Elephant encounters in Akagera national park are one of the most amazing experiences not only in Rwanda but also in the whole of Africa. African elephants are peaceful animals but caution should be taken. Read about the information in this guide to help you understand how you should behave on elephant encounters.

Adult males and female elephants live separately in different societies. A breeding herd of elephants consists of related females headed by the matriarch which happens to be the largest elephant in the herd. Bulls are usually lonely but sometimes temporarily single groups and maybe on the periphery of breeding herds.

While on elephant encounters, observe the females normally become hostile if the young ones are present and make can be hostile during musth, a period of increased testosterone. You may spot secretions from their temporal glands.

Should you meet an elephant on the road, you should give it enough space and enjoy seeing it while you wait for it to move on. while on an elephant encounter always take a good look around, there may be other animals you have not noticed most especially when there is too thick vegetation. If you are very close to an elephant, you cannot see far around you. Move back and re-approach with caution to ensure you don’t get trapped in the middle of the elephants and you are not allowed to move backward or forward.

Give space to other vehicles! Elephants use their ears, trucks, and movements of the head to indicate aggression. Throwing dust, swinging foot and exaggerated feeding behavior can all indicate their indecision or fear. Should you notice all this on elephants, give it space and ensure that you are in a position to retreat if necessary.

On elephant encounters, many of the charges are mock charges. however, if an attack is done on an elephant it’s capable of causing damages, so make sure that you are always in a position to retreat faster if necessary. It’s always good to be very cautious.

Low down your voices as it might frighten the elephants, don’t move your car when you are near the elephants because it may trigger the fight or fight reaction and this may cause a charge.

Avoid getting out of your safari car to have a closer look at the elephants. Akagera has so many animals among which include lions, leopards, buffaloes, hippos, impalas topis, cape elands, olive baboons, blue monkeys, elephants and so many others. In Uganda the elephants can be spotted in Kidepo valley national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, as well as Murchison falls national park.

Many tourists that have elephant encounters in Akagera national park go the extra mile to visit volcanoes national park for mountain gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking as well as chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park. In Uganda mountain gorillas can only be found in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.