10 Things You Didnāt Know About African Elephants
By Anna Kagenya, Two Star Safaris Ltd, Kenya
Thereās something ancient about them. African elephants donāt just walk the landāthey remember it. You feel that when you see one up close: the heavy stillness, the way they look right through you, the quiet rumble you feel more than hear. And yet, for all their visibility and grandeur, thereās so much about elephants that still surprises even the most seasoned travelersāand, occasionally, those of us who work with wildlife every day.
So today, I wanted to share a few facts and oddities. Not the usual "worldās largest land mammal" list. But little things. Curiosities. Fragments of the story.
Here are ten things you probably didnāt know about African elephants.
There are countless reportsāsome recorded, some passed down through rangersāof elephants mourning the dead. Theyāll linger near the bones of a lost matriarch, gently touching them with their trunks. Sometimes for days. Iāve seen this once, and to be honest, it felt wrong to interrupt. Like we were intruding on a sacred moment.
2. Elephants Donāt Like Bees.
Odd, right? But itās true. Elephants avoid beehives like we avoid potholes in rainy season. Some communities in Kenya have started stringing beehive fences around cropsāturns out itās an effective (and sustainable) way to prevent crop-raiding. Nature, solving its own conflicts.
3. Their Trunks Have Over 40,000 Muscles.
Just the trunk. Thatās more than all the muscles in your body combined. And they use it with remarkable precisionāplucking single blades of grass, lifting tree trunks, even giving their babies a nudge when they lag behind.
4. They "Talk" Using Low-Frequency Sounds We Canāt Hear.
Elephants communicate using infrasonic rumbles that travel through the ground. They can pick up these vibrations through their feet, using a sensitive structure in their bones and pads. Some scientists believe they can "hear" distant storms or other herds from kilometers away. Itās like another language, completely invisible to us.
5. Baby Elephants Have to Learn How to Use Their Trunks.
Itās a bit awkward, watching a baby elephant try to control its trunk. They swing it wildly, trip over it, sometimes even suck on it like a pacifier. It takes them months to figure out the fine motor control.
6. They Shape the EcosystemāLiterally.
African elephants are often called "ecosystem engineers." They knock down trees (sometimes frustratingly), dig water holes during drought, and clear pathways used by other animals. Without elephants, many habitats would change entirely.
7. They Can Get Sunburned.
Believe it or not, those thick skins are sensitive. Calves especially are prone to sunburn, which is why they often walk under the shade of their mothers. And the mud baths? Not just for funāthey offer a layer of protection against sun and insects.
8. Each Elephant Has a Unique Personality.
This might sound like a sentimental observation, but spend enough time around elephants, and it becomes obvious. Some are cautious. Others are bold, curious, even cheeky. Thereās one older bull we sometimes see on our Two Star Safaris Ltd tours in Amboseliāhe approaches vehicles not aggressively, but almost... nosily. Like he wants to know what kind of tires weāre using.
9. They Have Excellent MemoryāBut Itās More Than That.
Yes, the saying āelephants never forgetā has truth to it. Matriarchs recall water sources from decades ago. They recognize faces. But what fascinates me is how they pass this knowledge downāgenerational learning. Elders guide the group, not just physically but socially. Itās wisdom, in the truest sense.
10. Elephants are a Mirror.
This oneās less scientific. But Iāve noticed it over the years: how people react to elephants often tells you something about them. Theyāre not just animals in the landscapeāthey reflect something back to us. Our awe. Our fear. Our longing to protect whatās still wild.
At Two Star Safaris Ltd, based here in Kenya, elephants are at the heart of many of our guest experiences. And every time we see themāwhether for the first time or the hundredthāit feels like a gift. But itās also a responsibility. Because these creatures face real threats: habitat loss, poaching, climate shifts.
Thatās why part of our work quietly supports conservation effortsāwhether through partnerships with local conservancies or simply by educating our guests. Tourism, when done thoughtfully, can be a powerful force for protection.
And itās why being recognized beyond our borders matters more than it might seem.
This year, weāve been nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council, taking place in London this November. Itās not just a nod to our companyāitās an invitation to engage with leaders from all over the world. A gathering of minds focused on resilience, opportunity, and cross-border innovation. A space where even a small Kenyan safari company can contribute something meaningful to the global dialogue.
Because elephants teach us something, I think. About memory. About leadership. And maybe, in their quiet way, about hope.
