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Large mammals
Desert elephant
Desert elephant · Loxodonta africana
Desert elephants are survival specialists in dry river landscapes and captivate with their adaptations to extreme heat.
Fact file
- Size
- Up to 3 metres shoulder height, adults weigh up to 5 tonnes
- Males and females
- Males are significantly larger and have stronger tusks than females
- Sounds
- Communicates with deep, humming sounds and occasional trumpeting
- Diet
- Eats leaves, bark, roots, fruit and grasses, often adapted to dry-climate plants
- Offspring
- Usually a single calf is born after a gestation period of 22 months
How to identify Desert elephant
Desert elephants are impressively large animals with sand-grey to light brown skin that often looks dusty. Their build is massive, with long legs and a compact torso that seem adapted to the living conditions of the desert.
The tusks of desert elephants are usually somewhat shorter and thinner than those of other African bush elephants, as they often break off or wear down when crossing rocky terrain. Typical features are wide, rounded ears and a fine layer of dust on the back that protects against sun and insects.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- 5 places where you can see Desert elephant
Where Desert elephant live
Discover Desert elephant on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
