Giraffes are among the most fascinating animals on a Tanzania safari. They are particularly noticeable due to their long necks and height, reaching 5.9 meters.
Imagine the very moment you were born. Imagine those first gasping breaths after traveling from womb to world. Imagine that instead of a doctor’s hands catching you, you had to fall six feet to the ground, to a great thud onto hard-packed Earth. Ouch.
When the dust settles, you look at your body, and everything is long: awkward legs, a craning neck, and a tongue soon to reach 20 inches. Only two minutes old, you weigh 100 pounds and are taller than most humans.
You’re a giraffe. Welcome to Planet Earth. Now run.
Giraffes: The skyscrapers of the Serengeti
In the all-star company of lions, elephants, rhinos, and zebras, a few other animals paint our classic picture of safari, like a giraffe munching on acacia trees at sunset. Their proportions and unique stamp on the landscape complete the savannah. Giraffes make any safari worthwhile; witnessing them in their native habitat is a sight.
But who exactly are these creatures? And how did they become so darn tall, strange, and unique? Furthermore, how did the giraffe become the very symbol of safari, the national animal of Tanzania? ( source).
We’ve compiled an essential, need-to-know giraffe briefing just for you. Review these five neck-bending facts, and you’ll come to a far better understanding of one of our favorite animals: the giraffe, the Skyscrapers of the Serengeti.
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The essentials
Species name: Giraffe. The Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchii) is the largest and most common subspecies (there are nine) that you will see on East African safaris.
Average lifespan: 25 years.
Size: 14-19 feet tall (4.3 m-5.7 m); average weight: 2,600lbs (1190kg)
Range: Central, eastern, and South Africa only. Giraffes only live in savannah ecosystems with open, arid grasslands with tall trees.
Estimated population: Less than 100,000 worldwide.
Tallest giraffe ever? Meet Zulu, nearly 20 feet tall
The average size of an adult giraffe you see on safari will reach around 15-16 feet (4.5m-5m) and about 2,000-2,500lbs (900-1100kg), making them the tallest mammal on Earth. But 19.3 feet? Really? Zulu, a giraffe in captivity, once measured taller than any other known giraffe, almost 20 feet! (source)
Their height is for something other than hard-to-reach food. It’s for reproduction.
Growing up, I was always told that giraffes had such incredible reach with their necks to monopolize browsing the tops of trees and shrubs. This was called the “high-feeding” theory. This is only partly true.
The dominant theory today, the “necks for sex” theory, is tied more to competing for mates, where male giraffes perform a “necking” ritual where they use their muscular necks and 500-pound heads to whip and wail each other, sparring for the attention of a desired female. Male giraffes will also gauge a female’s fertility by sampling her urine, but that’s another story.
Giraffes can outrun Usain Bolt
Though giraffes aren’t known as the speediest animal of the Serengeti (see: the cheetah to watch their 6-foot legs and disproportionate frames run at top speed (up to 35 mph) is an imposing sight, the name “giraffe” actually derives from the Arabic word “zarafah,” translated as “fast-walker.” Here’s an extraordinary video of a giraffe’s sprinting escape from a lion hunt (source)
Their brains are 2 meters from their heart
Because of the giraffe’s stretched proportions, blood must flow long distances from its heart to its head and limbs. It’s good that giraffes have vast and powerful hearts (25 pounds or 11kg)!
By comparison, the average human heart weighs roughly half a pound (.23kg). This mega-heart sends blood and oxygen over 6 feet (2 m.) to signal the brain—that’s longer than the height of most humans!
Giraffes hum when they sleep.
Yup. Animals do the strangest things in their sleep, and giraffes are no different. Recently, researchers captured a low-level hum emanating from giraffes as they slept at night.
Imagine the sounds that come from whales in the sea. Researchers still don’t know precisely why giraffes make these noises, but they believe it could be a complex form of communication. Learn more.
Giraffes’ Exceptional Height: Towering Above the Savanna
Giraffes, the gentle giants of the savanna, are renowned for their towering height, which sets them apart as the tallest terrestrial animals on Earth. Their long necks, measuring up to six feet, enable them to reach leaves and buds high in the trees that other herbivores cannot access, making them adept browsers.
This exceptional height not only grants them a unique feeding advantage but also serves as a tool for survival, allowing them to spot predators from afar and communicate with others in their herd over long distances. The majestic sight of giraffes towering above the savanna skyline symbolizes Africa’s vast and diverse landscapes, captivating wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists’ hearts.
Giraffe Communication: Silent Signals and Subtle Gestures
Despite their towering stature, giraffes are tranquil animals, relying on non-verbal communication to interact with one another. Giraffes convey information about their intentions, emotions, and social hierarchy within the herd through subtle gestures such as head movements, ear positions, and tail flicks.
These silent signals are crucial in maintaining cohesion and cooperation among giraffes, facilitating mutual understanding and collaboration in their daily lives on the African plains. Observing giraffes communicate through their unique body language provides a fascinating insight into the complex social dynamics of these enigmatic creatures.
The Elegance of Giraffe Spotting: Unraveling Nature’s Puzzle
Spotting giraffes in their natural habitat is an experience like no other, as their distinctive coat patterns blend seamlessly with the dappled light and shadows of the savanna. Each giraffe’s coat features a unique arrangement of irregular spots and patches akin to a fingerprint, making them easily distinguishable.
This natural camouflage protects giraffes against predators and is a visual puzzle for wildlife enthusiasts and researchers seeking to identify individuals and track their movements. Witnessing the elegance of giraffe spotting amidst the African landscape is a testament to nature’s beauty and complexity, inviting observers to unravel the mysteries of the wild.
Giraffe Sleep Patterns: Catnaps and Vigilant Stands
Despite their imposing size, giraffes have unique sleep patterns adapted to their environment and lifestyle on the African plains. Rather than sleeping for extended periods like other mammals, giraffes engage in short, intermittent naps lasting only a few minutes.
These catnaps, typically taken while standing, allow giraffes to remain vigilant against potential threats, such as predators lurking in the savanna. By sleeping in brief increments throughout the day and night, giraffes ensure they are always alert and ready to respond to danger, demonstrating their remarkable adaptation to life in the wild.
Social Dynamics Among Giraffes: Bonds Beyond the Tall Grasses
Giraffes are social animals that form complex bonds and relationships within their herds. They exhibit both cooperative and competitive behaviors in their interactions with one another. Within a giraffe herd of individuals of varying ages and sexes, social hierarchy is established through displays of dominance and submission, often involving necking contests, where giraffes engage in gentle sparring matches.
These social dynamics maintain order within the herd and foster cooperation during activities such as foraging and predator defense. Observing the intricate social dynamics among giraffes offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of relationships that define life on the African savanna, highlighting the importance of social cohesion in the survival of these magnificent creatures.
Bottom line?
One main reason safaris are so memorable is that they sear into your heart singular moments, moments of awe, and sunsets where the Serengeti will light up in golden fireworks, and you will look out onto open grassland only to see wild animals moving freely. This is the true essence of safari, the raison d’etre for committing to these trips.
Watching a “tower” of giraffes float along the treetops, their heads anchored above acacias, is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before and will ever see again, such unusual and beautiful animals in an unusually stunning setting.
Getting you there?
Whether you want a tailor-made, private safari or wish to join a small group tour, our Easy Travel representatives can work with clients to meet their wildlife-viewing needs. Contact us today, and let’s start designing your optimal safari.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the different types of giraffes, and how do they differ?
Reticulated giraffes are one of the nine recognized subspecies of giraffes. They are distinguished by their distinct coat pattern of large, polygonal patches outlined by thin white lines. Each reticulated giraffe’s pattern is as unique as a human fingerprint, enabling individuals to be identified based on their markings.
While reticulated giraffes primarily inhabit northeastern Kenya, they may also be found in parts of Somalia and southern Ethiopia. These magnificent creatures are known for their graceful appearance and striking coat pattern, making them a favorite among those who love giraffes.
2. How do female giraffes give birth, and what is unique about birthing?
Like many other ungulates, female giraffes give birth while standing, a remarkable feat considering their height. When it is time to deliver, the pregnant giraffe will often separate from the herd and seek a secluded spot to give birth.
The newborn calf emerges hooves-first, dropping several feet to the ground in what may seem like a dramatic entrance. However, this fall helps stimulate the baby giraffe’s first breath and clears its airways. Within a few hours of birth, the calf can stand and walk, allowing it to join its mother and the rest of the herd.
3. How do giraffes communicate with each other?
Giraffes communicate through vocalizations, body language, and visual signals. While they are not as vocal as some African animals, giraffes emit low-frequency sounds that are often beyond human hearing.
These infrasonic calls can travel long distances and help maintain social cohesion within the herd. Additionally, giraffes use subtle gestures such as head movements, ear positions, and tail flicks to convey messages to one another.
Through these silent signals, giraffes communicate their intentions, emotions, and social status, contributing to the complex social dynamics within the herd.
4. What is the role of the male giraffe in the herd?
Male giraffes, known as bulls, play a significant role in the social structure of giraffe herds. During mating season, male giraffes compete for dominance and female access in necking contests, using their long necks and ossicones (horn-like structures).
The winner of these contests earns the right to mate with receptive females, ensuring the continuance of their genetic lineage. Outside of the mating season, male giraffes may also serve as sentinels, using their elevated vantage point to scan the surrounding savanna for potential threats such as predators.
Despite their imposing size, male giraffes are typically peaceful animals that assert dominance within the herd through intimidation rather than aggression.
5. How do giraffes feed, and what is their favorite food?
Giraffes are herbivores with a specialized diet primarily consisting of leaves, buds, and shoots from trees and shrubs. Their favorite food is the tender leaves of the acacia tree, which they are well-equipped to reach thanks to their long necks and prehensile tongues.
A giraffe’s tongue can extend up to 18 inches and is specially adapted to grip and pull leaves from branches, even those covered in thorns. Despite the acacia tree’s formidable defenses, including sharp thorns and toxic compounds, giraffes have developed unique physiological adaptations to consume their preferred food safely. This includes a demanding palate and lips and a specialized digestive system capable of processing fibrous plant material.
6. How do giraffes protect themselves from predators?
Despite their large size and seemingly vulnerable appearance, giraffes have several strategies for protecting themselves from predators. Their exceptional height provides a wide field of vision, allowing them to spot predators from afar and remain vigilant against potential threats.
When threatened, giraffes may use their powerful legs to deliver swift and forceful kicks, capable of fending off even the most determined predators. Additionally, their unique coat pattern acts as camouflage, helping them blend into the dappled light and shadows of the savanna.
By remaining vigilant, agile, and cooperative within the herd, giraffes minimize their predation risk and thrive in their natural habitat.
7. How many giraffe calves are typically born at once?
Giraffes usually give birth to a single calf after a gestation period of around 15 months. However, on rare occasions, female giraffes may give birth to twins, though this is less common due to the challenges of raising multiple offspring simultaneously.
When twins are born, they are usually the result of hyperovulation, where the female releases multiple eggs during her estrous cycle, each of which may be fertilized by separate males. Rearing twin giraffe calves presents a unique set of challenges for the mother, as she must provide both offspring with sufficient milk and protection while navigating the complexities of the savanna environment.
8. What makes giraffes’ tongues unique, and how do they use them?
One of the most fascinating features of giraffes is their prehensile tongues, which are specially adapted to help them grasp and manipulate food as they feed. Giraffe tongues are long, measuring 18 inches, and dark blue-black, which helps protect them from sunburn.
Additionally, the tongue is covered in thickened papillae and has a rugged, muscular structure, allowing it to withstand the abrasive nature of the acacia tree’s thorns. Giraffes use their tongues to pluck leaves and shoots from branches, wrapping them around the vegetation and using their lips and teeth to strip off the leaves.
Their dexterous tongues can also navigate around thorns and other obstacles, enabling giraffes to feed on their preferred foliage efficiently. This unique adaptation plays an essential role in the giraffe’s feeding behavior and allows them to exploit food sources that other herbivores may find inaccessible or too challenging to reach.
9. How do giraffes regulate their extremely high blood pressure?
One of the giraffes’ most remarkable physiological adaptations is their ability to regulate their extremely high blood pressure, which is necessary to pump blood up their long necks to reach their brains. To prevent blood from rushing too quickly to their heads when they lower them to drink or feed, giraffes have developed several unique anatomical features.
These include thick-walled arteries and a series of valves and elastic vessels located within their necks. These structures act as shock absorbers, slowing blood flow and preventing sudden spikes in blood pressure when the giraffe changes positions.
Additionally, specialized muscles and ligaments help support the giraffe’s neck and maintain vascular tone, ensuring a consistent and regulated blood flow to the brain regardless of the animal’s posture.
10. What is the significance of the giraffe’s ossicones?
Giraffes are renowned for their distinctive ossicones and horn-like structures on top of their heads. While both male and female giraffes have ossicones, they serve different purposes depending on the individual’s sex.
In males, the ossicones play a crucial role in combat during mating season, where they use their necks and heads as weapons in dominance battles with other males. The size and shape of a male giraffe’s ossicones can indicate its age and social status within the herd, with larger and more robust ossicones often associated with dominant individuals.
In females, the ossicones are more minor and covered with hair, serving primarily as a means of thermoregulation and protection against predators. Additionally, the presence of ossicones helps giraffes blend into their surroundings by breaking up the outline of their heads and providing camouflage in the dappled light of the savanna.
