On our recent Tanzanian safari we fell in love (love love) with the undisputed giants of the animal kingdom. African elephants are one of the most fascinating creatures to roam the Earth. With their incredible intelligence, social bonds, and quirky behaviors, they’re more than just big-eared beauties—they’re nature’s ultimate multitaskers. Here are 10 fun facts about African elephants that’ll leave you in awe (and maybe chuckling a bit).
Family First, Always
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
African elephants are the poster children for family values. They live in tight-knit matriarchal herds led by the wisest (and usually oldest) female. These herds are like extended family reunions that never end, with sisters, aunts, and cousins all pitching in to raise the young ones. Meanwhile, the males get kicked out as teenagers, forming bachelor groups or going solo—think of it as elephant gap years.
We saw our first elephant families playing in the mud in Taragire National Park. We even got to see itty bitty babies suckling on their mothers. However, our best encounter was with a huge herd crossing in front of the Seronera Airstrip at dusk in the middle of the Serengeti. We saw how the entire family surrounded the little elephants to keep them safe from anything approaching.
Trunks: Nature’s Swiss Army Knife
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
An elephant’s trunk isn’t just for show; it’s a versatile tool that’s part snorkel, part hand, and part vacuum cleaner. With over 40,000 muscles, they can use it to pick up a single blade of grass or yank down an entire tree. And yes, they’ve been known to spray unsuspecting humans with water. Playful or petty? You decide.
The things we saw elephants do with their trunks was simply amazing. However, the cutest thing ever was watching adolescent elephants getting their trunks stuck on their developing tusks. Elephant puberty is real and just as awkward as it was for all of us.
Masters of Mud Spa Days
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Mud baths aren’t just a luxury—they’re essential for African elephants. Rolling in mud cools them down, protects their skin from the sun, and keeps pesky insects at bay. Watching a five-ton elephant flop into a muddy pool with gleeful abandon is pure joy. It’s like a toddler discovering puddles, but on a colossal scale.
We saw this behavior in Tarangire and were enamoured. Who would have thought that a five-ton mud covered beast could be so cute?
Tanzania: Elephant Central
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Tanzania is one of the best places to see African elephants in their natural habitat. From the sprawling plains of the Serengeti to the baobab-studded landscapes of Tarangire National Park, these gentle giants roam free, often providing dramatic safari moments. Spotting them under an acacia tree or wading through a watering hole? Absolutely iconic.
We saw elephants in each of the three parks we visited on our African safari: Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorogoro Crater. In each of these parks, we could see how the elephants adapted to their surroundings and seemed perfectly at home in the Tanzanian countryside.
Tree Terminators
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
African elephants don’t just eat plants—they reshape the landscape. Their knack for pushing over trees might seem destructive, but it’s vital for the ecosystem. By clearing vegetation, they create open spaces for other animals and even help new plants grow. They’re basically nature’s bulldozers, but way cuter.
Pulling into our tented Serengeti camps, we could see how elephants were constantly gardening and balancing tree growth with the savanna. There are even scientific studies taking place to combine wooly mammoth genes with African elephants so they can keep trees off the Arctic permafrost – literally, pretty cool!
Big Ears, Big Purpose
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Those massive ears aren’t just for show; they’re temperature regulators. African elephants use their ears like giant fans to cool down, flapping them to circulate blood and release heat. We found it remarkably cool and comfortable visiting Tanzania in November, but the elephants were always busy flapping their ears. If we came in the middle of the dry season, it might have looked like they were getting ready to take off!.
Silent Communicators
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Elephants have a secret social network: infrasonic communication. They produce low-frequency rumbles that travel through the ground for miles. It’s like a trunk-to-trunk text message system, allowing them to warn of danger, locate each other, or spread the word about the best watering hole in town.
The elephants we saw were always social. They stayed in a tight knit group and kept an eye on each other and their young. However, they had no problems articulating their thoughts if the mood struck them.
Memory Like a Steel Trap
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
You’ve heard the saying “an elephant never forgets,” and it’s mostly true. African elephants have incredible memories, which help them navigate vast landscapes and remember the locations of water sources during dry seasons. They’re also known to recognize humans they’ve encountered before—so tread carefully if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of that water spray.
We traveled to the far west end of the Serengeti and could see just how vast the park was. The ability of elephants and all the animals to navigate this vast expanse and find food and water was simply amazing!
Big Appetites
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
African elephants spend up to 16 hours a day eating and can consume over 300 pounds of food daily. Their diet includes grass, fruit, bark, and roots, and they’re not shy about raiding a farmer’s crops if given the chance. With appetites like that, it’s no wonder they’re always on the move.
The beautiful thing about Tanzania was how much space there was for these magnificent creatures. We did have an experience in Sri Lanka where elephants visited (and somewhat destroyed) the rice fields of an Ayurvedic retreat we were staying at. Big boy gotta eat!
Water-Loving Wanderers
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Elephants have an uncanny ability to find water, even in the driest conditions. Their journeys often revolve around these precious resources, making them vital for other animals in the ecosystem. When elephants find water, everyone benefits, from thirsty antelopes to opportunistic birds.
In the Tarangire River, we could see where the elephants had dug down to the water hidden in the dry bed. Within every elephant hole was a thriving community of animals enjoying access to the water.
Concluding Fun Facts about African Elephants
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
African elephants are more than just the largest land animals; they’re ecological engineers, social butterflies, and an absolute delight to watch in their natural habitat. Whether they’re playfully splashing in a mud bath or reshaping the Tanzanian wilderness, these incredible creatures showcase the untamed beauty of nature. We were lucky enough to witness them in action—doing their elephant thing—on our luxury safari with Altezza Travel. The experience was nothing short of magical! An afternoon spent observing these gentle giants is reason enough to explore the wild and a powerful reminder of why protecting their habitat is so important.