Perhaps the most iconic of Africa's animal species, the elephant is without a doubt one of the most thrilling animals to see on safari. Supremely intelligent, emotionally aware and with a complex social structure, the African elephant is also the world's largest land mammal, weighing up to six tonnes when fully grown and standing as tall as 3,2m at the shoulder. 

Unlike their Asian cousins, both African elephant bulls and cows have tusks, which are actually enlarged canine teeth that keep growing throughout their up to 70-year lifespan. It's these tusks that have caused such decimation to the species thanks to the scourge of ivory poaching that has seen numbers across Africa plummet to around 400,000, from 1,5-million just 25 years ago. It's estimated that we lose an elephant to poaching every 15 minutes.

These majestic mammals are revered across Africa for their inate wisdom and natural gentility and when you see them in their natural habitat they are truly spectacular to behold and spend time with. Sitting and watching a breeding herd of elephants interacting and feeding together is something you will never forget and a truly humbling experience.

So where's best to see these wonderful animals at close quarters and experience that unique, jumbo magic? Let's have a look at some elephant hotspots that we can take you to...

Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa

The Kruger National Park and its surrounding private game reserves, known collectively as the Greater Kruger ecosystem, is home to the majority of the country's elephant population - around 17,000 animals - making it a prime destination when it comes to watching elephants. 

The best time to view them is in the dry season (June to October) when they gather in large numbers around permanent waterholes and dams, or explore dry river beds where they dig for water.

The Greater Kruger is home to some impressive "tuskers" - large, dominant bulls with exceptional tusks - and sometimes you get to see these incredible bulls at very close quarters. They move freely between the Kruger Park itself and the neighbouring reserves - the Balule, Klaserie, Timbavati, Manyeleti, Sabi Sand and Thornybush, to name just a few.

These reserves, as well as Kruger itself, are home to some superlative safari lodges and camps offering exceptional safari experiences.

Lower Zambezi Valley, Zambia and Zimbabwe

This unique elephant hotspot is dissected by the mighty Zambezi River, a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia - and two national parks - Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwean side and Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park. 

It's one of the most elephant-rich areas in Southern Africa. The river here is wide and lazy and dotted with lush, green islands where elephants freely graze and browse. 

On the Zambian side, the Lower Zambezi National Park and its related western game management area is renowned for large breeding herds which regularly come down to the river to drink or to swim over to the islands to feed. 

Over in Zimbabwe, Mana Pools is renowned for its acrobatic elephants who have learned to balance on their hind legs to stand up and reach for the overhanging branches of winterthorn trees and their delicious seed pods. 

You will often see breeding herds crossing the river from one side to the other, which is a sight not to be missed. Game activities take place on land and on the water, offering visitors on both sides the chance to experience fantastic elephant sightings and a wide range of accommodation options are on offer, from rustic bushcamps to luxurious, award-winning camps and lodges.

Chobe National Park, Botswana

With one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Africa with a population estimate of 120,000, this really is "elephant central".  The Chobe ecosystem links up with the Savuti, Linyanti and Selinda regions of the far north of Botswana creating a massive elephant corridor. 

Chobe has become renowned the world over for its enormous herds of elephants that can number in their hundreds. They move freely across the Chobe River that's also a border between Botswana and neighbouring Namibia. Like the Zambezi, the Chobe is dotted with islands where you will see elephants grazing, and its wide floodplains are lush all year round. 

Visitors to Chobe can enjoy traditional, terrestrial  game drives in open safari vehicles as well as boat-based game viewing on the Chobe River itself. This gives unique access to the elephant herds as they come down to the river to drink or to graze on its banks or various islands. 

A range of accommodation options are available in and around Chobe National Park, from luxurious resort-style safari lodges and houseboats to "glamping" in marvellous mobile tented camps that offer an immersive, authentic safari experience.