The South African Giraffe
Western Cape Safari Guide: Giraffe
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Genus and Species: Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa
South African Giraffe
The South African Giraffe is the tallest land animal on Earth and the largest of all giraffe subspecies. Sometimes called the Cape Giraffe, it is instantly recognisable by its towering neck, long legs, and distinctive coat of star-shaped patches.
Appearance
This African giraffe subspecies has relatively light, tan-coloured spots with paler spaces between them, creating a clean, reticulated pattern that distinguishes them from northern giraffes.
Their massive necks, which can measure over 2 metres in length, contain only seven elongated vertebrae. Males (bulls) are larger and usually darker in colour than females (cows). Both sexes have ossicones, the skin-covered horn-like structures on their heads, though males’ ossicones tend to be thicker and bald on top from necking combat.
Calves are already about 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) tall at birth.
Size
The South African Giraffe is among the largest giraffe subspecies and can reach astonishing heights.
Height:
- Males: up to 5.5–6 metres (18–20 feet)
- Females: 4.3–4.8 metres (14–16 feet)
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Body Length:
- 2.4–2.7 metres (8–9 feet)
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Weight:
- Males: 1,200–1,930 kilograms (2,645–4,255 pounds)
- Females: 800–1,300 kilograms (1,760–2,865 pounds)
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Diet
These giraffes are specialist browsers, feeding primarily on the leaves and shoots of acacia, combretum, bushwillow, and terminalia trees.
Their long, prehensile tongues – up to 45 centimetres long – allow them to strip foliage deftly, even from thorny branches.
In dry months, they supplement their diet with pods, flowers, and occasional fruits.
Location and Habitat
The South African Giraffe ranges across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and southern Mozambique.
They prefer savannas, bushveld, and open woodlands with scattered trees that provide ample browsing opportunities.
Behaviour
South African Giraffes are social and gregarious, living in loose herds of 3-20 individuals, though aggregations of up to 50 can occur around plentiful food or water.
Males engage in necking battles, swinging their necks like hammers to establish dominance and breeding rights.
Despite their size, they are generally quiet, using infrasonic rumbles and soft snorts to communicate.
They spend most of the day feeding and can consume over 30 kilograms of foliage daily.
Challenges and Threats
Though South African Giraffes remain relatively common compared to some other subspecies, they face:
Habitat loss and fragmentation due to agriculture and development.
Poaching for hides, tails, and bushmeat.
Fencing that restricts their natural movement.
Their conservation status is Vulnerable overall, but populations in protected areas are generally stable or increasing.
Territory
Giraffes are not highly territorial like some other African mammals, but they do maintain home ranges that they frequently traverse. These ranges provide sufficient food, water, and safety and often span several square kilometres, depending on resource availability.
Males are generally roaming and non-territorial, though dominant males may assert temporary dominance over a group of females during the mating season. Females, meanwhile, move with their calves and other females in loosely structured herds, often overlapping with other groups’ ranges.
Their extensive roaming allows giraffes to follow seasonal patterns of vegetation growth, moving between feeding grounds while avoiding predators. This non-territorial behaviour makes giraffes flexible foragers, perfectly adapted to the patchy and seasonal resources of the African savannah.
Breeding
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About Giraffes
Estimates suggest around 37,000 individuals, making them the most numerous giraffe subspecies.
They produce snorts, grunts, hisses, and infrasonic rumbles to communicate.
They can gallop up to 60 km/h (37 mph) over short distances.
Their necks help them reach high foliage and compete for mates.
In the wild, they can live 20-25 years; in captivity, up to 28 years.
Young giraffes are called calves.
Giraffes cannot swim in the conventional sense and are rarely seen in deep water.
Their long legs and heavy body make it extremely difficult to keep their heads above water.
They can wade through shallow rivers or flooded areas, but deep water is dangerous and generally avoided.
Instead of swimming, giraffes rely on their speed and agility on land to navigate rivers and escape predators.
Most giraffes give birth to a single calf after a gestation period of about 15 months.
Twin births occur in less than 1% of pregnancies.
When twins are born, survival rates are lower, as calves are more vulnerable to predators and the mother’s resources are divided.
Giraffes have a very unique sleeping pattern compared to most mammals.
Short naps: They sleep only about 4–6 hours per day, often broken into short naps of just a few minutes.
Standing or lying down: Giraffes can sleep standing up, which allows them to quickly flee from predators. They may lie down occasionally, curling their neck back to rest their head, but this makes them more vulnerable.
REM sleep: They experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in very short bursts, often just a few minutes at a time.
This sleep pattern helps giraffes stay alert in the wild, where predators like lions and hyenas are a constant threat.
There are currently four to five recognised giraffe species, depending on the classification system used. Genetic studies have shown that what was once considered a single species with subspecies is actually multiple distinct species:
Northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) – Found in parts of Northeast Africa, including Chad, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) – Known for its distinct net-like coat pattern, mainly in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia.
Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi) – Found in central and southern Kenya and Tanzania, with irregular, jagged patches.
Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) – Found in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana, with relatively large, rounded patches.
West African giraffe (Giraffa peralta) – Small population in Niger, with lighter, less defined spots.
All giraffes share similar behaviours and ecological roles, but their genetics, coat patterns, and geographic rangesdistinguish them as separate species.
The Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi) and the Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) are generally considered the largest giraffe species.
Height: Adult males can reach up to 5.5–6 meters (18–20 feet), with females slightly shorter at 4.3–5 meters (14–16 feet).
Weight: Males can weigh 1,200–1,500 kg (2,600–3,300 lbs), while females are lighter at 800–1,200 kg (1,800–2,600 lbs).
Appearance: The Masai giraffe has irregular, jagged patches, while the Southern giraffe has large, rounded patches.
These two species are not only the tallest but also among the heaviest giraffes, giving them a commanding presence on the savannah.
Giraffes are native to sub-Saharan Africa and are typically found in savannahs, open woodlands, and grasslandswhere trees are scattered.
Northern giraffe: Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, and parts of Central Africa.
Reticulated giraffe: Northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia.
Masai giraffe: Central and southern Kenya, northern and central Tanzania.
Southern giraffe: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe.
West African giraffe: Small population in Niger.
They prefer habitats with acacia trees and other browsable vegetation, which provide both food and vantage points for spotting predators.
Yes, a giraffe’s tongue is dark blue or purplish-black, which is quite distinctive.
Length: Their tongue can reach 45–50 cm (18–20 inches), allowing them to grasp leaves from tall trees.
Purpose of colour: The dark pigment protects against sunburn while they feed for hours under the hot African sun.
Dexterity: Their tongue is prehensile and very flexible, helping them strip leaves from branches, even around thorns.
Yes, giraffes have horn-like structures called ossicones.
Structure: Ossicones are made of bone covered with skin and fur, unlike true horns which are keratin-based.
Both sexes: Both male and female giraffes have ossicones, though males’ are usually thicker and may become bald on top due to sparring.
Purpose: They are used for thermoregulation, defense in fights, and display during social interactions, especially among males competing for mates.
Appearance: Young giraffes’ ossicones lie flat against the head at birth and fuse to the skull as they grow.
Giraffes have long necks primarily due to evolutionary adaptations for feeding, mating, and survival:
Feeding advantage: Their necks allow them to reach leaves, shoots, and buds high up in trees, especially acacias, giving them access to food that most other herbivores cannot reach.
Necking for dominance: Male giraffes use their necks in “necking” battles, swinging their heads to strike rivals during fights for mating rights. Longer, stronger necks give an advantage in these contests.
Vantage point: A tall neck provides a better view of the surrounding landscape, helping giraffes spot predators like lions from a distance.
Although the “feeding competition” theory was once dominant, research shows that both survival (feeding) and reproductive success (fighting) likely drove the evolution of their long necks.
“Necking” is the term used for the combat behaviour of male giraffes, where they use their necks and heads as weapons to establish dominance and compete for mates.
How it works: Males swing their heads and necks like clubs, striking opponents with the heavy, bony ossicones on top of their heads.
- Types of necking:
     Gentle sparring: For practice or testing strength without serious injury.
     Serious battles: Can result in bruising, fatigue, or even knocking the opponent down.
- Purpose: Determines dominance hierarchies within a group and decides which male gets access to females for mating.
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Necking is a key part of giraffe social behaviour and shows how their long, strong necks are not just for feeding but also for reproductive success.
Yes, giraffes can sit, but it’s not very common because it makes them more vulnerable to predators.
How they sit: They fold their long legs underneath their bodies and often bend their neck back to rest their head on their hips or the ground.
Resting behaviour: Giraffes usually sleep or rest for only short periods (a few minutes at a time) and often do so standing.
Safety reason: Standing allows them to quickly flee if a predator approaches, which is why sitting is mostly done when they feel safe, like in protected reserves.