When you think of an elephant, you automatically think of their big ears and tusks! Here’s one fact that you may not know, an elephant’s tusks are nothing more than a set of the elephant’s teeth! What they’re made up of is known as ivory (which we’re sure you did know), a type of tissue high in calcium also known as dentin which is found in the teeth of most animals. As an elephant’s tusks can grow to be several feet in length, the ivory in these special teeth is different than most other animal’s teeth because it appears in such a great quantity! Since ivory is easy to carve and smooth, it’s often been very sought-after for use in making everything from decorative items to tools. However, the purchase...
There are many things in the world that people consider worthy of their bucket lists; especially when it comes to seeing things while travelling the world. Many people consider the remaining wonders of the world; things like The Great Wall of China, the Amazon rainforest in Brazil or the legendary pyramids of Egypt. However, for many people there are some things that need to be seen quickly, before they become extinct. Elephants Safaris are one such thing. Elephant numbers have diminished massively over the past one hundred years; mainly because of the greed and ignorance of humans. Poachers have driven numbers down, and people who seek ivory as a luxury resource, too, have driven the elephants almost to the point of extinction. As such many people are taking this opportunity...
Namibia is home to many desert-adapted elephant, and that’s because it’s a very dry environment, and you’ll always be guaranteed fantastic views of the elephant, especially if you paid a visit to Etosha National Park. It’s the perfect environment for desert adapted elephant, but you’ll also get the opportunity to see giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lion and cheetah – oh and perhaps the occasional Hyena. In recent years, there has been a great deal of interest in volunteering with elephant, in Namibia, and out of all of the African countries, there are more opportunities here than anywhere else, especially if you’ve always wanted to work with them and see them up close. Male desert-adapted elephant, also known as African bush elephant, tend to live alone, while females and their young make...
Namibia attracts many tourists due to the wildlife and quite unique culture, and the Fish River Canyon is definitely worth a visit. It’s the second largest canyon in the world and it was formed over 500 years ago. It’s amazing how much the river changes throughout the turn of the year. Most of the time it’s rather dry but between January and April it can be intense. You’re likely to see zebra and leopard in the mountains while the river is home to fish eagles and of course many animals make the risky walk down to quench their thirst. It’s certainly one of the most impressive sights in Namibia and while a visit in June can be the best period if you’re looking to see plenty of animals while it’s...
If what you’re after is a holiday where you can see, and maybe interact with animals, then visiting an elephant reserve could by right for you. Elephant reserves come in various styles; with some of them trying to rehabilitate injured or traumatised animals, and others acting as a wild-life reserve, only with a focus upon the security of the elephant population, and others still caring for orphaned elephants. These can offer wildly varying experiences to visitors. Traumatised elephants, which have most likely been traumatised by humans, could act very aggressively to humans, as we will be perceived as a threat, so if you want to have any close interaction with the animals, this isn’t the one for you. An elephant orphanage can offer this, but it is important to follow...