The Kingdom of Elephants

When dreaming of the vast stretches of savannah, it is often the image of the elephant that comes to mind. This legendary animal fascinates and impresses with its size, its iconic tusks, its distinctive trunk and its enormous ears. Since antiquity, it has been consistently mentioned or depicted to evoke the Orient or the unexplored lands south of the Mediterranean. The African elephant truly is a species apart.

It is divided into two species: the forest elephant and the savannah elephant. The latter is the largest living land mammal: it can stand over 3 metres tall, reach 6 metres in length, and weigh up to 6,000 kilos. Despite these impressive dimensions, and its more than imposing presence — which can make for excellent photographs — it is in fact a discreet, calm animal. Indeed, while it can be seen from kilometres away, it can only be heard once very close by.

The pachyderm uses its trunk to communicate, show affection or handle objects and food. Its famous tusks, which grow throughout its life, are used to dig the ground, mark trees or fight other males. Its ears help regulate its body temperature. It is said to remember a human face for its entire life, which can span 70 years. It is considered highly intelligent, even wise. Ask a guide which animal is their favourite, and they will usually answer: the elephant.

For many, a first encounter with an African elephant is an unforgettable moment. No matter how often you imagine its sheer size, no matter how often you’ve heard that no one moves in its presence, seeing one in person remains exceptional.

To experience this, nothing compares to Chobe National Park in Botswana. Between 50,000 and 70,000 individuals are thought to live within its 11,700 km² area — roughly a tenth of the entire species. On a 4x4 safari, sightings are frequent, as elephant families search for a waterhole to drink from, mud to cool off in, or acacia trees to rest beneath.
Welcome to the kingdom of elephants.