
Wildlife
Giraffe
The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa giraffa or Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is a species or subspecies of giraffe found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mozambique.
Species insights
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Curve from 7,512 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Giraffe is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
7,512 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Giraffe
Stays that give back
Across the Eastern Cape
Giraffe recorded here · Fynbos biome · Giraffe · Impala
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 485 a night
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black wildebeest · Blue wildebeest
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 7,500 a night
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal · Bushbuck
Gives back to Wilderness Foundation Africa
From R 2,600 a night
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black wildebeest · Blesbok
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 11,592 a night
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Spekboom
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 4,000 a night
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Giraffe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Giraffe · Cheetah
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Fynbos biome · Spekboom
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 2,460 a night
Nama-Karoo biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa and 1 other
From R 1,760 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 1,050 a night
From R 12,950 a night
Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 3,100 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 2,000 a night
Nama-Karoo biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,200 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 600 a night
Forest biome · Arum lily · Krantz aloe
From R 457 a night
Grassland biome · Black wildebeest · Springbok
From R 449 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 2,093 a night
Fynbos biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Wilderness Foundation Africa
Price on request
Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal · Spotted hyena
From R 1,490 a night
Forests, lagoons, and Knysna's sheltered bay
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Giraffe
Hosts have recorded the Giraffe at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Amakhala Game Reserve.
When to go, park by park
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwandwe | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here |
| Amakhala | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Best hours of the day
- Early morning and late afternoon. The Giraffe is out through the day, and easiest to watch before the heat.
- Midday heat. Often resting in shade or near water.
Ways to look
Species
Giraffa camelopardalis
Records
7,512
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Giraffe on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Giraffe in Eastern Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Giraffe at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Amakhala Game Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Giraffe in South Africa?
The Giraffe is most recorded in Mpumalanga (34% of records), Limpopo (23% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (20% of records), based on 7,512 iNaturalist observations. 11 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the Giraffe on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Giraffe?
The Giraffe is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Amakhala Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Giraffe?
The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa giraffa or Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is a species or subspecies of giraffe found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves.
























