THE AFRICAN GIRAFFE

[African Game Trek]

Records describes them as magnificent in appearance,bizarre in form, unique in gait,colossal in height and inoffensive in character.Giraffes sometimes were sent as diplomatic gifts to other countries;one of the earliest records tells of giraffe going from 'Melinda' presumably Malindi in Kenya to china in 1415. The neck is so long that it must spread its front legs apart for its head to reach down to drink.Giraffes  and okapi walks moving both legs on one side forward at the time.

Giraffes necking:Males do this when fighting,sometimes the blows can get strong that their necks entwine

They can reach a speed of 35miles an hour. They are mostly found in arid and dry-savanna zones south of the Sahara,wherever trees occur.Although a quiet animal,they are not mute. They bellow,grunt bray in distress moan and emit short flute like notes.They often alert other animals in the park due to their acute sense of hearing and sight.They mostly feed on acacia trees. They feed 16 to 20 hours a day. Mother giraffes leaves their young ones in nursery while they feed.They are not territorial,the males are hierarchical and sometimes spar by standing side by side and lowering and swinging their heads at one another. Their young ones grows really fast,like an inch a day,they are 6 foot high when born.