National Geographic's stunning pictures of elephants

Elephants are highly social and form tight family groups. Here, a family enjoys time together at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve.

Elephants take frequent mud baths to cool down and help remove parasites. Here, a family gets in on the action in Samburu.

Highly protective of their families and their young, elephants will charge if they feel threatened. They prefer to scare off their enemies, but will resort to physical combat if pressed.

A family of elephants, including newborns, searches for water in Samburu.

Young bulls constantly grapple and test each other, learning valuable skills they will need in their adulthood.

A family of elephants in Samburu are lead across the river by their matriarch, Mistral, while a younger female, Sydoest, stands ground to discourage a breeding male that seems intent on following.

Elephants rest by moonlight.

Saturn, an older mother, keeps watch over her own two calves and two orphans that are cared for by her band.

A newborn crosses the Ewaso Ngiro River, sheltered under the legs of family members.

Young elephants often play until they drop.

Elephant mating can cause chaotic scenes.

A lone elephant stands out against the sky in Gabon.