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Giraffe

Graceful and elegant, the Giraffe is amongst the most recognizable of animals in the animal kingdom because of its elongated neck and expressive eyes.

On a sojourn through the celebrated Kruger National Park, visitors can look forward to witnessing these illustrious creatures in their natural habitats. Giraffes are the tallest of the Big 5 ranging from approximately 4.3m to 5.2m, with the tallest giraffe reportedly measured at an astounding 6m (or 20ft). These intriguing giants are loosely related to the family of deer and cattle, and visitors to the park will likely locate them amongst the savannah grasslands or open woodlands, as they prefer areas of dense acacia vegetation for feeding. Because of their necks, they are able to feed on trees and foliage, which other herbivores cannot reach. Another advantage they possess is their ability to drink large quantities of water when available to them thus ensuring they are able to survive for long periods in places where water is scarce.

The disadvantage that giraffes face, however, is the fact that due to their unusual and unfortunately disproportionate body shapes, these animals are often prone to breaking bones in their limbs. Giraffe gestation lasts between 400 and 460 days, where after a single calf is born and is able to stand up within a few hours of its birth. Calves are usually 1.8m when they are born and spend most of their early weeks lying down and being guarded by their mothers especially against the likes of lions, wild dogs, and hyenas.

An interesting fact about the giraffe is that it mingles with other herbivore-eaters in the African bush and their company tends to be beneficial because their height allows them to watch out for predators. Another fascinating insight is that giraffes have the shortest sleeping requirements of any other mammal ranging between 10 minutes and 2 hours in a 24-hour cycle.