Giraffe: 5 Facinating Facts

15Jan

Wildlife Updates

giraffe

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Majestic Giraffe Seen on Eastern Cape Safari

There is nothing quite like seeing a giraffe in the bush. These tall, majestic creatures are so beautiful to watch. Their movements are peaceful and seemingly unhurried. Giraffe are plentiful at Kariega but they can be surprising difficult to spot in our Eastern Cape terrain despite their giant proportions.

Five Fascinating Facts about Giraffe

1. A fully grown giraffe can reach between 5-6 metres (16-19 ft) in height.
2. A female giraffe has a gestation period of 15 months and will give birth standing up. The impact of this fall stimulates the calf to breathe.
3. A walking giraffe may look slow but in fact it can cover 4.5 meters (15 ft) with every step. That means even a leisurely walk gives it a speed of 16 km (10 miles) per hour. When running giraffe can reach speeds in excess of 60 km (37 mi) per hour.
4. The tongue of a giraffe is 50 cm (1.6 ft) which means it can easily be wrapped around juicy tree top leaves. It is also used for cleaning their nostrils and even their ears!
5. Surprisingly, even with its long neck, the giraffe has the same number of vertebrae in its neck as humans. The giraffe has seven cervical vertebrae, but each one can be about 25 cm (0.8 ft) long.

Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa are proud custodians of these magnificent creatures and it is the perfect place to experience a firsthand encounter with giraffe and many other wildlife species.

Please share your giraffe pictures with us on Facebook or email bronwen@kariega.co.za. Photographs are entered into our annual Facebook photo competition and the prize is a two night stay for two people at Kariega River Lodge.