Although not a separate species and not very much different from other savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana Africana), the Namibia's desert elephants are special nonetheless. They have adapted to their dry, semi-desert environment by having a smaller body mass with proportionally longer legs and seemingly larger feet than other elephants. Their physical attributes allow them to cross miles of sand dunes to reach water. They have even been filmed sliding down a dune face to drink at a pool in a desert oasis.

They survive by eating moisture-laden vegetation growing in ephemeral riverbeds and with their ability to go several days without drinking water. Sometimes they must travel long distances to reach a water source. By living in smaller than average family units of only two or three animals, they decrease pressure on food and water resources. Researchers have noted that they destroy fewer trees than elephants living in higher rainfall areas in other parts of Africa.

There is only one other group of desert-dwelling elephants in the world. They live in Mali, North Africa, where they were forced into their desert habitat by human population expansion. These also belong to the species Loxodonta africana africana.
Another species of elephants, those in Asia elephas maximus, along with another Loxodonta sub-species in Africa's wetter countries along the equator, called forest or sometimes pygmy elephants because of their small size Loxodonta cyclotis, also belong to the genus Pachyderms, meaning “thick skinned”, the genus includes rhinoceroses as well.

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