6 circus locations has kept elephants in South Africa There is presently 2 (0,2) living elephants in circus locations in South Africa (in this database)
Before 1981 South Africa had only elephants in KNP, Addo elephant park, Tembe elephant reserve in KwaZulu Natal and some migrating animals from Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The present (2006) wild elephant population is maybe more than 20 000 elephants;
* KNP had in 2005 abt 17 000 elephants (Outside KNP Limpopo area has 831 elephants)
* Swaziland 38
* KwaZulu Natal abt 1 000
* Eastern Cape abt 540
* Northwest 622
* Eastern Cape 6 elephants
* Addo elephant park more than 400 elephants.
South Africa has a legal export of 60 elephant trophies a year. The cost of shooting an elephant is about 20 000 US$, money which partly is financing protection against poaching.
The first elephant back safaris in SA was offered in 2002 by Randall Moore.