Giraffes at Shindzela Safari Lodge

Spotting our first herd of giraffes while on Safari at Shindzela Lodge!

While on my first Safari at Shindzela tented safari lodge within the Timbavati Private Game Reserve I got to see some of the most beautiful animals. Giraffes have always fascinated me and getting to see them up close was amazing!!

Taking notice of us arriving and then ignoring us afterwards
Giraffes!!

They such regal looking animals, and moved at a slow and relaxed pace, even though we were just a couple of meters away. It is quite hard to imagine that these tall creatures can run at speeds of up to 35 mph over short distances.

Peeking at us!
Giraffes at Shindzela Safari Lodge
Giraffes at Shindzela Safari Lodge
Trying to capture a shot of his tongue

Giraffes only need to drink water once every couple of days. As they get most of their water from their plant-based diet. I guess this is a good thing considering their height makes the process of drinking quite difficult.

Giraffes at Shindzela Safari Lodge
A bit gross but if there are ticks….
Giraffes are found in the dry savannas of Africa, where they roam among the open plains and woodlands.

Giraffes’ tongues can be up to 20 inches long and are darkly coloured, which is thought to help protect them during frequent sun-exposure. I tried to get a glimpse of this darkly coloured tongue but it seemed quite impossible, even though we were so close.

Unlike horses and most other quadrupeds, giraffes walk by moving both legs on the same side of their body together.
Despite their characteristic long necks, giraffes actually have the same number of neck vertebrae as humans—just seven.
A giraffe’s height is helpful for keeping a look out for predators, such as lions and hyenas.
Giraffes are very social animals and roam around in groups. These groups, called towers, typically have around 15 members led by an adult male. The other members are females and young males.
An adult male can grow to around 5.5m – that’s taller than three adult humans!
Giraffes at Shindzela Safari Lodge
To see who is stronger, males (called bulls) fight by butting their long necks and heads. This is known as “necking“. These fights aren’t usually dangerous, and end when one bull admits defeat and walks away.
In the wild these beautiful creatures live for around 25 years. In captivity they live longer, and have been known to reach 40 years old.

You can tell if a giraffe is male or female by looking at the horns. Both male and female giraffes have horns, but the tops of the horns on a male are almost always bald while a female’s horns will be completely covered with hair. Females don’t fight, so they never lose the hair on their horns.

Male giraffes will test a female’s fertility by tasting her urine. Which is something now you can’t un-know.
The first giraffe to make its way to Europe was brought there by Julius Caesar from Alexandria in 46 B.C. as part of a triumphant return to Rome after years of civil war.

They are beautiful creatures and I would love to see some more of them.

Giraffes at Shindzela Safari Lodge

The giraffe’s scientific name, Giraffa camelopardalis, comes from the ancient Greeks’ belief that it looked like a camel wearing a leopard’s coat.