While African (Loxodonta Africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants may seem rather alike, upon closer inspection it becomes evident that these two species are, in fact, vastly different. Both animals are revered in their respective countries, but for different reasons – while the African elephant is seen predominantly as a tourism magnet, the
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The Big Five
The Big Five are an iconic emblem of Africa, synonymous with the untamed beauty and alluring wildness of one of the world's most enthralling continents. Staying in Addo Elephant Park accommodation is one of the foremost ways to view these powerful creatures in their natural environment – the park plays host to all five members, with a particularly
Read More »The World’s Biggest Animals
A rabbit that's bigger than a dog, an amphibian that's roughly the size of a small human child and a fox that flies – here is a list of some of the world's biggest creatures (the information in this article has been adapted from the Twisted Sifter's post, '15 of the largest animals in the world'): The heaviest land-dwelling creature: can you guess?
Read More »Elephant Myths: Fact or Fiction?
Before arriving at stunning Addo Elephant Park accommodation, guests can update their elephant expertise with the following list of common myths, facts and fallacies: Myth: Elephants love to snack on peanuts False: The elephant is the world’s biggest land animal and spends anywhere from 16 to 18 hours a day eating. In comparison, peanuts are just t
Read More »Of Elephants and Ivory
The African elephant is, at present, a protected and endangered species and Addo Elephant Park in the Eastern Cape is home to one of the densest populations of elephants in the world. There are a number of Addo accommodation facilities available too, where guests can watch herds of elephants grazing from their bedroom windows. At this sanctuary, es
Read More »The History of Elephant Poaching
The history of elephant poaching maps a bloody path that spans centuries, all the way to antiquity, when ivory was an incredibly sought after material that was frequently traded across the Silk Road. Elephants have always been an important source for ivory and, during the late 1900's, uncontrolled elephant poaching pushed the species to the brink o
Read More »Are elephants really afraid of mice?
Do you know of the popular tale about elephants being afraid of mice? Well, it seems entirely absurd, doesn't it? Considering how unlikely it appears that an enormous pachyderm like an elephant would scuttle away in fright from a tiny little mouse. We owe this crazy belief to Pliny the Elder, a prominent Roman thinker who lived around A.D. 77. In h
Read More »Battle of the pachyderms: Elephant vs Rhino
Battle of the pachyderms: Elephant vs Rhino Charles Darwin was definitely onto something when he borrowed the phrase 'survival of the fittest'. According to evolutionary theory, only those who adapt to their surroundings will be fit to survive and it doesn't only apply to humans, but the animal kingdom too. In Africa, the Big Five are classed as 'b
Read More »7 Baby Elephants That Will Cheer Up Your Day
The largest land-based animal in the world is the elephant. Their massive frames can seem quite intimidating, but before growing to such sizes they were, of course, babies. And elephant babies are ridiculously adorable! Some facts about elephant calves: Baby elephants typically have a birth weight of roughly 113 kilograms and are typically just und
Read More »Legends of the White Elephant
The animal kingdom abounds with white and albino creatures and many of these animals are shrouded in myth and legend. The white lion is rooted in mythology concerning the presence of a fallen star that caused the animals to be born white, there is the legend of Moby Dick, the albino Sperm whale fictionalised by Herman Melville and, when it comes to
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