Giraffe in Marloth Park

What giraffe look like

Giraffe are the tallest animals on land, standing 4.3-5.7 m. The giraffe in Marloth are South African giraffe, with dark, roughly rounded patches on a tawny coat and smaller spots running down the legs. Every giraffe's pattern is its own.

Bulls and cows

Look at the horns. Both sexes have them, and they're called ossicones. A bull's are thick and bald on top, worn smooth from fighting. A cow's are thinner, with a tuft of dark hair on the tip, and so are a youngster's.

Bulls are also taller and much heavier, about 1,190 kg on average against about 830 kg for a cow. Two bulls swinging their necks at each other are fighting for rank. It's called necking, and a bout can go on for more than half an hour.

Where and when you'll see them

Giraffe browse. They eat the leaves, twigs, flowers and fruit of trees, thorn trees most of all, and get through about 34 kg a day. That's why you'll find them in the taller bush between the houses.

To drink, a giraffe has to spread its front legs wide or bend its knees, and when water is close it drinks at least every three days.

The 2024-25 count found 58 giraffe in Marloth, and 20 were moved to reserves near Hoedspruit in October 2025. You'll see them in Lionspruit too.

Giraffe on the road

Giraffe cross the roads where they like and at their own speed. Keep to the limit, slow down further when you see one near the road, and stop to let it cross. At night, drive slower still. Don't hoot or edge the car forward to hurry it along.

What they eat and the feeding rule

You'll see giraffe whether you feed them or not. If you do put food out, the rule is antelope pellets and wild bird seed only, scattered on the ground. Never feed from your hand or try to reach up to a giraffe.

How close is too close

Giraffe look gentle, but a kick from an adult is strong enough to keep lions away. A mother stands over her calf and kicks at any predator that comes close. If a giraffe stops browsing and stares at you, you're close enough. Never walk up to one, and never get between a mother and her calf.

Calves

There's no set calving season, so you can see a young calf in any month. A cow carries her calf for 400-460 days and gives birth standing up, so the calf starts life with a drop to the ground. It's already 1.7-2 m tall and can run within a few hours. For the first one to three weeks it spends most of its time lying hidden.

Mothers sometimes leave their calves together with one cow while the rest go off to feed, a kind of giraffe crèche.

A few giraffe facts

A giraffe's tongue is dark and about 45-50 cm long, and it can grip leaves and pull them off the branch. Its heart weighs about 11 kg. Giraffe seem to hum to each other at night, and they sleep only a few hours a day, mostly after dark. The small birds riding on their backs are oxpeckers, which pick off ticks and call out when danger is near.

Photographing giraffe

Turn the camera upright for a full-length giraffe, or go close on the head with a long lens. Late afternoon light brings out the patches, and at sunset you can catch a giraffe outlined against the sky. Shoot from the car or the stoep and keep the engine off while you wait.

Questions people ask

How do you tell a male giraffe from a female?

Look at the horns. A bull's are thick and bald on top. A cow's are thinner, with tufts of dark hair.

Are giraffe dangerous?

They're calm, but an adult's kick is strong enough to fend off a lion. Keep your distance, especially from a mother with a calf.

When are giraffe calves born?

Any time of year. Calves hide for their first weeks, so you'll usually see them once they're following their mothers.

Where can I see giraffe in Marloth Park?

All over Marloth in the taller bush, along the roads and in Lionspruit. See our wildlife guide for the other animals and the rules page for speed limits and feeding.