Habitat and Habitat Utilization

The African Elephant is found south of the Sahara in Africa. They live in a wide variety of habitats, including the savannas, rain forests, and subdeserts. In many areas family units migrate seasonally. During rainy seasons, elephants typically travel across the savannas to graze the seasonal grasses. During dry seasons, elephants typically congregate near forests and water sources (Estes 1991).
Elephants spend around 16 hours a day eating, only digesting about 40 percent of what they eat. Their diet is variable depending upon season and the local environment, consisting mainly of grass (Moss 1982). Elephants prefer to drink and bathe every day, but can go up to several days without drinking (Estes 1991). During dry seasons, elephants dig in the riverbed sand to create a watering hole (Moss 1982).