Elephant

(Loxodonta africana)

lion

Elephants are the largest land mammals in the world and may gather in herds exceeding 100. In the Kruger National Park they are found in smaller herds of between five and 30, although lone bulls are also often found. Elephants occur throughout the park and are found near water.

Male
Female
male elephant female

Shoulder height:

3m / 10 feet plus

Shoulder height:

2.5m / 8.2 feet plus

Weight:

up to 5 000kg / 11 000lbs

Weight:

up to 3 000kg / 7 000lbs

Features:

Males are generally larger than females, have larger tusks and have rounder foreheads.


More elephant facts:

Habitat:

Elephants live in most of Kruger's habitats, but are particularly plentiful in the northern mopaneveld regions. They do, however, also love grassy plains after good rains, and are therefore often found in great numbers in the south of the park in summer. They are often found near rivers and dams.

Active:

They are active for about 16 hours a day with peaks in the morning, afternoon and late at night

Food:

Both leaves and grass, as well as flowers, roots and tree bark. In summer, a large bull can consume as much as 300kg (660lbs) of vegetation a day!

Gestation:

About 22 months

Calves:

One (twins are very rare)

Weaned:

As early as 1-2 years, but up to 4 years

Herds:

A basic herd consists of a group of related females. A mother and her daughters and granddaughters will stay together. Certain times of the year, family groups join up to form larger herds, organised according to a matriarchal system. Bulls either walk alone, in small bachelor groups or become part of the larger herds for short periods of time.

In Kruger:

To learn more about how to find elephants in Kruger, check out the right-hand sidebar.

 

Back to main mammals page

How to find elephants in the Kruger National Park:

leopard

Stay at these camps:
Mopani
Shingwedzi
Letaba
Lower Sabie

Drive these roads:
H4-1 tar road
H10 tar road
S143 gravel road
S52 Red Rocks Loop
H1-2 tar road

Top tips:
Driving along any of the large rivers in Kruger gives you a great chance to see elephants.

Try searching along the Shingwedzi, Letaba , Olifants and Sabie Rivers.

Scan the horizon from lookout points, because you can often see elephants in the distance.

Check out our elephant gallery:elephant gallery



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