Africa is home to the world’s most iconic land mammals: African elephants. These extraordinary animals are not only the largest land mammals on Earth but also one of the legendary Big Five animals – elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros.
African elephants are often spoken of as a single species, but they are actually two distinct giants – the African Savanna (or Bush) Elephant and the African Forest Elephant – each adapted to an extraordinary yet contrasting way of life.
At Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve, where conservation meets authentic safari experiences, we’re passionate about celebrating Africa’s extraordinary wildlife and sharing their stories with the world.
Explore their differences, similarities, and shared challenges in this definitive elephant guide.
African Savanna (Bush) Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
The African Savanna (Bush) Elephant is the largest living land animal, commanding the open plains and Savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa.
Size & Weight
- Height at shoulder: up to 4 metres (13 feet)
- Weight: up to 6,800 kg (15,000 pounds) for a fully-grown bull
- Length: approximately 6–7.5 metres (20–25 feet) from trunk tip to tail
Such immense size isn’t just for show – it helps them deter predators, reach high branches, and create pathways that other animals rely on.
Habitat & Behaviour
- Found across a mosaic of grasslands, woodlands, and semi-desert regions.
- Highly social, living in matriarchal herds led by the oldest female.
- Males often roam alone or form small bachelor groups once mature.
African Savanna (Bush) Elephants are renowned ecosystem engineers – their browsing shapes vegetation, their dung spreads seeds, and their footprints create microhabitats for smaller creatures.
Also read: Why Elephant Dung is Essential to Africa’s Ecosystem
Physical Features
- Ears: Gigantic, shaped roughly like the African continent itself. These help dissipate heat – critical for life in hot, open landscapes.
- Tusks: Long, curved, and often asymmetrical. A mature male’s tusks can exceed 3 metres (10 feet) in length and weigh over 45 kg (100 pounds) each.
- Trunk: A prehensile marvel with over 40,000 muscles, capable of lifting heavy branches or delicately picking a single blade of grass.
Elephant Tusks
Elephant tusks are actually elongated incisor teeth. They begin growing when the calf is about 1 year old and continue for the rest of the elephant’s life, gaining roughly 17 cm (6.7 inches) in length every year.
Also read: 10 Fascinating Facts About Elephant Tusks
African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)
While their bush-dwelling cousins stride across open spaces, African Forest Elephants move almost ghost-like beneath the dense canopies of Central and West Africa’s tropical rainforests.
Size & Weight
- Height at shoulder: around 2.5 metres (8 feet)
- Weight: typically 2,700 kg (6,000 pounds)
- Length: more compact bodies to navigate undergrowth
Though smaller in stature, Forest Elephants are no less vital to their ecosystem, serving as major seed dispersers for countless tree species.
Habitat & Behaviour
- Inhabit thick, humid rainforests where visibility is often just a few metres.
- More elusive and less studied due to their reclusive nature.
- Generally form smaller family units of 3 – 5 individuals.
Forest Elephants help maintain forest diversity by consuming fruits and excreting seeds far from the parent trees, earning them the nickname “the gardeners of the forest.”
Physical Features
- Ears: Smaller and more rounded than Bush Elephants – an adaptation for cooler, shaded environments.
- Tusks: Straighter, slimmer, and pointing downward – ideal for manoeuvring through thick vegetation and stripping bark.
- Trunk: Slightly shorter but equally dexterous.
Elephant Conservation: A Shared Struggle
The African Savanna (Bush) Elephant is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List and the African Forest Elephant is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN, primarily due to:
- Poaching for ivory, particularly impacting Forest Elephants.
- Habitat loss and fragmentation, especially in Central Africa.
- Human-wildlife conflict, as expanding settlements encroach on elephant ranges.
Safeguarding these incredible animals requires collective action – protected areas, ethical tourism, and global efforts to end the illegal ivory trade.
World Elephant Day: 12 August
Celebrated each year on 12 August, World Elephant Day is a global initiative to raise awareness of the urgent need to protect elephants and their habitats. It’s a time to reflect on the threats they face and to unite behind solutions that ensure their survival – community-led conservation, supporting anti-poaching units and choosing wildlife experiences that put animal welfare first.
Elephant Conservation Efforts at Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve
While Forest Elephants do not occur in South Africa, Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve is dedicated to the protection of African Savanna (Bush) Elephants and the broader conservation ethos that supports all wildlife across the continent. Inverdoorn’s elephant conservation efforts include; anti-poaching initiatives, habitat restoration as well as educating guests on their importance to the ecosystem on safaris.
Experience African Savanna Elephants Ethically at Inverdoorn
At Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve, we believe that connecting people with wildlife inspires conservation. While Forest Elephants are seldom seen outside Central Africa, your safari here offers the chance to encounter African Savanna (Bush) Elephants in their natural Karoo habitat, just two hours from Cape Town.
Whether you’re standing in awe as a matriarch leads her herd across the Karoo plains, or listening to the low rumble of elephant communication at sunset, these moments stay with you forever.
Book your safari at Inverdoorn today to see African Savanna Elephants only 2 hours from Cape Town.
Also read: What is an Ethical Safari?
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Elephants
How many species of elephants are there?
There are three living species of elephants: the African Savanna (Bush) Elephant, the African Forest Elephant, and the Asian Elephant. The two African species are found on the continent of Africa, while the Asian Elephant inhabits parts of South and Southeast Asia.
What is the difference between African and Asian elephants?
African elephants are generally larger, with bigger ears shaped like the African continent, while Asian elephants have smaller, rounded ears. African elephants also have two “fingers” on their trunks, whereas Asian elephants have just one.
Which is the biggest elephant
The African Savanna (Bush) Elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest elephant and land animal on Earth. Adult bulls can reach 4 metres tall, weigh up to 6,800 kg (15,000 lbs), and have tusks over 3 metres (10 feet) long. The biggest on record weighed an incredible 10,800 kg (23,800 lbs).
What kind of social structure do elephants have?
Savanna Elephants live in matriarchal herds, led by the oldest female. Males leave the herd when mature and may roam alone or in bachelor groups. Forest Elephants form smaller family units of 3–5 individuals.
Why are elephants considered ecosystem engineers?
Savanna Elephants shape landscapes by browsing vegetation, creating pathways, and spreading seeds through their dung. Forest Elephants disperse seeds throughout rainforests, helping maintain forest diversity. Both are vital for ecosystem health.
Which elephants can I see at Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve?
At Inverdoorn, visitors can ethically encounter African Savanna Elephants in their natural Karoo environment.
How does Inverdoorn support elephant conservation?
Inverdoorn focuses on anti-poaching initiatives, habitat restoration, and guest education. The reserve offers ethical safari experiences that highlight the importance of elephants to the ecosystem.
What do elephants eat?
Elephants are herbivores. Their diet consists mainly of grass, leaves, bark, fruit, and roots. A single adult can eat up to 150 kg (330 lbs) of vegetation each day and drink over 100 litres (26 gallons) of water.
How intelligent are elephants?
Elephants are among the most intelligent animals on the planet. They display self-awareness, empathy, problem-solving abilities, and strong social bonds. They are known to mourn their dead and communicate through vocalisations, rumbles, and even seismic vibrations.
How long do elephants live?
In the wild, elephants can live between 60 and 70 years. Lifespan depends on factors such as habitat, diet, and protection from poaching.
How do elephants care for their young?
Elephant herds are matriarchal, led by an experienced female. Calves are cared for not only by their mothers but by the entire herd – a behaviour known as “allomothering.” Young elephants are nurtured, taught, and protected by the group.
