savannas of Kenya, to delving deep into the rich biodiversity of South Africa and traversing iconic landscapes in Australia and the US like Yellowstone, Chris's experiences are vast.
With a penchant for diving alongside sharks, the ocean holds a special place in his heart.
Through his academic insights, he champions wildlife conservation, striving with 'Animals Around The Globe' to cultivate a profound connection between humans and animals, enhancing our mutual appreciation.
Connect with him at Feedback@animalsaroundtheglobe.com.
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Saunterland Africa Tours
Monday 8th of July 2024
That's a great insight in regards to the largest mammal on land