Meet the African Elephant
The African elephant (Loxodonta africana), also called the savanna or bush elephant, is the largest living land animal, found in sub-Saharan Africa. Adults weigh 2,400 to 6,000 kg, eat plants such as grass, leaves and bark, and live 60 to 70 years. It is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. At Dubai Safari Park you can see it in the African Village.
The African savanna elephant is the biggest land animal alive. Bulls can stand about 3 to 4 metres at the shoulder and weigh up to around 6,000 kg, while cows are smaller. Its huge ears, shaped a little like the African continent, help it lose body heat, and both males and females grow tusks, which are really elongated upper incisors. The trunk, a fusion of nose and upper lip, is used for breathing, smelling, drinking, grasping food and greeting other elephants. Grey, wrinkled skin helps hold moisture and mud against the sun.
Elephants live in tight family herds led by an older female, the matriarch, whose memory of water sources and past dangers guides the group. Adult bulls spend much of their time alone or in loose bachelor groups. They are herbivores and eat around 150 kg of grass, leaves, bark and fruit a day, spending most of their waking hours feeding. Elephants communicate with rumbles, some of them below the range of human hearing, which can carry over several kilometres, and they also use touch, scent and posture.
A female carries her calf for about 22 months, the longest pregnancy of any land mammal, and usually gives birth to a single calf weighing roughly 100 kg. The whole herd helps look after it. Because females breed slowly, populations recover slowly from losses. The African savanna elephant was assessed as Endangered by the IUCN in 2021, after a steep decline driven by ivory poaching and habitat loss.
Quick Facts
Did You Know?
- An elephant's pregnancy lasts about 22 months, longer than that of any other land mammal.
- An elephant's trunk can hold several litres of water, and it can also pick up something as small as a single peanut.
- Elephants can produce very low-frequency rumbles that travel for several kilometres through air and ground, letting distant herd members keep in touch.
Best Way to See the African Elephant
Join the guided Explorer Safari Tour and look out for the African elephant as you travel through the African Village, or take your time along the walking trail.
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Visual Discovery Gallery
Explore stunning moments captured of the African Elephant at Dubai Safari Park.
Photo: Andrew Rice, Hu Chen, AJ Robsin, Larry Li, Nam Anh, Wolfgang Hasselmann / Unsplash
Where to Find the African Elephant
You will find the African elephant in the African Village, one of the park's five themed wildlife villages. Look for it on the Explorer Safari Tour or from the viewing platforms.
Open the Park Map
Find the African Elephant habitat on our interactive map.
Explorer Safari Tour
Get up close on a guided safari through their territory.
Guest Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible viewing platforms.
A More Human Story
“Elephants are thinking, feeling, social animals, so a good day is one with company, choices and something interesting to explore.”
Care teams monitor each elephant's appetite, weight, skin, feet and behaviour, and adjust a plant-based diet to suit the individual. Daily enrichment such as scattered food, new textures and things to push and pull keeps minds and bodies active.
Protecting the African Elephant
The African savanna elephant is listed as Endangered by the IUCN (2021 assessment). Its population fell by at least 60% over the last 50 years, mainly because of ivory poaching and the loss and fragmentation of habitat, with human-elephant conflict a growing pressure. Roughly 415,000 African elephants of both species remain. Visiting Dubai Safari Park supports conservation awareness and education about protecting elephants and their habitat.
Nutrition
Elephants are herbivores. In human care their diet is built around hay and fresh browse, supplemented with vegetables and fruit, and spread across the day to mimic natural grazing.
Enrichment
Keepers offer food puzzles, scattered feed, varied surfaces and objects to explore, encouraging natural behaviours such as foraging, digging and dusting.
Education
Guests learn how elephants live in families, why they matter to their ecosystems, and how people can help protect them in the wild.
Fun Facts for Kids
Amazing facts about the African Elephant for kids!
An elephant flaps its big ears to cool down, like a built-in fan, and no two ears look exactly the same.
The trunk is a nose, a hand, a straw and a snorkel all in one, and it works with amazing gentleness.
Elephants are famous for remembering places and family members, and the oldest female leads the herd.
Discover More Friends
Keep exploring the incredible animals of Dubai Safari Park.
African Elephant FAQs
Common questions about the African Elephant.
Can I see African elephants at Dubai Safari Park?
Yes. The African elephant is part of the wildlife you can see at Dubai Safari Park. Look for it in the African Village, one of the park's five themed zones, from the Explorer Safari Tour or from the viewing platforms.
Which zone are the African elephants in?
African elephants are in the African Village, the zone dedicated to animals from the savannas and woodlands of Africa. It is one of five themed wildlife villages, alongside Explorer Village, Arabian Desert, Asian Village and Wadi.
What is the best time to see African elephants?
Elephants are usually more active in the cooler parts of the day, so morning or late afternoon is a good time to visit. They often rest, bathe or dust themselves in the heat, but they can be seen at other times too.
Why is the African elephant Endangered?
The IUCN listed the African savanna elephant as Endangered in 2021 after its population fell by at least 60% over 50 years. The main causes are poaching for ivory and the loss and fragmentation of habitat, including conflict with people over land and crops.
How much does an African elephant eat?
An adult African elephant eats roughly 150 kg of plant food every day, including grass, leaves, bark, twigs and fruit. Because it digests food inefficiently, it must feed for most of its waking hours and can spend up to about 16 hours a day eating.
How long do African elephants live?
African elephants typically live 60 to 70 years. They reach adulthood in their teens, and females stay with their family herd for life. Older females, especially the matriarch, carry knowledge of food and water that helps the whole group.
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