African Elephant (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

African Elephant: Slot Overview

African Elephant is a wildlife-themed video slot developed by Pragmatic Play and released on April 10, 2023. Set against the backdrop of the African savanna, the game features majestic elephants as both Wild and Scatter symbols, alongside other iconic animals such as rhinos, zebras, wildebeests, leopards, and meerkats. It employs a classic 5-reel, 4-row grid with 20 fixed paylines, where wins form by landing three or more matching symbols from left to right starting on the first reel. This high-volatility title appeals to players seeking substantial payout potential through innovative features like Wild Shape transformations and guaranteed bonuses in free spins, making it suitable for experienced slot enthusiasts who enjoy animal-themed adventures with high-risk, high-reward mechanics.

Design and Graphics

The visual presentation of African Elephant immerses players in the serene yet wild African savanna. The 5×4 reel set dominates the screen with a dark, semi-transparent overlay that keeps the focus on the symbols while allowing the background to shine through. To the right of the reels, a gentle river flows, dotted with occasional wildlife, evoking a peaceful watering hole. The game’s logo is elegantly suspended from a tree branch above the reels, adding a natural touch. High-paying symbols depict realistic animal illustrations: the mighty elephant Wild, charging rhino, striped zebra, wildebeest, spotted leopard, and vigilant meerkat. Lower-paying royals (J, Q, K, A) adopt a stone-carved aesthetic to blend with the savanna theme. Animations are smooth and engaging; winning combinations trigger subtle shakes and glows, while Wild Shape activations feature a dramatic overlay that morphs symbols into elephants with particle effects. The user interface is intuitive, with controls at the bottom for spin, autoplay, bet adjustment, and sound toggles. The game supports seamless play across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices, maintaining crisp HD graphics and responsive touch controls without compromising quality. Overall, the design strikes a balance between thematic authenticity and functional clarity, with a color palette of earthy browns, lush greens, and golden savanna hues enhancing the atmospheric appeal.

Gameplay Mechanics

African Elephant operates on a straightforward 5-reel, 4-row setup with 20 fixed paylines. Players secure wins by landing three or more identical symbols on a payline, commencing from the leftmost reel. Bets range from a minimum of €0.20 to a maximum of €100 per spin, adjustable via the bottom menu. Spins initiate automatically or through autoplay options (10 to 100 spins, with customizable stop conditions like balance thresholds). The base game revolves around standard symbol matches augmented by dynamic features.

The paytable divides symbols into low and high payers. Low-paying symbols are the royals J, Q, K, and A, each paying 4x the bet for five of a kind. High-paying animal symbols offer progressively better rewards:

The Wild Elephant substitutes for all standard pay symbols except Scatters and pays up to 75x for five on a line. Scatters, also depicted as elephants, do not pay directly but trigger free spins. A key mechanic, Wild Shape, can activate randomly on any base game spin: a glowing shape overlays random positions on the reels, transforming all symbols within it into Wild Elephants. This adds unpredictability and potential for clustered wins, as multiple Wilds can form across paylines. The flow emphasizes anticipation, with each spin offering a chance for Wild Shape intervention, building toward Scatter-triggered escalation.

Bonus Features

African Elephant’s features center on the Wild Shape and Free Spins, with a Bonus Buy option for direct access.

The Wild Shape triggers randomly during base spins, imposing an irregular shape (such as a circle, square, or elephant silhouette) over selected reel positions. All covered symbols convert to Wild Elephants, which substitute for other pays and award line wins of 2.5x (three), 12.5x (four), or 75x (five). This mechanic introduces high variance by potentially filling reels with Wilds for cascading payouts.

Free Spins activates with 3, 4, or 5 Scatter Elephants, awarding 10, 15, or 25 spins respectively. Special reels enhance this mode, increasing Scatter frequency. Critically, every free spin guarantees at least one Wild Shape, amplifying win potential through repeated Wild transformations. Landing 3, 4, or 5 Scatters retriggers 10, 15, or 25 additional spins. The feature terminates early if the 15000x max win is reached, capping payouts at that limit.

For instant access, Bonus Buy costs 100x the current bet, granting a single spin assured to land at least 3 Scatters, initiating Free Spins immediately. These layers create a progression from base game teases to explosive bonus action, where guaranteed Wild Shapes on every free spin can chain massive combinations across the 20 paylines.

Betting Options and Payouts

Betting flexibility suits various bankrolls, with a minimum stake of €0.20 and a maximum of €100 per spin. Autoplay and quick spin enhance pacing. The default RTP 96.04% aligns with industry standards, though operator-configurable versions at 95.10% or 94.03% exist—players should verify the active rate. High volatility means infrequent but potentially large wins, culminating in a 15000x max win achievable primarily in free spins via stacked Wild Shapes. Payouts scale linearly with bet size; for example, a €1 stake yields up to €15,000. The 20 paylines ensure consistent evaluation, with Wild substitutions and transformations boosting hit potential. Max win probability is not disclosed, but the cap enforces discipline in prolonged sessions. Overall, the structure favors bold bettors chasing the jackpot ceiling.

Conclusion

African Elephant excels in its innovative Wild Shape mechanic, which delivers random excitement in the base game and guaranteed potency during Free Spins, paired with a generous 15000x max win and solid RTP 96.04%. The savanna theme and animal symbols provide visual appeal, while mobile optimization ensures accessibility. Drawbacks include the relatively basic 20-payline structure compared to modern ways-to-win formats and variable RTP settings that could diminish long-term value. Strengths like retriggerable free spins with special reels outweigh these for high-volatility fans. Players can test the slot risk-free using the built-in demo available on this page. This Pragmatic Play release offers a balanced, feature-rich experience for those pursuing elephant-sized payouts in a high-stakes savanna safari.