African elephant
'Loxodonta africana'
Swahili: Tembo/Ndovu
Best parks to see it: Amboseli, Samburu, Aberdare
Elephants inhabit a variety of terrains from dry bushland to mountain forests, though their daily food and water needs (some 200 kg or 440 lb of vegetable matter and 190 liters or 50 US gallons of water) usually keep them near woods and water sources, and can push them to migrate long distances. They gather in matriarchal groups led by an old female and can live up to 60 years.
They can be easily seen crossing the plains in Amboseli National Park, where they seem to ignore the vehicle traffic. However they can be aggressive and unpredictable and they should never be approached too close, specially in the case of females with calves or old solitary males. At places with less vehicle traffic like Samburu, Aberdare or Tsavo they can be particularly irritable.
Elephants in Amboseli National Park. J.Y./Kenyalogy.com
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