For over a decade, Dr. Steve Boyes, conservation biologist and National Geographic Explorer, has been in search of a mysterious, elusive herd of Ghost Elephants in the highlands of Angola, deep within its forests. From acclaimed director Werner Herzog (“Grizzly Man”), Ghost Elephants follows Boyes on an epic journey as he sets out with some of the best master trackers in the world, in pursuit of an animal long believed to be a myth.
What Is Ghost Elephants?
In the mist-covered highlands of Angola, deep within its forests, a mystery endures: the elusive ghost elephants of Lisima, the potential living descendants of the largest land mammal ever recorded. Steve Boyes, conservation biologist and leader of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, is determined to prove their existence. In order to find these elusive elephants, Boyes and fellow National Geographic Explorer Kerllen Costa have teamed up with three KhoiSan master trackers: Xui, Xui Dawid, and Kobus. Refugees from a war-torn past who have faced considerable marginalization in southern Africa, the trackers return to their ancestral lands to succeed where advanced technology could not. Directed, narrated and written by legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, Ghost Elephants is a lyrical tale of survival, reconnection and the enduring power of ancient knowledge in the face of modern loss.
Herzog stated: “After meeting Steve Boyes, an unexpected project that felt like the hunt for Moby Dick, the White Whale, came at me with great urgency. Like many of my films, this is an exploration of dreams, of imagination — weighed against reality. The film took me to what the local tribesmen call the ‘Land at the End of the Earth.'”
Ghost Elephants was written, directed and narrated by Werner Herzog and produced by Werner Herzog and Ariel Leon Isacovitch, G.S.C. Ghost Elephants
Why You Should See Ghost Elephants
Ghost Elephants begins in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History to see a display of the largest known elephant. From there we follow Steve Boyes to the Angolan Highlands which are the source of some of Africa’s greatest rivers. Before the search begins for the elephants, Boyes and his team spend time with the bushmen who will be their trackers as well as their families as we learn about the San culture of the people in northern Namibia. As the team continues north into Angola, they meet with more people who share their cultures. Once they get on the trail of some of these elephants, they find evidence of how large they might be. To learn how their expedition ends, you will have to watch the film for yourself.
I have really enjoyed the many films and series that have been produced over the years by National Geographic and Ghost Elephants is no exception. While the show is focused on elephants, viewers learn so much more about the natural and cultural geography of this part of the African continent. The cinematography is incredible as it showcases the beauty of this part of the world. I really like the narration by Herzog. His slow, measured voice with a German accent is easy to follow and lends an air of authority to his words. Above all, I was impressed how the production tells a story of people, animals, and nature. I found Ghost Elephants both entertaining as well as educational and highly recommend viewing it. There are some scenes of game hunting that might be disturbing to children as well as some adults so viewer discretion is advised.
Ghost Elephants opened in select North American theaters on February 27, 2026. Be sure to watch Ghost Elephants when it premieres March 7 at 9/8c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Here is a trailer for the series.
