Top 10 Best Places To See Elephants

Top 10 Best Places To See Elephants In Africa

The top 10 best places to see Elephants are found in Africa. Africa is the second largest continent in the world with over 1000 national parks that breed suitable conditions for the survival of elephants.  Elephants are huge animals belonging to the Elephantidae family. Elephants in Africa are majorly referred to as Loxodonta. These animals are mainly characterized by their enormous sizes, large ears, long tusks as well as thick bodies.

The largest terrestrial animal on the earth is the African bush elephant, commonly referred to as the savanna elephant. It can weigh up to 7 metric tonnes and live in the wild for 70 years.

These animals consume a lot of food, something that contributes to their huge sizes. It is believed that Elephants consume about 150kg of food per day.

Africa is largely dominated by the African Elephant roaming in approximately 37 countries. The African Elephant is a huge herbivorous animal with a grey complexion and is found in her several national parks. This animal weighs approximately 2000 to 6000 kg. The male elephant usually weighs bigger than the female elephant. Aside from its majestic, flexible trunk, other striking characteristics include its ever-expanding tusks, which are present in both men and females, wrinkled skin, which aids in the preservation of moisture in arid African circumstances, and its wrinkled skin.

Chobe National Park

Northern Botswana’s Chobe National Park is next to the enormous, inland Okavango Delta. The park is believed to be the 3rd largest park in the country occupying at least 4,500 sq. miles and also bordering Kasane in the northeastern part of Botswana. It is widely recognized for its ability to accommodate large numbers of Elephants specifically called the Kalahari Elephants. An extensive study of African elephants on the continent was done as part of the Great Elephant Census in 2016. Out of 18 other countries, Chobe National Park has the largest number of elephants, according to their data.

Chobe national park accommodates over 120,000 Kalahari elephants and it is also known as the home of Elephants in Africa as well as the world at large. This park is also comprised of different types of vegetation such as; riverine forest, seasonal marshes and flood plains which are essential conditions to accommodate large numbers of Elephants because of the food they produce that suits the appetite of these animals.

The park doesn’t only accommodate lots of elephants but is  also home to several other animals which include; hyena, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippo, lion and many others. It is also blessed with different bird species which are; African fish eagle, Kori bustard, Nightjars, Malachite kingfisher, long toed lapwing, African skimmer and Great Egret.

I would highly recommend Chobe national park to all that wish to have a clear view of these magnificent animals.

Kruger National Park

Kruger national park  is located in the north-eastern part of South Africa, between the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, with Zimbabwe on its northern and Mozambique on its eastern borders. It is called one of the best places to visit because of the diverse wildlife found there, among these are the Elephants roaming around her open tree savanna landscape with the famous elephant known as Duke.

Kruger national park is estimated to have more than 20,000 elephants. People desiring to take a safari to Kruger national park are more likely to spot large families of these animals along the river boarders of the Olifants.

However, Kruger national park has also got other amazing wild game and among them are, spotted hyena, African wild dog, African buffalo, impala, water buck, vervet monkey and many others. With 517 kinds of birds, the Kruger National Park is a birder’s delight with several bird species which include; southern ground hornbill, martial eagle, African fish eagle, Kori bustard and many others.

Hwange National Park

Hwange national park is located in the western part of Zimbabwe nearing the Kalahari desert. The greatest population of elephants in Zimbabwe resides there. It is believed to be the largest park in the country occupying a total land area of 14,650 sq. km. Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park is the country’s biggest and most visited park. The majority of the large safari species, including the Big Five, are visible, and the wildlife watching is great.

As a result of this size, Hwange national park is considered one of the habitats accommodating large numbers of Elephants in Africa. The huge concentration of elephants that gather at the park’s waterholes during the dry season is what makes Hwange famous. This park approximately holds about 20,000- 50,000 elephants in its premises and their survival is powered by the warm climate and abundant vegetation they feed on.

The two most popular activities in Hwange National Park, which is renowned for its immense wildness, are game drives and specialty safari excursions.
Hwange national park is also endowed with various wild game for example; lion, zebra, wild dog, giraffe, cheetah, hippo, African buffalo and black rhinoceros, as well as several bird species including; little egret, grey crowned crane, greater flamingo, Kori bustard, common moorhen and many others.

Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park, the nearest national park to Arusha town, the center of northern Tanzania’s safari industry. It is well-known for housing Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest summit. The park is a multifaceted treasure that is sometimes disregarded by safari travelers despite providing the chance to explore a seductive range of ecosystems in a short period of time.

Tanzania as a country is estimated to have approximately 60,000 elephants. Arusha national park covering a total land area of 200 sq. km, carries a total population of 200 elephants.

These animals can be seen roaming around the slopes of Mount Meru feeding on the savanna and thick trees in the forest. Apart from Elephants, there are also other wildlife species that include; zebra, warthog, giraffe, the black-and-white colobus monkey, the blue monkey, flamingo, Cape buffalo, bushbuck and many other African animals, As well as several bird species that include; pigeons and doves, Kori bustard, swifts, Guinea fowls, common ostrich, Grebes and many others.

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is the biggest game park in Namibia. The park is situated in the Kunene area and borders the Oshana, Oshikoto, and Otjozondjupa regions. Visit Namibia and take a thrilling game drive to see elephants. The number of elephants was believed to be 500 in 1967. Today, there are about 2 500 elephants living in the Etosha National Park, and some of the elephants that have been subjected to the most extensive research worldwide. Elephants live in the areas with more vegetation, some of which are among the largest in Africa thanks to the vitamins and nutrients in the soil.

There are also numerous wildlife species in this National park, which include; Eland, Kudu, Duiker, Gemsbok, Impala, Dik-dik, Springbok, and other antelope species are also present, along with Wildebeest, Hartebeest, and Zebra. Etosha is also home to lion, leopard, and cheetah, as well as giraffe and rhino.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli national park is one of  the top 10 best places to see Elephants. Southern Kenya is home to Amboseli National Park. The best safari location in Africa to see elephant herds roaming freely is Amboseli National Park.
The park is also c0nsidered as a home to the African Elephants with over  over 1,000 elephants live in the park. The park is one of the best place in the world to get close to free-ranging elephants. Large elephant herds are beautifully housed in the Amboseli National Park, which is also a breathtaking location to observe amazing Known for being the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Elephants are common in this area and are seen on the wide plains. Watching them take a bath in the waterholes is a lot of pleasure. The park also offers visitors the chance to interact with Maasai and see a Maasai village. The tallest free-standing peak in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro, can be seen from the park as well. There are also numerous wildlife species in Amboseli national park which include; zebra, wildebeest, and their predators, as well as lions and cheetahs, are all present.

Amboseli is not  only blessed with enormous wildlife throughout its plains, but more than 600 different bird species can be found in the park, of which 47 are raptors. Some of these species include; spike-heeled lark water birds, rare shoebills, Madagascar pong herons, lesser kestrels, cranes, pelicans, kingfishers, Steel-blue whydahs, von der Dickens’ horn bills, yellow-necked spur fowls, rufous-bellied and hammerkops.

South Luangwa National Park

The jewel of eastern Zambia is the South Luangwa National Park, simply referred to as “the South Park. In South Luangwa, elephants are the animals that are most readily evident. The number of elephants is high especially in the South Luangwa valley and there are currently about 21000 elephants roaming around the savanna of South Luangwa in Zambia.

The giant red mahogany trees, sausage trees and  black African ebony trees found within the park provide food for the Elephants making their existential convenient. Apart from Elephants, South Luangwa national park is also blessed with other wildlife species and they include; , Cape buffalo, eland, , lion, Nile crocodile, warthog, impala, spotted hyena, hippo and greater kudu. With all these magnificent mammals, South Luangwa national park is also endowed with various bird species and some of these include; White-browed sparrow weaver, White-browed sparrow weaver, Southern carmine bee-eater, Lilian’s lovebird and Grey crowned crane.

Bicuar National Park

Bicuar national park is situated in the Huila Plateau in the southwest of Angola. Angola as a country is estimated to have at least 3,300 elephants today. The major reason as to why the population of these species reduced over the years is because of the cold war battle in Africa.

However, historically, the region has been home to vast herds of elephants, common antelopes like, eland, kudu, waterbuck, and reedbuck and other large species for example, zebras, blue wildebeest as well as the occasional leopard and cheetahs. The park is also blessed with several bird species including, White-backed Duck,  ; African Pygmy-Goose, Nettapus auritus ; Blue-billed Teal, Spatula hottentota, Thalassornis leuconotus.

Zambezi National Park

Zambezi National Park is situated on the Zambezi River upstream of Victoria Falls. Despite being close to the well-known Victoria Falls, this stunning national park is little-known. It has several large mammals among which include Elephants which are approximated to be over 1000 in  the lower part of the park and can easily be spotted near the Zambezi river banks.

Aside from  the magnificent Elephants,  the park has a good number of other animals such as, zebras, buffalos, wildebeest, hyenas , giraffes and  resident antelopes,  including waterbuck and bushbuck. Because the forest is thinner and animals congregate around the Zambezi River, wildlife is easier to spot. Hippopotamus pods wallow in the river during the day before emerging at night to graze on the riverbanks. It’s common to see crocodiles waiting at the edge of rivers for antelope to approach the banks and drink.

Zambezi national park not only has animals but also several bird species and they include, Lanner falcon, Collared palm-thrush, Goliath heron, Long-toed lapwing, Osprey, Pel’s fishing-owl, Red-necked falcon, Rock pratincole and Slaty egret.

Okavango Delta

Okavango Delta is situated in the north western part of Botswana. The largest inland Delta in the world is the Okavango Delta. Thousands of Elephants call Okavango their home range. It is believed that these animals migrate from different parts of Botswana including Chobe, Savuti, Linyanti and regions looking for water.

Apart from Elephants, some of the most threatened  large mammal species in Africa as well as the world at large including the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion can also be found in the Okavango Delta. The is as well endowed and blessed with various bird species which may include, African Jacana, Slaty Egret, White -Backed Night Heron.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Where are Elephants found in Africa

There are African savanna elephants in 23 countries and they dwell mostly in the following, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya.

• Which country has most elephants in Africa

The largest population of elephants is found in Botswana, which has over 130,000 of them living within its boarders.