Etosha’s elephants are one of the largest in Africa, the tallest measuring up to four meters at the shoulder.
With their skin stained white by clay and calcite sand, these elephants look like ghosts haunting the sun-drenched savannah.
Once the moisture dry, a residue of white calcite sand and white clay is left covering their leathery skin.
Their tusks on the other hand, are smaller than those of elephants elsewhere in Africa. This is ascribed to breakages resulting from mineral deficiencies in their diet and genetic defects.
The fact that Etosha’s elephants have smallish tusks is a distinct advantage, in so far as this makes them less likely to fall prey to ivory poachers.
