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The giraffe is the tallest of all land-living animal species. It is covered in large, irregular patches of yellow to black fur separated by white, off-white, or dark yellowish brown background. Each individual has a unique coat pattern. The average mass for adult giraffes lies between 1,200 kilograms and 830 kilograms. They are approximately 4.3 metres to 5.2 metres tall. The necks and horns of males are longer than those of females. The giraffe is related to deer and cattle, also a ruminant and its range extends from Chad in Central Africa to South Africa, subclassified into 9 different subspecies. The most common ones are Masai, Reticulated, Rothschild and South-African giraffe, differentiated by pattern or colour variations and range. The life expectancy is up to 20 or 25 years in the wild.

 

 
Giraffes usually inhabit savannas, grasslands, or open woodlands and prefer areas with plenty of acacia growth. Female giraffes associate in groups of a dozen or so members, occasionally including a few younger males. Younger males tend to live in "bachelor" herds, with older males often leading solitary lives. Reproduction is polygamous, with a few older males impregnating all the fertile females in a herd. Before mating males often engage in necking. Males that are successful in necking seem to have greater access to the girls. Giraffe gestation lasts between 400 and 460 days. The mother gives birth standing up and the embryonic sack usually bursts when the baby falls to the ground. It sometimes happens that the newborns die due to the fall from height. Newborn giraffes are about 1.8 m tall.

 

 
 
The evolution of the giraffe's long neck has been the subject of much debate. Probably they were evolved to allow the giraffes to browse vegetation that was out of the reach of other herbivores in the vicinity, giving them a competitive advantage. For drinking they have to bend down which is a daily challenge. To reach ground level they have to splay their front legs at an angle of almost 45 degrees. It is also when they are most vulnerable to lions and crocodiles. So they usually check the surrounding carefully before drinking. Its only defence is a powerful kick which breaks bones if well-placed. The pace of the giraffe is an amble, although when pursued they are able to run as fast as 55 km/h. Their gait is very unusual with the left legs moving together followed by right. Giraffes giraffe have a very short sleep, which is only between ten minutes and two hours a day.

These areas are giraffe country and you won't leave without spotting any of these elegant creatures:

- Etosha National Park, Namibia
- Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda
- Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
- Samburu & Buffalo Springs Game Reserves, Kenya
- South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
- Tsavo East National Park, Kenya