Elephant
Elephant
For many, elephants are a must-see animal during safari. These social giants are fascinating to observe, whether enjoying the playful calves in a matriarchal herd or the charismatic bachelors as they practice their sparring technique. They are protective, sensitive, intelligent creatures that never cease to entertain. Fortunately, elephants are common in most major safari areas so typically seeing elephants is not a difficult task. However, concentrations vary greatly seasonally and throughout their range. If one is seeking to observe large numbers of elephants — in the hundreds or thousands — it is best to plan accordingly with season and location.
Elephant Itineraries
Quintessential Tanzania: River Crossing Season
-Top wildlife regions of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit
-Biologist informed planning to see the world famous Great Migration river crossings
-Private naturalist guide from The Wild Source (name and bio provided at booking)
-Private vehicle with unlimited mileage and fuel
-Learn from biologists at our Njozi Northern Serengeti Camp
Quintessential Tanzania: Calving Season
-Top wildlife regions of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit
-Biologist informed planning to see Great Migration calving and herds in the thousands
-Private naturalist guide from The Wild Source (name and bio provided at booking)
-Private vehicle with unlimited mileage and fuel
-Learn from biologists at our Njozi Ndutu Camp
Botswana: Best of the Delta
-Unbeatable value (under $10,000 per person for a 10-night peak season safari in Botswana)
-Three private concessions of the Okavango Delta
-Opportunities for some of the best leopard, wild dog and sable antelope sightings in all of Botswana
-Track wild dogs with your Bushman guides, whose ancestors have nomadically patrolled this land for 10,000 years
-Magic under canvas – all three authentic tented camps
Ultimate East Africa: River Crossing Season
-The best of The Wild Source private guiding in both Tanzania and Kenya
-Designed to cater to full-day, serious wildlife viewing, flexible meals in the bush, and avoiding crowds
-Wildlife biologists who have unmatched knowledge of the local animals
-Strategically planned for best chances of Great Migration river crossings
-Authentic tented camps with a classic safari feel
Ultimate East Africa: Calving Season
-The best of The Wild Source private guiding in both Tanzania and Kenya
-Designed to cater to full-day, serious wildlife viewing, flexible meals in the bush, and avoiding crowds
-Wildlife biologists who have unmatched knowledge of the local animals
-Strategically planned for best chances of Great Migration calving and herds in the thousands
-Authentic tented camps with a classic safari feel
Kenya Expedition with Top Private Guiding
-Private guiding with Kenya’s most legendary guides (Ping or Peter Kiyaa)
-Best of the world famous Mara Reserve plus additional exclusivity of a private conservancy
-Support local ownership – Enaidura is majority guide-owned and operated, Mara Siana is 50% Masai owned and 50% female owned
-Full days on safari with ultimately flexibility of a private vehicle
-Diversity of activities – game drives, night drives, off-roading, walking safaris, Maasai culture
Botswana: Ready For Action
-Dry season safari, with high chances to see large quantities of animals gathered around limited water sources
-Best timing for African wild dogs denning with puppies
-Plentiful groupings of buffalo in the Mababe Depression increase chances of seeing daytime lion hunting
-Authentic tented camp Okavango Origins, site of BBC and Disney Nature filming of wild dogs
-Sunken photo hide at Mababe provides wonderful viewing opportunities of elephant herds
South African Splendor: Cape Town and Sabi Sands Safari
-A diverse itinerary in regions and activities, but with the simple logistics of traveling to one country – great for first-time safarigoers
-The best of a Big Five safari experience in the Sabi Sand private reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park
-Safari in the private reserve means fewer vehicles and camps, and no day trippers or public campsites like Kruger
-Delicious wine, stunning scenery and outstanding culinary delights in the charming Cape Winelands
-See Africa’s cosmopolitan side and breathtaking coastline in modern Cape Town
Deserts of Namibia
-Experience the other worldly landscape of Namibia’s sand dunes, ancient deserts, magnificent rock formations and exquisite stargazing
-Wildlife viewing in Namibia’s best national park, Etosha, where large congregations of animals gather around water holes
-Hand feed giraffes in a historical guesthouse at the start of your journey
-Travel on your private journey with an expert, local naturalist guide from Ultimate Safaris
-Stay at luxurious lodges designed to blend in with Namibia’s unique landscape
Into the Botswana Wild with Victoria Falls
-Visit one of the Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls, during high water season
-Scenic cruise on the mighty Zambezi River
-Safari along the Chobe River where elephant flock in huge numbers during the beginning of dry season
-Two authentic tented camps in private concessions of Botswana’s Okavango Delta
-Full variety of activities that make southern Africa special (walking, mokoro, motorboat, fishing, off-road game drives, night drives)
Botswana Desert and Delta Safari
-Top wildlife viewing regions of Botswana at 40-50% discount off peak season
-Focused on private concessions where there are very few vehicles traversing extremely large areas
-Expert guide AND a tracker per vehicle to increase chances for wildlife sightings, especially predators
-Green season magic – well-fed and watered animals, lots of baby herbivores, dramatic lighting for photography
-Avoid the higher crowds and inaccessible prices of peak season
Kenya Family Safari
-Family-oriented with private guides, family tents, and a private bush house with a pool
-Special kids’ activities, including bush tracking, local school visit, Maasai cultural learning
-Explore the best regions of the Mara for charismatic big cat sightings
-Visit the unique Laikipia region, inspiration for the animators of “The Lion King”
-Diverse activities to beat boredom! (day and night game drives, guided walks, horse riding, camel treks, sleep outs, Samburu cultural visits, mountain biking)
Tanzania Elevated
-The quintessential “bush and beach” combination – perfect for honeymooners
-Luxurious safari camps offering the best locations with peak service
-Private naturalist guide from The Wild Source and private vehicle throughout safari
-Classic game driving plus crater hikes, cultural visits and beach adventures
-Snorkeling, kayaking, spa treatments and more on stunning Pemba Island
Kenya Elevated
-An off-season luxury safari at a 40% discount compared to peak season
-Secret February wildlife – resident Loita herd of 200,000 wildebeest in the Mara calve in mid-February, big cat viewing is typically excellent
-Crowds much smaller than the high season
-Stay at exquisite luxury camps, including the most famous in Kenya, Mara Plains
-Pair the Mara with the stunning, unique scenery of Northern Kenya and the Chyula Hills
Botswana Elevated
-Exquisite luxury camps offering supreme service
-Combines the best two regions of Botswana for diverse wildlife viewing: the Okavango Delta and Selinda Reserve
-Private concession areas only, limited to a small number of guests traversing extremely large areas
-Off-road game driving with incredibly close viewing of predators
-Variety of activities including walking, night drives, boating, mokoro canoeing and off-roading
Ultimate Uganda
-The best that Uganda has to offer for wildlife aficionados in under 2 weeks
-Ample time on foot with our primate relatives, with both chimp and gorilla trekking
-Boating safaris – ply the waters of the famous Nile River and the Kazinga Channel, watching for elephant and crocodile on the shores, and hundreds of bird species
-Track lions on the plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and game drive in a private concession area of the park, staying along the water
-Witness vibrant community and local life as you drive through large swaths of the Ugandan countryside
African Explorer Safari
-Unique pan-African itinerary combining two of the continent’s best wildlife viewing regions
-Authentic, intimate tented camps with legendary guiding by Diesel or Dicks in Botswana and Ping or Peter in Kenya
-At Okavango Origins camp, pay homage to the Bushman, who nomadically patrolled this area for 10,000 years
-Visit a natural wonder of the world, Victoria Falls, between your two safari countries
-Seasonally dependent possibility to view world famous Great Migration river crossings in the Mara
Zambia Walking and Waterways Safari
-A vintage safari experience staying in remote, intimate bushcamps, with excellent guiding and lots of adventure including river-based activities
-Explore on foot in the South Luangwa,the birthplace of walking safaris, where animals are habituated to humans on foot
-True night drives, staying out for long periods of time rather than just a quick sundown drive on the way back to camp for dinner.
-Exceptional guiding by local Zambian guides
-Wildlife ranges from the iconic safari species (lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, hippo, zebra and more) to rarer species such as the African wild dog.
Essential Diversity: River and Desert
-Luxury on the wild side – designed for the safari connoisseur seeking rarity and luxury along with the full diversity of wildlife
-Private guide and vehicle at both camps for ultimate flexibility and exclusivity
-Explore the lush, diverse river ecosystem of the Lower Zambezi National Park, where night drives are a highlight
-Visit the best place to find rare species – Tswalu Kalahari – including possible pangolin, aardvark, meerkat, and brown hyena
-Combine and contrast the extreme diversity of river and desert ecosystems with smooth logistics
Serengeti and Ruaha Research Safari
-Rare opportunity to travel outside of the Northern Circuit with your private guide from The Wild Source
-Research-focused itinerary where you can participate in hands-on conservation work at your camps
-Classic, down-to-earth camps with authentic canvas style and no frills
Iconic big cats and Great Migration viewing in the Serengeti
-Explore the lesser-known Ruaha National Park to look for buffalo, large prides of lions, and exceptional concentrations of elephants
Classic Zimbabwe: Hwange and Mana Pools with Victoria Falls
-Adventurous itinerary that features the thrilling walking safaris and ‘big games approaches’ Zimbabwe is known for
-Excellent value year-round with an affordable safari experience at classic bush camps
-Zimbabwe is known for its incredibly high standard of guiding, with some of the most respected professional guides in Africa originating here
-Outstanding wildlife viewing in Hwange and Mana Pools, especially elephants, and 8 large carnivore species
-Visit the mighty and majestic Victoria Falls
Southern Tanzania’s Untamed Wonders
-Off the beaten path in southern Tanzania
-Intimate, authentic tented camps hearkening back to the original days of safari
-Outstanding predator viewing including possible lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, and hyena
-Hands-on conservation – help set/check camera traps and contribute to biodiversity audit data collection
-A nature lover’s paradise – sleep under the stars, fish and boat, walk and night drive
Congo Discovery Safari
-Exquisite barefoot luxury meets off the beaten path adventure in Odzala-Kokoua National Park
-Journey through one of Africa’s least explored wilderness areas, the rainforest of the Congo Basin
-Up-close, on-foot viewing of critically endangered Western lowland gorillas
-Physically active itinerary with forest walking trails, kayaking, river walks
-Unique forest species like forest elephant, bongo, bush pig and forest buffalo
Elephant Videos
Best Places to See Elephants on Safari
Northern Botswana is currently home to an estimated 150,000 elephants, about 30% of the total population. Chobe National Park and private areas in the Linyanti/Selinda concessions are particularly good in the dry season, while the Okavango is good year round. Viewing by boat on the Chobe Riverfront is a fantastic way to observe elephants at the water’s edge and snorkeling in the river.
A completely different best place for elephants is to visit desert-adapted elephants in Damaraland, Namibia. Here the elephants allow a very close approach of game drive vehicles, allowing you to see how delicately they live off of their fragile environment.
Something Extra
The Elephant Experience with Grey Matters in Botswana is available to guests at Baines and Stanley’s Camps. Here you will spend hours in the company of two orphaned elephants, learning about their behaviors and walking with their trunk over your shoulder as you move as a herd might. You will also touch their ears, the bottom of their feet, learn their vocalizations and a host of other things during your intimate time with these soulful animals.
While not all elephant interactions are as intimate or as ethically-operated, there are a few other opportunities that contribute to good quality conservation programs and allow visitors to unobtrusively observe the elephants while contributing to the conservation efforts. These include the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary & Orphanage, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.