Overview
Towering above the plains, the Masai giraffe is the tallest animal on Earth and one of Tanzania’s most recognisable wildlife species. Its extraordinary height, irregular chestnut markings and calm, watchful presence make every encounter memorable.
Masai giraffes browse high among trees and shrubs, using their long necks and prehensile tongues to reach foliage unavailable to most other herbivores. Acacias are important food plants, but giraffes eat leaves, shoots, flowers and seed pods from many different tree and shrub species.
They live in loose, constantly changing social groups rather than fixed herds. Individuals may join and leave throughout the day as they move between feeding areas, resting places and water. Their height provides an excellent view across open country, and nearby animals often respond when a giraffe becomes alert and stares towards a possible predator.
Behaviour & How to Identify
Look for an exceptionally tall animal with a long neck, sloping back, tufted tail and a pair of skin-covered horn-like structures called ossicones. The Masai giraffe’s coat is marked with large, irregular, vine-leaf-shaped patches separated by pale lines. The markings often extend down the legs, helping distinguish it from other giraffe species.
Males are considerably taller and heavier than females. Mature bulls often develop thicker ossicones, a broader forehead and darker colouring as they age. Males may also carry bare patches on top of their ossicones where repeated fighting has worn away the hair.
Male giraffes compete through a behaviour known as necking. Rivals stand alongside one another and swing their necks so that their heads and ossicones strike the opponent’s body. These contests can range from gentle sparring between younger animals to powerful clashes between mature bulls.
Interesting facts
A giraffe has only seven neck vertebrae. This is the same number found in humans, but each giraffe vertebra is greatly elongated.
Every giraffe has a unique coat pattern. The markings remain recognisable throughout life and allow researchers to identify individual animals from photographs.
Their patches may help control body temperature. A network of blood vessels beneath the darker areas of skin may help release heat as blood circulates through the body.