Greatest Roamers of All Time (G.R.O.A.T)
Elephants make epic journeys across northern Kenya
At Save the Elephants (STE), we’ve spent decades tracking elephant movements across Kenya, observing hundreds of these magnificent creatures carving important pathways across the wild landscape. Thanks to GPS tracking collars and STE’s WildTracks app, we’ve been able to follow these journeys in extraordinary detail and discover some powerful stories along the way.
Some of these journeys are about survival; others, simply elephants being elephants. All are fuelled by a powerful instinct to roam – through deserts, forests, even across mountain peaks, elephants follow the paths their nature compels them to take.
Every elephant’s step is a story, no two paths are alike. When elephants roam, they’re not just moving through space, they’re moving through time, guided by memory and survival.
Meet some of the great roamers we’ve tracked across the continent – elephants whose collar data has revealed the extraordinary journeys they undertake.
Morgan — The Elephant Who Walked into Somalia
Morgan, a male bull elephant in his 30s, is notable for having crossed the border from Kenya into war-torn Somalia in 2016 – the first elephant recorded then in the country in 20 years. He set off on an exceptional 220 km trek from the Tana River Delta in southern Kenya traveling mostly at night and hiding in thick bush during the day. We believe Morgan adopted this extreme form of survival strategy as a way of navigating what was once one of the most dangerous places for elephants in their African range. He most likely retraced ancient migration routes learned in his youth, demonstrating elephants’ strong memory. His journey gave us hope that elephants might reclaim their old homelands if we can keep them safe.
Morgan moments before being fitted with a GPS satellite collar in December 2015 that would later allow us to track his extraordinary journey into Somalia. © Ian Craig
Mountain Bull — The Corridor Trailblazer
Mountain Bull, a legendary elephant tracked by Save the Elephants from 2006 to 2014, reshaped our understanding of elephant movement. GPS tracking data revealed Mountain Bull had made over 40 instances of high-speed, focused travel – known as “streaking” – between Borana and Imenti Forest in northern Kenya, highlighting the importance of protected migration routes. His movements didn’t just reveal patterns; they sparked action. Using his data, conservationists created the 28km Laikipia Elephant Corridor, featuring Kenya’s first-ever wildlife underpass. Just days after it opened, Mountain Bull became its first user, proving that elephants know exactly where they need to go, if we let them. His data-driven legacy continues to guide conservation and protect key migration routes.
The late Mountain Bull (left) roaming in Borana. © Saba Douglas-Hamilton/Save the Elephants
The Royals — Royal Roamers
In August 2024, a GPS ‘text’ from Arden – a collared female from a subgroup of the Royals family in Samburu – revealed an extraordinary journey. Her group had ventured over 150 km west to Oldonyiro, a place they hadn’t visited in over 20 years. Tracked via the STE WildTracks app, they followed an important elephant migratory route linking the Samburu and Laikipia ecosystems. As development continues to fragment wild spaces, these corridors are vital lifelines, helping elephants access resources safely. The Royals’ three-week adventure is a powerful reminder that to protect elephants, we must protect their freedom to roam. Movement is survival.
Arden (with collar) and the Royals in northern Kenya © Jane Wynyard / Save the Elephants
Kawaap — The Record Setting Bull
Kawaap, a bull from northern Kenya’s South Horr population, set a new record in May 2025 – redefining what we know about elephant movement. Tracked by STE, Kawaap and two companions journeyed over 46 km across the scorching Chalbi Desert to reach Mount Kulal, a remote area that hadn’t seen elephants in at least 60 years, likely in search of food. This is now the northernmost movement ever recorded for a collared elephant from this region, surpassing even the famed trek of bull Puran in April 2022. Their daring route proves one thing: elephants are always full of surprises and still blazing new trails.
Kawaap and his mates in South Horr, northern Kenya © Angus Carey Douglas / Save the Elephants
Koya — The Courageous Risk Taker
In 2020, a bold female elephant named Koya made history. She led six members of her family – including young calves – on a nearly 50-mile journey from Samburu to Marsabit in northern Kenya, crossing the harsh Kasuit Desert to reach a region once gripped by ivory poaching and tribal conflict. Koya was the first elephant in 13 years to reclaim this ancient trail – last traversed by a lone bull named Shadrack in 2008. For a female with calves to take such a risk is incredibly rare, making her journey a powerful symbol of resilience and courage. Her courageous trek signaled that, with growing safety, Kenya’s elephants may once again roam freely across landscapes long lost to fear.
Koya (right) with her herd in Marsabit © Frank Pope / Save the Elephants
Monsoon — Samburu’s Highest Climber
Monsoon, a 56-year-old matriarch from the Storms 2 elephant family, made headlines when she defied scientific expectations by leading her herd up Koitogor – one of the steepest hills in Samburu National Reserve in 2006. At the time, Save the Elephants had just published a paper titled “Elephants Avoid Costly Mountaineering,” concluding that elephants generally avoided steep terrain due to the high energy cost. But Monsoon proved otherwise. Her bold ascent not only challenged assumptions about elephant movement but also highlighted the strength, resilience, and leadership of older matriarchs. Monsoon passed away in September 2022 at the age of 56, but her legacy as Samburu’s highest climber and a fearless pioneer lives on.
Samburu’s highest climber, the late Monsoon, pictured with her late calf in Samburu National Reserve © Jane Wynyard / Save the Elephants
Why Their Journeys Matter
These elephants aren’t just wanderers, they’re trailblazers. Each movement across deserts, forests, and borders reveals the courage it takes to survive in a changing world. Their journeys remind us how important it is to protect the wild spaces that keep roaming possible.
Keep Elephants Roaming – Support Their Journey Today
Celebrate the GROATs (Greatest Roamers of All Time) by shopping the Roaming Collection – a tribute to elephants and their epic journeys.