The top speed of an African elephant is about 40 km/h. That is roughly as fast as a recreational cyclist, remarkable for the largest living land animal.
Elephants do not move like horses at a full gallop. Their front legs can appear to run while their hind legs maintain a walking-style pattern, and at high speed at least one foot remains close to the ground. This unusual movement helps support their enormous body mass.
Most elephants travel much more slowly, often walking steadily while feeding or moving between water and grazing areas. They accelerate when startled, threatened, charging, or trying to keep up with a herd. Their large ears, which help shed heat, do not make them agile runners, but their long legs and powerful muscles provide surprising speed over short distances.
A common mix-up is confusing an elephant's normal walking pace with its maximum speed. Another is assuming that such a heavy animal cannot run; although its fastest movement is biomechanically unusual, an African elephant can cover ground quickly enough to be dangerous.