About the Author

Nic Glassock

Ranger

As young boy, Nic was fortunate to frequent a bush holiday home just South of the Botswana border. It was in these early years that he developed a great passion and excitement for wildlife and the outdoors. Following the completion of a degree ...

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20 Comments

on 5 Fascinating and Unusual Facts about the African Elephant

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Thank you for the information on these magnificent animals. For their size they are one of the most gentle animals we still have the pleasure to observe in their natural environment.

Hi Lana,
I totally agree – they are incredible animals, and it is such a privilege to be able to view them the way we do.

Nice job, Nic.

Thank you, David.

Thanks Nic for the review of the African elephant. They are my favorite animal.

Hi William.
They are my favourite animal as well. There’s a deep complexity to their behaviour and one can never tire from watching them in their natural habitat.

I find the most surprising thing about elephants is how quiet they sound when they are casually walking.

I must agree Cynthia.
I recently had the pleasure of seeing a breeding herd of elephants on my way back to camp, in the evening. We turned off all the lights and kept very quiet to softly hear them moving and feeding around the vehicle. It was surreal!

Hi Nick, great article, but do you know that giraffe show similar behaviour to elephants and have similar way to communicate but for the fact that we can’t hear them ever? I think there’s a lot to discover in many creatures… elephants are surely a marvel of nature and help relax! So pleasant to see!

Hi Francesca.
I have read a few articles about giraffe showing similar behavioural traits to those mentioned above. As you say, there’s so much mystery and so many learnings we can still take from these wild animals. We are incredibly lucky.

Hi Nic, the gentle giant is an amazing mammal. The five facts of the elephant are very interesting and stunning at the same time. The way they mourn after one of their family dies is astronomical. Their trunk is an amazing tool that can be used for different things. Extra ordinary mammal and must be appreciated at all times and be protected at all times.

Absolutely Valmai.
Elephants are very important in shaping environmental spaces, Londolozi included, and as a result, it is important we try and understand their behaviour that will aid in their protection for many generations to come.

African elephants are magnificent! I’ve been blessed with multiple encounters with them at Londolozi.

Lucky you Judith, what an amazing experience.

Interesting blog, Nic. I’ve always wondered why the African elephant’s ears are so large compared to its Asian cousins as the latter live in hot conditions as well. Do Asian elephants have another means to help them keep cool?

Hi Mary Beth.
Thank you for the comment.
Asian Elephants and African Elephants are very similar, however, aside from their general size differences, Asian elephants practice more water and mud bathing than African elephants. This helps to keep them cool and also protects their skin from the sun. Furthermore, the densely shaded habitats of the Asian elephants means they benefit from natural shade, reducing their direct exposure to the sun.

Dear Nic, thanks for this views about elephants, love them

Absolute pleasure Jutta. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Elephants are such extraordinarily special animals. Thanks, Nic for all this information on them.
I love watching breeding herds, the antiques of the young ones and “teenagers” are often so funny.
It’s also great to watch how young bulls are being taught by the older ones about life as an elephant .
Hopefully this iconic species will be around to be admired and estimated for many more generations.

Hi Christa.
Yes, elephant herd dynamics are fascinating to watch. The composition of the herd is often multi-generational and it is amazing to see the care that is shared among all individuals. Being long-lived mammals, young elephants will always have a lot to learn from the older individuals, both males and females.
I also enjoy the playfulness and attitude of some of the younger ‘teenagers’.

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