Wildlife

Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

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.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordGiraffe10+ stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

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.

Best monthsAny month

Recorded in KwaZulu-Natal~1,502 records

Curve from 7,512 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

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

5 places
Phinda Private Game ReserveKwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
5 places

Places to stay

10+ results in KwaZulu-Natal

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

Rhino Sands Safari Camp

Hazyview

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 30 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Zululand Conservation Trust

From R 22,680 per night

&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge

Hluhluwe

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 31,600 per night

&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge

Hluhluwe

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 44,800 per night

&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge

Hluhluwe

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 44,800 per night

&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge

Hluhluwe

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 35,500 per night

&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge

Hluhluwe

Giraffe recorded here · Forest biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 36,200 per night

Makongo Hills Lodge

Magudu

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 1,280 per night

Tandweni Villa

Mkuze

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 7 birds recorded · African elephant, Cape buffalo · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 14,000 per night

Zululand Lodge

Hluhluwe

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 9 birds recorded · Giraffe, Nyala · Canoeing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 3,280 per night

Bonamanzi Game Reserve

Hluhluwe

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Leopard, Giraffe · Game drives, Boat trip

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 240 per night

Weenen

Weenen Game Reserve

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · Giraffe, Plains zebra · Hiking, Game drives

From R 130 per night

Spioenkop

Spioenkop Resort

Giraffe recorded here · Grassland biome · Giraffe, Blue wildebeest · Canoeing, Game drives

From R 240 per night

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Hiking, Game drives

From R 1,420 per night

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 900 per night

Ithala (Ntshondwe)

Ithala Game Reserve

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Hiking, Game drives

From R 130 per night

Ndumo

Ndumo Game Reserve

Giraffe recorded here · Savanna biome · 37 birds recorded · Nile crocodile, Hippopotamus · Hiking, Game drives

From R 190 per night

More stays nearby

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

Forest biome · 60 birds recorded · Humpback whale, Southern right whale · Canoeing, Snorkelling

Price on request

Kosi Forest Lodge

Manguzi

Forest biome · 41 birds recorded · Hippopotamus, Nile crocodile · Canoeing, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Sasi Bush Lodge

Bergville

Grassland biome · Spa, Wine tasting

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 5,400 per night

&Beyond Phinda Homestead

Hluhluwe

Savanna biome · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat

Richmond

Grassland biome · 9 birds recorded · Spa, 4x4 trails

From R 5,990 per night

Dragonview Lodge

Cathkin Park

Grassland biome

Price on request

The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa

Drakensberg, Bergville

Grassland biome · 7 birds recorded · Horse riding, Spa

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 4,280 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Giraffe

Hosts have recorded the Giraffe at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Giraffe
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Phinda	Here	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here

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

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Phinda

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 KwaZulu-Natal?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Giraffe at stays in or beside Phinda Private 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. 17 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal 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. Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Giraffe?