Tall Order

Why the giraffe stands out

- Bryan Havemann

Giraffe are among the most recognisable large species of wildlife in Africa. Even the majestic African elephant is looked down on by the giraffe. Tourists seeing them for the first time are truly amazed by these strange looking creatures with their characteristic elongated neck. Sometimes as long as 2.4 metres, this is made up of just seven cervical vertebrae, just as ours are – not more, as one would think. The scientific name Giraffa camelopardis comes from ancient times when the animal was aptly, if incorrectly, described as a camel wearing a leopard’s coat. Its closest living relative is the Okapi of central Africa.

Being able to see from a height of up to six metres has advantages when it comes to spotting danger. I recall walking past five giraffe about 100 metres away while I was leading a wilderness trail in the central part of the Kruger National Park. All were staring intently at something on the opposite side of the plain. Not once did they even glance in our direction. I changed direction so that our trail group passed within 30 metres of them, but still they did not glance our way. As we continued walking to where they were staring, the bush erupted in growls and two big male lions ran away. The giraffe, with their persistent stares, had directed us to the predators.

On other occasions, I was guided to leopards, cheetah and even a foraging honey badger because of giraffe using their vantage point to spot trouble a mile away. There are usually Oxpeckers clearing their ticks, and these birds also help to alert the giraffe with their hissing, accusatory calls if trouble lurks close by.