Elephants live in family herds led by an older female, the matriarch. They need huge amounts of food and water, so in the dry season they gather along rivers and at waterholes in big numbers.
Best places to see it
TanzaniaSerengeti National Park
Endless plains, big cats and the Great Migration year-round in different parts of the park.
Jan to Feb, Jun to Oct 3 to 4 nights
Ngorongoro Crater
A vast volcanic caldera packed with wildlife, one of the best places to see black rhino.
Jun to Feb 1 to 2 nights
KenyaAmboseli National Park
Big elephant herds with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop.
Jan to Feb, Jun to Oct 2 nights
UgandaMurchison Falls National Park
The Nile forces through a seven-metre gap in one of Africa’s most powerful waterfalls.
Jun to Sep, Dec to Feb 2 to 3 nights
South AfricaKruger National Park
South Africa’s flagship park: Big Five, excellent roads and options for every budget.
May to Oct 3 to 4 nights
BotswanaOkavango Delta
A vast inland delta where floodwaters arrive in the dry season, drawing wildlife from all around.
May to Oct 3 to 5 nights
Chobe National Park
One of the largest elephant populations in Africa, best seen from a boat on the Chobe River.
May to Oct 2 to 3 nights
ZimbabweVictoria Falls
One of the largest waterfalls in the world, on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Feb to Nov 2 to 3 nights
Hwange National Park
Zimbabwe’s largest park, with big elephant herds at waterholes in the dry season.
Jun to Oct 3 nights
Mana Pools National Park
Walking and canoeing among elephants on the Zambezi floodplain.
Jun to Oct 3 to 4 nights
ZambiaSouth Luangwa National Park
The home of the walking safari, and one of Africa’s best parks for leopards.
Jun to Oct 3 to 4 nights
NamibiaEtosha National Park
A great white salt pan where animals queue at waterholes in the dry season.
May to Oct 2 to 3 nights
Skeleton Coast and Damaraland
Shipwrecks, seal colonies and desert-adapted elephants.
May to Oct 3 nights
Where to see it
- Chobe River in Botswana
- Amboseli with Kilimanjaro behind
- Hwange in Zimbabwe
- Okavango Delta
- Kruger
Our destination guides: Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Amboseli National Park · Murchison Falls National Park · Kruger National Park · Okavango Delta · Chobe National Park · Victoria Falls · Hwange National Park · Mana Pools National Park · South Luangwa National Park · Lower Zambezi National Park · Etosha National Park · Skeleton Coast and Damaraland
Best time
Dry season, when herds gather at rivers.
Tips
- Give elephants space and let them pass.
- Watch for warning signs such as flapping ears and head shaking.
Did you know?
- Elephants can recognise the calls of many family members.
- An elephant’s trunk has tens of thousands of muscles.
Conservation status: Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Check iucnredlist.org for the latest assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to see the african savanna elephant in Africa?
Chobe River in Botswana; Amboseli with Kilimanjaro behind; Hwange in Zimbabwe.
Is the african savanna elephant endangered?
It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Have you been to African savanna elephant?
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