Habitat

Giraffes tend to live in dry, open wooded areas in the savanna. They are grass-eating herbivores and feed mainly on leaves and buds of acacia trees. They also feed on mimosa and wild apricot trees. Giraffes feed with the zebra and antelope which are other herbivores. Giraffes do not have to migrate during dry seasons because they get most their food and moisture from leaves. Giraffes rarely vocalize but when they do it sounds like a moan or a low note. Giraffes sleep standing up. They live in herds of females, young and one adult male. There is a rank order within the herd. The females of the herd are the most alert to danger. The giraffes protect themselves by kicking their large heavy hooves. Their most threatening predator is the lion.

As a matter of fact, males and females have different preferences for habitat. Thus the females usually cannot be found in the woodland. This behavior is connected with the feeding habits of these creatures. Since males eat leaves from the highest trees, they can afford going to the woodland for food. Information on typical giraffe habitat, photo galleries and conservation measures for the species can be seen on special websites.

Most giraffes live either in East Africa or in Angola and Zambia in southwestern Africa. Until the middle of the 20th century giraffes were also commonly found in West Africa, south of the Sahara. But populations there have fallen sharply and become increasingly fragmented.

Giraffes live in savanna and open woodland, habitats where the available food varies throughout the year. During the dry season, the animals eat evergreen leaves, but once the rainy season begins, they switch to new leaves and stems that sprout on deciduous trees. When there is a choice, male and female giraffes feed in different ways. Males concentrate on leaves from the highest branches, while the females arch their necks to eat closer to the ground. This behavior is so characteristic that a giraffe’s sex can be identified from a long distance away simply by its stance while eating. Male giraffes are also more inclined to wander into dense woodland, a habitat that females generally avoid.

Giraffes tend to live in dry, open wooded areas in the savanna. They are grass-eating herbivores and feed mainly on leaves and buds of acacia trees. They also feed on mimosa and wild apricot trees. Giraffes feed with the zebra and antelope which are other herbivores. Giraffes do not have to migrate during dry seasons because they get most their food and moisture from leaves. Giraffes rarely vocalize but when they do it sounds like a moan or a low note. Giraffes sleep standing up. They live in herds of females, young and one adult male. There is a rank order within the herd. The females of the herd are the most alert to danger. The giraffes protect themselves by kicking their large heavy hooves. Their most threatening predator is the lion.

Giraffes are found throughout the central and South African savannah (African plains), from south of the Sahara desert to as far south as South Africa.

The reticulated giraffe is the most readily recognized giraffe sub-species. It is found mainly in southern Ethopia and northern Kenya.
Identifying the Reticulated Giraffe

It has a pattern of reddish-brown patches on its hide that looks as if it has been covered with a large net. This net-like pattern gives it the name reticulated giraffe.

It has a very long neck and a small head with three horns.

Mainly found on the northern savannah regions of Africa.

The Masai giraffe has a darker coloured hide (than giraffes with blotched patterns). It has irregularly shaped brown patches with jagged edges. Older males are usually darker in colour than female giraffes or their young. Both sexes have a pair of short, bony horns, called ossicorns; older males may have one or more additional ones.