Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
About the Giraffe
The tallest living terrestrial animal, giraffes can reach nearly 6 metres in height. Their long necks contain the same number of vertebrae as humans — just seven, but each one can be over 25 cm long. Giraffes are gentle browsers, feeding primarily on acacia leaves at heights no other herbivore can reach.
Biology & Stats
Migration: Non-migratory, move within large home ranges following food.
Best time of day: Active throughout the day. Best photography light morning and evening.
Typical viewing distance: 20-50 metres from vehicle
Camera settings: 1/500s, f/5.6-f/8, ISO 200-800, 70-200mm or wide-angle for silhouettes
Fun Facts
- A giraffe's tongue is around 45 cm long and prehensile, perfect for stripping leaves from thorny acacia branches.
- Each giraffe's coat pattern is unique, like a human fingerprint.
- Giraffes only need 30 minutes of sleep per day, taken in short naps.
Where to See Giraffe in the Wild
Serengeti National Park
TanzaniaMasai giraffes roam the plains in large groups.
Etosha National Park
NamibiaAngolan giraffes at waterholes make for stunning photography.
Kruger National Park
South AfricaExcellent giraffe sightings along most roads.
Where to See Giraffe at Zoos
Giraffe Centre
Nairobi, Kenya
Bronx Zoo
New York, USA
London Zoo
London, UK
Book Giraffe Tours & Experiences
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Giraffe Centre visit Nairobi
2 hours
Giraffe Centre Safari Experience in Nairobi
3 hours
Tour to Giraffe Center from Nairobi
3 hours
5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari - Best of South Africa Small Group Tour
120 hours
Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Centre Guided Safari Tour
5 hours
Nairobi National Park Safari With a Visit to Giraffe Center.
4 hoursEverything You Need to See Giraffes
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Guided Tours & Experiences
Expert-guided tours dramatically increase your chances of a sighting.
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Photography Tips for Giraffe
Use their height to create dramatic silhouettes against sunrise/sunset. Wide-angle lenses work well to show their full stature against the landscape.
Safety Guide
Giraffes are generally docile but can deliver a powerful kick. Keep a safe distance, especially from mothers with calves.
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Watch in the Wild
Giraffes in the African Savanna
What Travellers Say
Real experiences from wildlife adventurers around the world
“The wildebeest crossing we witnessed was the most incredible thing I've ever seen. Nature at its rawest and most powerful.”
“Sitting 3 metres from a silverback gorilla… I cried. No exaggeration. A life-changing moment I'll never forget.”
“Kruger self-drive was the best budget safari decision we ever made. Saw the Big Five in three days flat.”
“Swimming alongside a whale shark is pure magic. Ningaloo is paradise — untouched and utterly stunning.”
“The jaguar appeared on the riverbank at sunset. Our guide burst into tears — it was that special.”
“Watching a polar bear mum with her cubs on the frozen tundra — Churchill delivered beyond our wildest dreams.”
“The baby orangutan swung right over our heads. Borneo's rainforest is like stepping into another world entirely.”
“Giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas — every single island was a new adventure. Galápagos is unreal.”
“Hearing the tiger's roar echo through the canyon at dawn gave me actual goosebumps. Ranthambore is raw, real India.”
“Standing face-to-face with a Komodo dragon — 3 metres of prehistoric predator. My heart was pounding!”
“Kangaroo Island blew us away. Koalas in every tree, sea lions on the beach, and not a single crowd.”
“Best wildlife photography trip of my life. The light on the Serengeti at golden hour is absolutely unmatched.”
“Took our kids on their first safari — the look on their faces when they saw elephants up close was priceless.”
“Solo-travelled through Borneo and felt safe every step. The wildlife encounters more than made up for any nerves.”
“Our honeymoon safari in the Mara was pure romance — sundowners overlooking the savanna, lions at dawn.”
“The night safari in Borneo was surreal — flying squirrels, slow lorises, and a clouded leopard sighting!”
“Galápagos changed how I see conservation. Seeing species found nowhere else on Earth puts everything in perspective.”
“The Pantanal sunset river cruise was the highlight of our South America trip. Caimans everywhere!”
“Churchill in October is freezing but absolutely worth it. Polar bears playing in the snow is pure joy.”
“Ranthambore felt like stepping into a Kipling novel. We spotted three tigers in two days — incredible odds!”
Giraffe FAQ
Etosha National Park in Namibia offers breathtaking giraffe sightings against stark white salt pan landscapes. The Serengeti and Masai Mara have large populations alongside other wildlife. South Luangwa in Zambia is known for Thornicroft's giraffe, a subspecies found nowhere else. The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi offers an up-close educational experience.
Giraffes are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with numbers declining from over 150,000 in 1985 to approximately 117,000 today. Several subspecies are critically endangered, including the Nubian giraffe (fewer than 2,650) and the West African giraffe (about 600). This decline has been called a "silent extinction" as it receives little media attention.
Etosha's waterholes create stunning sunset silhouette opportunities with giraffes drinking — a classic safari image. The Masai Mara offers giraffes with dramatic Rift Valley escarpment backgrounds. Lake Nakuru in Kenya provides reflective lake backdrops. For up-close portraits, the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi lets giraffes poke their heads through breakfast windows.
Recent genetic research has identified four distinct giraffe species: Northern, Southern, Reticulated, and Masai giraffes. Each has unique coat patterns — Reticulated giraffes have the sharpest, most defined markings, while Masai giraffes have jagged, leaf-shaped spots. You can see Reticulated giraffes best in northern Kenya's Samburu and Laikipia regions.
Giraffes are large and often approachable, so a 70–200 mm lens works well for full-body and portrait shots. For behaviour shots at distance, a 100–400 mm zoom provides versatility. Giraffes are tallest at waterholes when they splay their legs to drink — a wide-angle lens (24–70 mm) can capture this dramatic posture from closer vehicles.
Giraffes can be seen year-round in most African parks, making them one of the most reliable safari sightings. The dry season (June–October) is best, as giraffes gather near remaining water sources. Early morning provides the best light for photography and giraffes are most active in feeding. They're visible even in areas where other wildlife is scarce.