Where are the giraffes?
#1
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Where are the giraffes?
Good morning... I'm in the midst of planning an East Africa safari for myself in September '08. Are there particular parks or reserves that have more giraffes than others? Are giraffes just rare, in general?
Thanks!
Sandi
Thanks!
Sandi
#2
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I'm still planning my stuff so im in no real position to help you, but if you have the money and are a fan of giraffes you might want to stay at the giraffe manor for a night or two. Ive read great things about it. http://www.giraffemanor.com/
other than that, i have no idea how rare or common they are. sorry!
other than that, i have no idea how rare or common they are. sorry!
#4
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Hi Idnas71
I LOVE your question about Giraffes (at last, an original one...)
Seeing Giraffes:
Giraffes are not rare though in some parks you'll get better observations
<i>Are there particular parks or reserves that have more giraffes than others?" </i>
Well, Giraffes have a few sub-species (or races) & in East Africa you should see three
<font color="red"><u>Maasai Giraffe </u></font>: Serengeti, Mara, Amboseli.
Though on some game-drives in Mara you might see more lions than Giraffes...
one place that is packed with Giraffes is Arusha NP - a cute afternoon Giraffe-based-gamedrive
in Tarangire & Manyara you'll see them as well
<font color="blue"><u>Reticulated Giraffe</u></font>: this is the most distinct race & many claim it is the most attractive with its geometric pattern. can be seen only in a few parks but you ought to see many: Samburu (including Buffalo Springs reserve & Shaba), also Meru
<font color="green"><u> Rothschild's Giraffe </u></font> a very rare sub-species which was introduced into Nakuru NP (from Western Kenya where habitat loss etc' almost exterminated the rare population)
all in all best Giraffe experience (with all statistical restrictions) is IMHO, <b>Samburu.<b>
enjoy your Giraffes
aby
PS i will not recommend Giraffe Manor or that Nairobi place many go to (search "nairobi day tour" on the forum) ; captive Giraffes are not my cup of tea.
If you wish to walk among wild Giraffes in nature (though introduced) Crescent Island in Lake Naivasha is awesome. some individual Giraffes can be approached amazingly close - ask the guide on the island</b></b>
I LOVE your question about Giraffes (at last, an original one...)
Seeing Giraffes:
Giraffes are not rare though in some parks you'll get better observations
<i>Are there particular parks or reserves that have more giraffes than others?" </i>
Well, Giraffes have a few sub-species (or races) & in East Africa you should see three
<font color="red"><u>Maasai Giraffe </u></font>: Serengeti, Mara, Amboseli.
Though on some game-drives in Mara you might see more lions than Giraffes...
one place that is packed with Giraffes is Arusha NP - a cute afternoon Giraffe-based-gamedrive
in Tarangire & Manyara you'll see them as well
<font color="blue"><u>Reticulated Giraffe</u></font>: this is the most distinct race & many claim it is the most attractive with its geometric pattern. can be seen only in a few parks but you ought to see many: Samburu (including Buffalo Springs reserve & Shaba), also Meru
<font color="green"><u> Rothschild's Giraffe </u></font> a very rare sub-species which was introduced into Nakuru NP (from Western Kenya where habitat loss etc' almost exterminated the rare population)
all in all best Giraffe experience (with all statistical restrictions) is IMHO, <b>Samburu.<b>
enjoy your Giraffes
aby
PS i will not recommend Giraffe Manor or that Nairobi place many go to (search "nairobi day tour" on the forum) ; captive Giraffes are not my cup of tea.
If you wish to walk among wild Giraffes in nature (though introduced) Crescent Island in Lake Naivasha is awesome. some individual Giraffes can be approached amazingly close - ask the guide on the island</b></b>
#7
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Hi Sandi
I fully endorse what Aby has already stated. You can see pics all the three different types of giraffes including walking with them on Crescent Island at my web portfolio http://www.abidally.com/mp/home (pls click on the African images)
Cheers
Mohammed
I fully endorse what Aby has already stated. You can see pics all the three different types of giraffes including walking with them on Crescent Island at my web portfolio http://www.abidally.com/mp/home (pls click on the African images)
Cheers
Mohammed
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Sandi
Mohammed's Giraffe walking safari (Crescent Island) is on the last batch of pictures
Mohammed
Is the croc caught in the act of catching a young gnu ?
i like your sunbird photos.
Do you use a lens larger than 300mm ?
aby
Mohammed's Giraffe walking safari (Crescent Island) is on the last batch of pictures
Mohammed
Is the croc caught in the act of catching a young gnu ?
i like your sunbird photos.
Do you use a lens larger than 300mm ?
aby
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I have pics showing giraffe in the Crater, on the upper slopes (where they had accacia trees to nibble), but well below the rim.
We saw some beautiful bi-racial giraffe in Tsavo south. Did a double-take, noticing the neck and part of body was reticulated... rear body was Masai. Apparently the giraffe don't discriminate in mating.
Generally, though reticulated are found in the Samburu/Shaba and Laikipia areas.
We saw some beautiful bi-racial giraffe in Tsavo south. Did a double-take, noticing the neck and part of body was reticulated... rear body was Masai. Apparently the giraffe don't discriminate in mating.
Generally, though reticulated are found in the Samburu/Shaba and Laikipia areas.
#13
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Hi Aby
Yes the croc is a sequence of actually 2 crocs dismembering a gnu. Really it is quite gruesome but nature at its purest extreme.... no regrets I clicked 42 frames of the sequence.
It was really quite far off and shot at 400mm with a 100-400L lens on a 30D at 5fps.
Yes the croc is a sequence of actually 2 crocs dismembering a gnu. Really it is quite gruesome but nature at its purest extreme.... no regrets I clicked 42 frames of the sequence.
It was really quite far off and shot at 400mm with a 100-400L lens on a 30D at 5fps.
#14
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Our favorite was the reticulated giraffes in Samburu.
Following are some of our video clips:
Giraffes in Samburu Checking Out Walking Humans (Us!):
http://videoegg.com/video/hvVOp
Giraffe Crossing River:
http://videoegg.com/video/hvbUo
15 Reticulated Giraffes Feeding Together in Samburu:
http://videoegg.com/video/hvVIo
Kevin from California
Following are some of our video clips:
Giraffes in Samburu Checking Out Walking Humans (Us!):
http://videoegg.com/video/hvVOp
Giraffe Crossing River:
http://videoegg.com/video/hvbUo
15 Reticulated Giraffes Feeding Together in Samburu:
http://videoegg.com/video/hvVIo
Kevin from California
#16
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Mohammed,
Yes, your photos are fantastic! Enjoyed the giraffes very much, but I think my favorite photo was of the flamingos from very far away, where it just looks like a slash of pink along the shore of the lake.
Yes, your photos are fantastic! Enjoyed the giraffes very much, but I think my favorite photo was of the flamingos from very far away, where it just looks like a slash of pink along the shore of the lake.
#18
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Mohammed....your photos are wonderful. Do you have a trip report on this site? If so, can you please post a link to it? I'm hoping to visit many of the places you went to on your trip. I'm definitely in "giraffe-search" mode.
#19
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I have to say that my best giraffe moments and photographs have been taken at the least likely of game parks: Arusha National Park. It is a wonderful park, even though it is small, but some times parks like it surprise you with wonderful memories.