11 fun facts about African Elephants

Elephants are a  favourite on Safari, but how much do you know about these Magnificent Pachyderms

4. African elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild

Although the average lifespan is typically around 60 years. This long lifespan is due in part to their large size and low natural predator count, as well as their ability to adapt to a variety of different habitats. However, elephants face many threats in the wild, including habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with humans, which can significantly impact their lifespan and overall population.

5.Elephants are highly social animals and are known to live in family groups

Elephants are highly social animals and are known to live in family groups led by a matriarch, which is usually the oldest and most experienced female elephant in the group. The family group typically consists of the matriarch's female offspring and their young, and can range in size from a few individuals to several dozen. Male elephants generally leave their family group once they reach puberty and may live alone or in bachelor groups. Elephants are known for their strong social bonds and can often be seen touching trunks or "hugging" each other as a form of greeting or bonding.

6. Elephants have a highly developed sense of smell and can detect water sources from miles away

They use their sense of smell to find food, detect predators, and locate water sources in their environment. Elephants have a keen sense of smell due to their large olfactory bulb, which is the part of the brain that processes smell information. In fact, their sense of smell is so good that they can detect water sources underground and can communicate with other elephants over long distances using scent signals.

7. African Elephants communicate with each other using a variety of sounds, including trumpeting, grunting, and rumbling

Trumpeting is the most well-known sound, which is a loud, trumpeting call that elephants make when they are excited or agitated. Grunts are softer vocalizations that elephants use to communicate with each other in close proximity. Rumbles are low-frequency sounds that elephants use to communicate over long distances, and can even be felt by other elephants through the ground. In addition to vocalizations, elephants also communicate using body language, such as ear flapping, trunk swinging, and tail wagging.

8. They have excellent memories and can remember other elephants and places for many years

They can recognize other elephants that they have not seen for many years and remember specific places where they have found food, water, or shelter. This long-term memory is thought to be an adaptation to their nomadic lifestyle, as they need to be able to remember where resources are located over long distances and varying seasons. In addition, elephants have been observed mourning the loss of their herd members, indicating that they have an emotional memory as well.

9. They are herbivores and can eat up to 300 pounds of vegetation in a single day...

which means they only eat vegetation, such as grasses, leaves, bark, and fruit. They have a high metabolism and need to eat a lot of food to sustain their massive bodies. In fact, elephants can eat up to 300 pounds (136 kg) of vegetation in a single day! They use their long trunks to grasp and tear off vegetation, and then use their powerful jaws to grind it down before swallowing. Elephants also need to drink large amounts of water, up to 50 gallons (190 liters) per day, to stay hydrated in the hot African climate.

10. Elephants are great swimmers and can use their trunks as snorkels while swimming

They can swim for long distances and are often found in bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and watering holes. Elephants can also use their trunks as a snorkel to breathe while swimming in deep water. While elephants are excellent swimmers, they are also heavy, and it can be difficult for them to float for extended periods, so they often need to rest or rely on their trunks for support. Despite their large size, elephants are also surprisingly agile swimmers and can swim at a speed of up to 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h).

11. They have a unique way of greeting each other by touching trunks

This behavior is known as trunk-to-trunk greetings and is a way for elephants to show affection, bond with each other, and communicate. When elephants meet, they often touch trunks, and sometimes wrap them around each other in a behavior known as "trunk-hugging". This physical contact allows them to smell each other's breath, which provides information about each other's health and reproductive status. It also allows them to communicate through touch and vibration, as they can feel the low-frequency rumble of the other elephant's vocal cords through their trunks.

If it has been your life-long dream to visit Africa and see these incredible animals up close, then reach out to our Travel Designers now to start the planning process!