African Forest Elephants Vs Savanna Elephants

African forest elephants Vs Savanna elephants: Are forest elephants different from bush elephants? What is the difference between bush or savanna and forest elephants? There are only 2 (two) species of elephants- the African and Asian elephants. In Africa, the most sought for elephant species include the African bush/savanna elephants and African forest elephants. While there is a close similarity between the two African elephant species, they also differ in many aspects.

African forest elephants

Size: The African forest elephants are smaller in size than the African bush or savanna elephants. The forest elephants can stand at 8-10ft tall and they live mainly in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa. Amazingly, while on Uganda safaris, it is possible to spot the forest elephants in different parks such as Kibale National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, etc.

African Forest Elephants

Being forest dwellers, the African forest elephants feed on tree leaves and fruits. They are distinct from bush elephants due to their oval-shaped ears and straight tusks. They also live in smaller herds than savanna or bush elephants.

African savanna elephants

The African bush elephants are often spotted while on game viewing in most of the savanna parks in Africa. They are bigger in size and stand 13ft in height. They depend on vegetation that grows under hot and dry climatic conditions. The bush elephants also feed on tall grass and scattered trees. They live mainly in the savanna grassland areas and they differ from forest elephants due to their unique tusks that curve outwards. Unlike forest elephants, bush or savanna elephants have a faster reproductive rate.

The African savanna elephants can be spotted in larger herds and the African forest elephants live in groups of about 20 individuals.

Are elephants endangered?

Over the years, the African savanna and forest elephant population has kept on declining due to various factors. They are threatened/endangered species for many reasons including poaching, habitat loss brought about by deforestation, need for land for farming, settlement, charcoal burning, etc; human-wildlife conflicts, and others. Not more than 500000 elephants are left on earth today, 415,000 are in Africa and about 40,000 in Asia.

Where to see African elephants?

African elephants are distributed throughout the African continent. These fascinating mammal species can be spotted while on an African safari in Chobe National Park, Mashatu Game Reserve- Botswana, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park- Uganda. In Kenya, the best places to see elephants include Amboseli National Park, Tsavo National Parks, Masai Mara National Reserve. In Zambia, visit South Luangwa National Park.

African bull elephant on the move (Loxodonta africana), Samburu National Reserve, Kenya

In South Africa, visit Addo Elephant Park, Kruger National Park; in Tanzania, the best places to encounter elephants include Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In Rwanda, savanna elephants are best spotted while on a game drive or wildlife safari in its only savanna National Park- Akagera National Park.

Forest elephants exist mostly within Gabon, the Republic of Congo, and in parts of the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, and many more. Interestingly, Uganda shelters both the African bush/savanna elephants and African forest elephants.

When to see elephants?

Elephants are a few most amazing African mammal species and they attract most of the African safari holidaymakers who come to see the big game. They are among the most sought-after big game on an African safari and generally, they can be excellently spotted during the dry season starting from June, July, August to September, or December, January to February.