The African elephant is perhaps the most enduring symbol of nature’s grace and fragility.
These gentle giants are Earth’s largest land mammal and a common sight for those on safari in Africa. Nonetheless, these magnificent beasts are facing unprecedented threats to their existence, making both the imperative to understand more about them and the chance to encounter them in the wild more important than ever.
Let us help you do both.
An adult African elephant is large. Seriously large: a fully grown male can weigh in at 13,334lb (6048kg), and even the smallest adult male rarely dips below 8820lb (4000kg) – which is two-and-a-half times heavier than your average family car. Females are typically just over half the weight of the male. The size difference narrows when it comes to height: the tallest males are 13ft (4m), with the tallest female rising to 11ft (3.4m). Apart from overall size (and unless the male is, um, aroused), the most obvious difference between males and females is that cows have angular foreheads, with bulls’ foreheads being more rounded.
Apart from humankind, elephants have few natural enemies. In some areas, such as Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe or in the Savuti region of northern Botswana, certain lion prides have learned to hunt infant and adolescent elephants. Thankfully, this isn’t the norm.
Safari animals: the story of lions (and the best places to see them)
Elephants live in close, cross-generational groups of females. An elephant mother has one of the longest pregnancy periods – some 650 days – in the natural world. Most often, the mother gives birth to a single calf, and that calf will be able to walk (albeit unsteadily) within hours of being born. Baby elephants continue to breastfeed throughout the first two years of their lives, and many will not be truly independent until the age of 10.
If the young elephant is a male, he will leave the herd of its birth somewhere between 10 and 14 years of age. Sometimes this dispersing male will remain alone or attach itself to an experienced larger bull elephant. Young female elephants remain with their natal herd, which may consist of their mother, grandmother, aunts, female cousins and other related females. (What’s not to love?)
This bond with fellow females will endure will last throughout her lifetime. The herd is usually led by an older matriarch, an experienced female that takes the herd to water in times of drought and is the first to stand in defense of the herd’s members.
Strict vegetarians, elephants eat grass, leaves, fruits and even branches or twigs. In any 24-hour period, elephants will spend up to 19 hours eating and can eat up to 750lb (340kg) – or around 5% of their not-inconsiderable body weight. If you extrapolate
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Reliable information regarding hotel accessibility can be murky at best, and the broader hotel industry often comes up short in making this travel experience as easy as possible. Hyatt leaders are showing the company is taking this seriously in a new initiative highlighting the needs of neurodivergent travelers and what needs to be done to improve the travel experience from booking to checking out.
Launched in London more than 20 years ago, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards has become one of the most important ratings in the rarefied world of top tier fine dining (though not without some criticism and controversy). But regardless what people think of the process behind selection, there’s no doubt that some of the big winners over the years have in fact been some of the world’s very best, places like Spain’s El Bulli, England’s The Fate Duck, Italy’s Osteria Francescana, Denmark’s Noma and in the U.S. notables have included Napa Valley’s French Laundry and New York City’s Eleven Madison Park.
Dallas-based real estate investment trust (REIT) Ashford Hospitality Trust has handed over possession and control of 14 hotels back to the loan servicers.
When it comes to sun-soaked adventures, Florida reigns supreme. It was the most popular U.S. state among international visitors in 2022, according to the latest report from the International Trade Administration. Beyond its famed theme parks, the vacation destination offers plenty of exciting excursions for thrill-seekers of all ages.
Step aside Caramel Irish Coffee, Snowballs, Rum Eggnog or other cocktails that grace the winter season. Spring has sprung and with it comes a wide array of creative cocktails from some of the finest eating and drinking establishments in New York City. Truth be told you don’t need to be a skilled Big Apple mixologist to make these refreshing drinks. Just whip them up at home for your next social gathering.
Norway’s capital city is famous for Vigeland Sculpture Park. Rightly so, for the park featuring 212 sculptures of celebrated visionary Gustav Vigeland has long been one of the country’s leading free tourist destinations.
In November, managers at the Arenas del Mar resort near Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica, challenged employees to come up with ways to operate more sustainably. The maintenance crew suggested electric locks on guest room doors. The food and beverage department proposed making jams from fruit peels. And the housekeepers advised: Ditch the slippers.
As a travel writer, one of my greatest loves is experiencing a new country, region, or city with my son. But one place has always been our favorite: London.
Celebrating Mom this Mother’s Day is an opportunity to show how much people love and appreciate her. Gift ideas abound from flowers and chocolate to jewelry and clothes. But, what if you could give the gift of memories with her? Even if time is limited, there are lots of creative hotel packages for entertaining weekend getaways to celebrate with her or for her to enjoy on her own or with friends. These are some of the limited-time deals available for Mother’s Day this season.
For a harried mom, the recipe for a perfect Mother’s Day is undivided time with her loved ones without the hassles of waking up early, cooking, and doing dishes.