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The relationship between elephants and termites

Waterholes provide vital support for many of Africa’s wildlife, particularly in the dry, arid environment of Tsavo. Many of these oases owe their creation to the combined actions of elephants and termites. At Tsavo Trust, we witness firsthand how these two species, vastly different in size, play a crucial role in shaping the landscape. While elephants are often hailed as the architects of the African wilderness, termites, despite their tiny stature, are even more influential. Their activities enrich the soil, create biodiversity hotspots, and even shape the movement of Tsavo’s largest residents.

In this article, we explore the remarkable relationship between elephants and termites, revealing how their interactions drive ecological balance and sustain entire ecosystems.

What are termites and why are they important?

Termites are among the most successful ecosystem engineers on the planet. These social insects build vast underground colonies and towering mounds that can reach several metres high. Each colony operates like a well-oiled machine, with workers maintaining the structure, soldiers defending against predators, and a queen ensuring reproduction.

Within the Tsavo Conservation Area, we frequently see these mounds scattered across the savannah, providing critical microhabitats for a variety of species, including banded mongoose and various snake species. Termites also play a vital role in breaking down dead plant material, recycling nutrients back into the soil. Their partnership with Termitomyces fungi allows them to decompose tough plant fibres that other animals cannot digest, making them essential for maintaining soil fertility.

Without termites, vast areas of Tsavo would lack the nutrients needed to support plant and animal life.

Termite Mound Mongoose
A mongoose soaks in the sun on a termite mound within the Tsavo Conservation Area.

How termites and elephants create waterholes

Elephants are well known for their ability to dig waterholes in dry riverbeds, but they also regularly dig into abandoned termite mounds. The rich, nutrient-packed soil of a termite mound attracts elephants, who excavate them in search of minerals. Over time, their constant digging creates a hollow in the landscape. When the rains come, these depressions fill with water, forming natural waterholes.

At Tsavo Trust, we have observed how these elephant-made waterholes grow larger with each visit. As elephants bathe and wallow, they churn up the mud, deepening the hole and ensuring it holds water for longer. Eventually, these waterholes become crucial hydration points for countless species, from antelope to predators like lions and hyenas.

This process highlights a fascinating cycle of nature—termites enrich the soil, elephants excavate it, and entire ecosystems benefit from the resulting water source.

How Long Is An Elephant Pregnant For
Watering holes, both natural and man made, become vital oases for all forms of life.


Why elephants eat termite mounds (Geophagy)

Elephants do not just dig up termite mounds; they also eat the soil itself. This behaviour, known as geophagy, is driven by a need for minerals that are scarce in their diet.

Scientific studies show that termite mound soil has significantly higher mineral content than surrounding areas. The clay-rich composition provides essential nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium—critical for an elephant’s bone strength, digestion, and overall health.

Interestingly, geophagic termite mounds are often found in specific floodplain areas, suggesting that the mineral-rich soil is a sought-after resource for elephants. By regularly visiting these mounds, elephants gain access to vital nutrients they may not obtain from vegetation alone.

How Wildlife Uses Termite Mounds
This photo taken in the Great Rift Valley clearly shows the importance of termite mounds for wildlife, with clearly worn paths leading right by the termite mound. As animals pass they will eat the mineral rich soil that the termites have brought from deep in the ground. 

Termite mounds as nutrient hubs for elephants

Beyond providing mineral-rich soil, termite mounds also support vegetation that elephants prefer. Studies have shown that trees growing on termite mounds contain higher concentrations of essential nutrients. As a result, elephants feed more heavily on plants found in these areas compared to the surrounding savannah.

This makes termite mounds biodiversity hotspots—not just for elephants, but for other herbivores like giraffes and buffalo. The constant grazing and browsing by large herbivores further shape the landscape, influencing plant growth patterns and maintaining open grasslands that support a variety of wildlife.

Termites and elephant dung breakdown

Termites also play a key role in breaking down elephant dung, recycling nutrients back into the environment. In Tsavo National Park, Kenya, termites removed approximately 35% of elephant dung per month (87 kg ha −1 yr −1). This process helps maintain soil fertility and prevents the landscape from becoming overwhelmed with waste. By decomposing dung, termites contribute to the nutrient cycle, ensuring that essential elements return to the ecosystem to support plant growth and other wildlife.

The bigger picture: Termites, elephants, and the Tsavo ecosystem

Both elephants and termites are keystone species, meaning their actions have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem. Without termites, soil fertility would decline, leading to reduced plant growth and fewer resources for herbivores. Without elephants, many waterholes would disappear, and the landscape and vegetation would begin to change.

At Tsavo Trust, we work to protect the landscapes where these interactions take place. Understanding the relationship between elephants and termites is key to conservation efforts. If termite-rich habitats are destroyed through human activities such as deforestation or land conversion, it could disrupt this delicate balance, impacting not only elephants but the entire ecosystem.

The relationship between elephants and termites is one of nature’s most fascinating partnerships. While one is the largest land animal and the other among the smallest, together, they shape the landscapes of Tsavo in ways that benefit countless species.

Termites enrich the soil, creating mineral-rich mounds that elephants feed on. In turn, elephants excavate these mounds, creating waterholes that sustain life in the dry season. This cycle highlights the interconnectedness of Africa’s wildlife, demonstrating that even the smallest creatures can have a profound impact on the survival of the largest.

At Tsavo Trust, we continue to study and protect these vital interactions. By conserving the habitats that sustain both elephants and termites, we help safeguard the future of Tsavo’s rich and diverse ecosystem.

Join us in our mission to protect Tsavo’s wildlife. Support conservation efforts today and help preserve the natural world’s most extraordinary partnerships.

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