The best elephant safari in Africa? 9 African safaris with elephants galore

Where's the best place to see elephants in Africa? We are often asked which safari parks are best for an elephant safari that's affordable. Luckily there are many fantastic, budget-friendly places to go on safari with elephants. To help you choose, here are 9 of the best elephant safari tours to top African parks.

9 Best Elephant Safari Tours in Africa

These are the 9 best elephant safari tours (and wildlife parks) for an affordable African safari with elephants galore.

Amboseli Kenya elephant safari by Ray in Manila

As always the African safaris listed below are all guided tours with our reputable 80+ safari partners across the continent. They are the best elephant safaris in Africa for budget-conscious travellers.

East African Elephant Safari Tours

The best places to see elephants in East Africa are Tanzania and Kenya.

1. Kenya Elephant Safari: Amboseli Park & Tsavo National Park

Home to about 1,600 elephants, Amboseli Park is famous for its large herds of big elephants, which include big bulls with impressive tusks. It is one of the best places to see elephants up close in the wild. In Amboseli National Park you can see herds of up to 100 elephants with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.

Amboseli elephant safari in Kenya by Ray in Manila

Tsavo National Park is renowned for its large elephant herds covered in red dust, hosting over 12,000 elephants in its massive 8,765mi² (22,700km²) area.

Tsavo elephants safari, Kenya

• 5-Day Kenya Lodge Safari in Tsavo & Amboseli Parks - tour price from $2,041 per person

Samburu National Reserve and Masai Mara National Reserve are also top places for elephant safaris in Kenya

2. Tanzania Safari with Elephants: Tarangire Park & Ngorongoro Crater 

Tarangire National Park is the best place for an elephant safari in Tanzania, followed by Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. On Tarangire safaris, you can see herds of elephants up to 300 strong! The park hosts over 4,000 elephants. In the dry season (July to October) as many as 3,000 additional elephants migrate into Tarangire Park making this the best time for an elephant safari here.

Tarangire elephants safari, Tanzania by Antje Schultner

• 5-Day Tanzania Safari - Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire - tour price from $1,870 per person

The nearby Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Park host sizeable safari elephant populations year-round.

Ngorongoro Crater elephants safari, Kenya

Lake Manyara National Park is another excellent place to see elephants on safari in Tanzania. It is also located on the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit, close to Tarangire, Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater.

3. Tanzania Elephant Safari: Ruaha National Park & Nyere (Selous)

For the best elephant safari in Tanzania's southern region, head to Ruaha National Park. This remote Tanzania park is home to high concentrations of elephants with about 15,000 elephants. It hosts the largest elephant population in Tanzania, if not East Africa.

Nyere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) is another top place to see elephants on safaris in Tanzania

Ruaha elephant safari in Tanzania by Guido and Carrara family

• 8-Day South Tanzania Fly-in Safari to Selous and Ruaha - tour price from $3,995 per person or the cheaper 7-Day Private Tanzania Safari to Mikumi & Ruaha Parks - tour price from $2,400 per person

Southern African Elephant Safari Parks & Tours

In southern Africa, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are the best places for a safari with elephants aplenty, followed by Namibia.

4. Botswana Safari with Elephants: Chobe Park & Okavango Delta​

Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta are both located in Northern Botswana which hosts the largest elephant population in the world, with over 120,000 elephants living in the region. Chobe Park is the best place for elephant safaris in Botswana hosting high concentrations of these gentle giants. The elephant population of Chobe Park is estimated at about 50,000, or more when elephants migrate into the park.

• 5-Day Chobe & Okavango Delta Lodge Safari - tour price from $3,321 per person

Chobe safari with elephants, Botswana

5. Zambia Elephant Safari: South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa Park is home to the bulk of Zambia's elephants supporting over 14,000 elephants. You are likely to see large elephant herds roaming free on safari here. Better still, South Luangwa National Park is one of the best places to encounter elephants on foot in Africa. This Zambian park is the birthplace of the walking safari in Africa.

Walking safari with elephants, Zambia

• 5-Day South Luangwa Tented Camping Safari - tour price from $2,512 per person

6. South Africa Elephant Safari: Kruger Park

Kruger Park is the best place for an elephant safari in South Africa. Kruger National Park is home to about 20,000 elephants!

Located in northern South Africa, this massive national park is one of the best places in Africa to see elephants, along with the other Big 5 animals (rhino, lion, leopard, and buffalo). 

Kruger safari with elephants, South Africa

• 5-Day Kruger National Park Safari - Tented Camping  - tour price from $882 per person

7. South Africa Safari with Elephants: Addo Elephant National Park

Addo Elephant Park rivals Kruger as the top destination to safari with elephants in South Africa. It is home to over 600 elephants but within a much smaller area. Addo Elephant National Park hosts high concentrations of elephants. So, you're more likely to see an abundance of African elephants on a safari here.

The third largest national park in the country, Addo Elephant Park is located on the south coast of South Africa. It is the best place for elephant safaris in South Africa, outside of Kruger Park.

Addo elephant safari in South Africa

• 5 Day Addo Park & Kariega Big 5 Safari - tour price from $2,160 per person

Kariega safari with elephants, South Africa

8. Namibia Elephants Safari: Etosha National Park

Over 2,500 elephants inhabit Etosha National Park in northern Namibia. The elephants of Etosha are the tallest in Africa and they display rare adaptations to the desert-like conditions of the Etosha Pan. The elephants of Etosha are easy to see in the dry environment of Etosha. Elephant watching is superb, especially in winter when they gather at waterholes scattered across the arid landscape.

Etosha elephant safari in Namibia by noirdenoir67

• 5-Day Affordable Etosha Lodge Safari - tour price from $1,760 per person 

9. Zimbabwe Elephant Safari: Hwange National Park

Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park is one of the best places for elephant safaris in Africa. It hosts over 40,000 elephants in an area of only 5,657mi² (14,651 km²). 

Zimbabwe elephant safari in Hwange

• 6-Day Zimbabwe Safari - Victoria Falls & Hwange Lodge Safari - tour price from $2,589 per person

Another top place to see African elephants on safari in Zimbabwe is Mana Pools National Park.

Best Places to Safari with Elephants in Africa (and the Big 5)

Now that you've seen some of the best elephant safari tours in Africa, get in touch and book your favourite one!

Okavango Delta elephants, Botswana safari

Or, take a closer look at the top elephant safari destinations in Africa to help you figure out which is best for you. Is it the watery delta, open savannahs, rugged bushveld, or dramatic salt pans that will steal your heart? Each of these elephant hotspots is close to different attractions and natural wonders, offering travellers a wide array of different activities and African experiences.

Find out more in the 11 Best Places to See Elephants in Africa (in the wild) and the Best Places to See Africa's Big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalos, and elephants).

Alternatively, get advice from a friendly travel expert at African Budget Safaris for help planning your ideal safari with elephants for Africa.

Mikumi elephants safari in Tanzania