Ivory Tours - experience the magic of Africa

African Elephant

	The African elephant, (Loxodonta africana) is the icon of the African safari. It's the largest land mammal in the world, standing 8 to 11 feet (3.5 metres) tall at the shoulder and weighing 8,000 to 14,000 lbs (3,600 to 6,400 kg).The elephant dominates the African wild, having no natural enemies except for Homo sapiens. Male elephants tusks can grow to weigh in excess of 100 lbs (45 kg). Females have much smaller tusks. An elephant's long, muscular trunk is strong enough to tear huge limbs from trees and dexterous enough at its finger-like tip to pick up a single berry on the ground.

	The African Elephant once roamed widely all across sub-Saharan Africa, but now are found only in fragmented areas of central and eastern Africa and the northern regions of southern Africa. The elephant population in Africa was ten million strong in the 1920s. Presently there are only about 600,000, in part due to wholesale slaughter by poachers in the ivory trade during the 1970s and 1980s. That tragic period reduced the elephant population by 80 percent in a short span. Rapidly increasing human population and the resulting loss of habitat continue to threaten elephants, and they are listed as an endangered species. Elephants are efficient herbivores that can pull up grass, pry loose bark, and pull down tree branches-and even whole trees-up to 20 feet (6 metres) above the ground. Their teeth can grind up the toughest fibres. In general, they feed on grass and herbs during the wet season and forest materials in the dry season. They rarely roam more than half a day's walk from a water source. Elephants live in matriarchal family groups, typically about 10 to a family. Several bonded family groups may move together, communicating in very low rumbling calls that are too low for humans to hear. Elephants' huge ears, sometimes up to six feet (1.8 metres) wide and six feet long, are heavily veined and therefore by flapping their ears, they stay cool. Elephants can often be seen fanning their ears on a hot day. Calves may nurse for up to five years. Male elephants leave the family at puberty and remain independent throughout their lives, although they sometimes roam in bachelor groups. Elephants can live up to 60 years. Reproductive behaviour begins at around age 25, and gestation period for a calf is 22 months. Below is the Elephant picture gallery. Click on the 'next' or 'back' button to navigate through the pictures. back to top
				Game Drives & Safaris Find out more about our game drives and view Elephants up close in their natural environment.

				View other remarkable wildlife found in Southern Africa. · Black Backed Jackal · Buffalo · Cheetah · Giraffe · Hyena · Impala · Kudu · Leopard · Lion · Rhinocerous · Wild Dog · Zebra