I’ve seen them dig into the sand to find water and I’ve seen those water holes be used by other animals.
They’re so big they need to be eating about 18 hours a day, and they’re almost always on their feet. They sleep very little and almost never lie down, but the babies do like to lie down quite a bit. I’ve seen babies chase after other animals, play with adults, play tricks on each other, and even mock-charge vehicles and people. Adults males can be aggressive sometimes, and females can be very protective of their young. However, overall, they’re very peaceful animals that play a vital role in Southern Africa's ecosystem.
The African bush elephant is the largest living land animal on the planet. They are huge animals, and adult males are even bigger than females. They’re mostly greyish brown, and they have huge trunks and thick legs and big tusks and a tail. When they’re in a big group, you can usually see many generations, from the great-great-grandmother to the youngest babies. Adult males usually walk alone, but females generally stay in social groups. They sleep only about two to three hours total per day, and they can walk long distances for food and water.
The first time I saw a family group, I was amazed at their cohesion. I saw the matriarch and the babies, and I saw them all working together and looking after one another. It was incredible. But the first time I saw an adult bull I was simply shocked at his size. I couldn’t believe how big he was and how massive his tusks were. He towered over our vehicle and every other animal nearby.
