Jun 10, 2019

Best Places to See Giraffes in Africa

Africa has one of the richest faunas in the world. Its Savannah grassland is home to some of the most interesting animal species.

The giraffe towers over these species. There is no better place to see giraffes than in Africa.

Best Places to See Giraffes in Africa

10. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Kruger National Park is the most famous game park in South Africa. It is probably the southern-most point in Africa where you can see giraffes.

Kruger National Park boasts of well-kept driving tracks within the game reserve. This makes it easy to access most places within the park plus you get an opportunity to view other species of African wild including the famous Kruger ostriches. There are also the Big 5 land mammals.

9. Arusha National Park, Tanzania

Arusha is the Capital of the East African Community. It is a town located in Northern Tanzania. Close to this city, there is Arusha National Park , which is not far off from one of Africa’s most topographically diverse mountains – Mount Meru.

Within the green lush bushes, giraffes dominate the heights of this national park, occasionally outcompeted by tall trees but which still allow an easy view of these tall giant mammals. This National Park boasts of the world’s highest population of African giraffes.

While Kruger grants you an opportunity to see ostriches in their natural habitat, Arusha National Park grants you an opportunity to see Flamingoes in their natural habitat.

8. Chobe National Park, Botswana

Chobe National Park is found in the semi-arid lands of Botswana. Due to the land being generally dry, it means vegetations are limited. This makes it quite easy to observe giraffes in this park as they compete to browse for twigs from the few tall canopies.

Chobe National Park is not so far from the world’s famous Victoria Falls. This makes it easy to extend your tour after witnessing one of the world’s largest water blankets falling down.

Like most of Africa’s game reserves, you are more likely to see lions, leopards, elephants, among other species interacting with these giraffes.

Discover more: Where Do African Lions Live?

7. Etosha National Park, Namibia

Etosha National Park is established in a semi-arid environment of Namibia. As such, it is easy to spot the Angola Giraffe standing tall among the shrubs.

Furthermore, due to the scarcity of running water source, it is much easier to sight giraffes at watering holes. All you need to do is to just strategically position yourself near a watering hole.

The big advantage of this is that you will get a sight of many other wild species coming to quench their thirst.

6. Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park is located in Uganda. It boasts of one of the largest concentration of the rare and endangered species of Rothschild giraffes in the world.

This is due to a deliberate and dedicated conservation effort that has seen their numbers rise up over the years to reach almost 1,000 giraffes as of 2019. Murchison Falls National Park is home to Murchison Falls which is one of the few waterfall sites along the source of River Nile.

Here you can have a boat ride along the River Nile as you get to watch other wildlife species such as the Nile crocodiles, water buffaloes, waterbucks, hartebeest, elephants, among many other citizens of the wild.

5. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Serengeti National Park is part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. This ecosystem is the world’s most expansive safari destination. This National Park is located in the Northern Tanzania region bordering Kenya.

The most famous giraffe species that dots this ecosystem is the Maasai Giraffe – named after the Maasai community in Kenya and Tanzania who are the native inhabitants of this region.

The Maasai Giraffe is distinguishable from others due to its long strip of reddish-brown fur that spreads along the top of its neck.

Related Read: Best Places to See Hippos In Africa

4. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Like Serengeti National Park, Maasai Mara National Reserve is part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. Maasai Mara Game Reserve is located in the southern part of Kenya bordering Tanzania.

It is just the Kenya-Tanzania border that splits this ecosystem into two parts – Serengeti (Northern Tanzania) and Mara (Southern Kenya). Maasai Mara is famed for its Wildebeest Migration.

It is easier to spot the Maasai Giraffe in Mara than in Serengeti due to Mara being drier than Serengeti and thus allowing the giraffes to be more exposed.

Apart from the Maasai Giraffe, Mara game reserve is famous for its lions, buffaloes, antelopes and so many other wildlife species common within the Savannah grassland.

3. Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s biggest national park. It is located in the eastern Rwanda region. It is home to the exotic Maasai Giraffe species which was introduced there from Kenya.

The Park is characterized by savannah, swamp, and montane habitats. Hippos are a common phenomenon in the swampy areas while giraffes, zebras, and the Big 5 mammals dot the plains.

The papyrus swamp occupies one-third of the park making it Eastern and Central Africa’s largest protected wetland. Akagera National Park is also famous for its huge variety of bird species.

It is such a haven for bird watchers and bird photographers. Apart from birds, different species of small monkeys compete to dot the tree canopies.

Must Read: Best Places to See Monkeys In Africa

2. Kouré, Niger

Kouré is a unique place for giraffes because it is one of the rarest places outside east, central and southern Africa where you can spot giraffes. Furthermore, its species of giraffe is unique.

It has Western African Giraffe which became extinct in West Africa long ago. Thanks to the conservation effort by a special village community in Niger that West African Giraffe has not only avoided complete extinction but also is now experiencing a remarkable rise in population.

With over 400 West African giraffes, a visit to this place can incentivize and motivate this community to continue in its noble endeavor to preserve this natural treasure for today’s and tomorrow’s generations.

1. Giraffe Manor, Kenya

If you want to share a dining table with a giraffe, visit Kenya. Giraffe Manor is a unique giraffe sanctuary hosting the endangered Rothschild giraffe species.

Tourists flock to this location so they can enjoy sharing a precious meal at the table with giraffes. The giraffes here are so accustomed to people such that they stretch their almost 6-feet long necks through the windows to pick biscuits, pellets, and other servings on the hotel’s table.

Conclusion

Africa stands tall, thanks to it hosting world’s tallest animal – the giraffe. Watching giraffes in their natural habitat is the best way to understand their unique nature and beauty.

It is also the best way to appreciate the immense heritage that Africa preserves for the rest of the world.

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