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
African Explorer Safari
Adventure to Botswana's iconic Okavango Delta for an incredible wildlife safari. Experience a classic adventure tented camp, guided by Diesel, your legendary local guide, in an area famed for wild dogs (along with large populations of big cats, antelope, and much more). Enjoy visiting the majestic Victoria Falls on the Zambia side en-route to Kenya. Continue on to Kenya and to the Masai Mara, which is quite likely the most productive wildlife viewing area in all of Africa. Enaidura Camp is in a superb location for serious game viewing and photography. The area is unrivaled for sightings of big cats and the Great Migration, and has a great variety and quantity of species.
Botswana: Ready For Action
This remarkable itinerary features locations that represent the best opportunities of Botswana's dry season excitement. The dry season of Botswana is as good as it gets to see large quantities of animals in exclusive wilderness areas. Of special note the rare African wild dog typically is denning with puppies visible from mid-July to the end of August, then September through November remains outstanding as packs with puppies are traveling small distances with a drive to hunt to feed the quickly growing pups.
Bushman’s Botswana
Return to the origins of humanity as you head deep into the heart of Botswana and the world-famous Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert. Experience the Old Way of the Bushmen - the indigenous people of southern Africa.
Into the Botswana Wild with Victoria Falls
Experience the best of Northern Botswana in the Okavango Delta, Kwando Concession and Chobe River, plus the majestic "smoke that thunders" in Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwe Rhino Conservation Safari
Explore the best of Hwange National Park and visit / support Imvelo Safaris' groundbreaking Community Rhino Conservation Initiative.
Intrepid Zimbabwe Explorer: Victoria Falls, Hwange and Canoeing Mana Pools (Origins Collection)
Step back in time to the era of exploration with our Intrepid Zimbabwe Explorers itinerary, customized for remote adventure in some of the most pristine wilderness on Earth.
Big Five of Southern Africa
Southern Africa is an incredibly diverse region with varying weather, landscapes, cultures, and wildlife. This itinerary covers three major highlights of Southern Africa: The Greater Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta.
Essential Diversity: River and Desert
This safari is designed for the safari connoisseur seeking rarity, exclusivity and luxury along with the full diversity of wildlife. The itinerary includes private guiding and vehicle at both safari camps, offering the ultimate in flexibility and maximizing the opportunities to see wildlife you want to see, while maintaining supreme comfort and luxury.
Malawi Expedition: Trekking Mt. Mulanje and Liwonde Safari with optional Lake Malawi Finale (Origins Collection)
Our Malawi Expedition combines an incredible hut-to-hut alpine trekking experience, outstanding scenery, wildlife viewing in a premiere national park, and the optional finale of swimming, snorkeling and kayaking off your private island camp in Lake Malawi.
Wonders of the Crater and Trek to Lake Natron with optional Serengeti Biologist Finale (Origins Collection)
Our Tanzania Trekking and Wonders of the Ngorongoro adventure is the very epitome of getting off the beaten track. This adventure takes you on foot through the volcanic landscapes of northern Tanzania, traveling through areas that are impossible to reach by road.
Botswana Elephant Safari
This elephant-focused safari takes you to some of the best locations in all of Africa for seeing and interacting with elephants.
Ultimate Uganda
This safari has been custom designed to provide an in-depth adventure in Uganda featuring some of the most intimate and immersive experiences on the continent – primate trekking.
South African Splendor: Cape Town and Sabi Sands Safari
Southern Africa is an incredibly diverse region with varying weather, landscapes, cultures, and wildlife.
Deserts of Namibia
Experience magnificent and vast landscapes and desert-adapted wildlife of Namibia in a personal way.
Congo Discovery Safari
Experience one of Africa's least-explored wilderness areas and the world's second largest rain forest.
Classic Zimbabwe: Hwange and Mana Pools with Victoria Falls
This adventure-level safari features classic bush camps, thrilling walking safaris, and an excellent value.
Zambia Walking and Waterways Safari
Zambian safaris are distinguished by the vintage expedition-style adventure delivered under the care of exceptional guides in remote wilderness areas teeming with wildlife.
Quintessential Tanzania: River Crossing Season
With the Great Migration of nearly 2 million animals in the area, the Northern Serengeti is the stage for one of nature's most famed events - the dramatic migration crossings of the Mara River.
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.