Giraffes in Africa are one of the most graceful sights on any safari. The tallest animals on Earth have amazed people for thousands of years, and they appear in African rock art made long before the first written history.
Today, you can see giraffes in Africa in many of the continent's best parks, from Uganda's Murchison Falls to Kenya's Masai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti.
This guide shows you the 13 best places to see them, the four giraffe species and where each one lives, the best time to go and how to plan a giraffe safari with our team at Tulambule.
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Where to See Giraffes in Africa: Quick Answer
The best places to see giraffes in Africa are Murchison Falls in Uganda, the Masai Mara and Samburu in Kenya, the Serengeti in Tanzania and South Luangwa in Zambia. For close-up encounters, the Giraffe Centre and Giraffe Manor in Nairobi let you feed them by hand.
| Place | Country | Giraffe you will see | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murchison Falls National Park | Uganda | Nubian (Rothschild's) | Large herds, plus the Nile and the falls |
| Kidepo Valley National Park | Uganda | Nubian (Rothschild's) | Remote wilderness |
| Lake Mburo National Park | Uganda | Nubian (Rothschild's) | A short safari from Kampala |
| Akagera National Park | Rwanda | Masai | Adding giraffes to a gorilla trip |
| Masai Mara National Reserve | Kenya | Masai | Classic savannah and the migration |
| Samburu National Reserve | Kenya | Reticulated | Rare northern wildlife |
| Giraffe Centre and Giraffe Manor | Kenya | Nubian (Rothschild's) | Feeding giraffes by hand |
| Lake Nakuru National Park | Kenya | Nubian (Rothschild's) | Giraffes, rhinos and flamingos |
| Amboseli National Park | Kenya | Masai | Giraffes below Kilimanjaro |
| Serengeti National Park | Tanzania | Masai | Endless plains and big cats |
| Nyerere National Park | Tanzania | Masai | Boat safaris on the Rufiji River |
| South Luangwa National Park | Zambia | Thornicroft's | A rare giraffe found nowhere else |
| Kruger National Park | South Africa | South African | Big Five self-drive safaris |
The Four Species of Giraffes in Africa
For a long time, scientists counted just one giraffe species. In August 2025, the IUCN officially recognised four species of giraffes in Africa, each with its own range and coat pattern. Population figures come from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Spotting the differences adds a fun challenge to any safari.
| Species | Estimated population | Where to see it |
|---|---|---|
| Northern giraffe (including the Nubian, or Rothschild's, giraffe) | About 7,000 | Uganda (Murchison, Kidepo, Lake Mburo), Kenya (Lake Nakuru, Nairobi) |
| Reticulated giraffe | About 21,000 | Northern Kenya (Samburu) |
| Masai giraffe (including Thornicroft's giraffe) | About 44,000 | Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda (Akagera), Zambia (Luangwa) |
| Southern giraffe | About 69,000 | South Africa, Namibia, Botswana |
The northern giraffe is the rarest, which makes Uganda one of the most special places to see giraffes in Africa.
13 Best Places to See Giraffes in Africa
1. Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda
Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest park, is one of the best places to see giraffes in Africa. More than 1,500 Nubian giraffes live here, one of the largest populations of this rare giraffe in the world.
Herds of 20 to 30 giraffes are common on the palm-dotted savannah north of the Nile. You can watch them on morning and evening game drives, and from the boat cruise to the foot of Murchison Falls, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge.
- Also see: lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles and the shoebill.
- Try it on: our 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari or 4-Day Murchison Falls Wildlife Safari.
2. Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda
Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda's far north-east is one of Africa's most remote and beautiful parks. Nubian giraffes were brought back from Murchison Falls, and the herd is growing well on Kidepo's open grasslands.
Kidepo also offers cheetahs, ostriches, large buffalo herds and, since rhinos returned, a full Big Five. See what else lives here in our guide to wildlife in Kidepo.
3. Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda
Lake Mburo National Park is the closest savannah park to Kampala, about 4 hours away. In 2015, 15 Nubian giraffes were moved here from Murchison Falls, and by 2023 the herd had grown to about 65.
Lake Mburo is also one of the few parks where you can see giraffes on foot, on a guided walking safari, or from horseback. Zebras, impalas and elands share the plains.
- Try it on: our 3-Day Lake Mburo Safari.
4. Akagera National Park, Rwanda
Akagera National Park is Rwanda's only savannah park and now home to the Big Five. Masai giraffes were introduced from Kenya in the 1980s and are easy to see on the park's rolling plains.
Akagera is about 2.5 hours from Kigali, so it is the perfect way to add giraffes and big game to a gorilla trekking trip. See our Rwanda national parks guide and the 7-Day Rwanda Big Five, Chimps and Gorillas Safari.
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5. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Kenya's most famous reserve gives reliable sightings of Masai giraffes all year, with their jagged, leaf-shaped patches. From July to October, the Great Migration adds millions of wildebeest and zebras to the plains. Read our Masai Mara safari guide.
6. Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya is the best place to see the reticulated giraffe. Its coat of neat, liver-coloured patches outlined in bright white lines is the most striking of all giraffes in Africa.
Samburu is also home to the "Samburu Special Five": the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Its dry, wild landscape and the Ewaso Nyiro River make it one of Kenya's most rewarding safari areas.
7. Giraffe Centre and Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya
For close-up encounters, Nairobi is the place to see giraffes in Africa. At the Giraffe Centre, a breeding and education centre for the rare Nubian giraffe, you can feed giraffes from a raised platform and look straight into their long-lashed eyes.
Next door, the famous Giraffe Manor is a boutique hotel where giraffes poke their heads through the windows at breakfast. It books up many months ahead. Both fit easily into a Nairobi city tour, along with Nairobi National Park.
8. Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
Lake Nakuru, in Kenya's Rift Valley, is a fenced sanctuary that protects Nubian giraffes alongside black and white rhinos. Giraffes often browse among the yellow fever trees near the lake, and flamingos and pelicans gather along the shore. Nakuru fits easily between Nairobi and the Masai Mara.
9. Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Amboseli National Park is famous for its elephants and its views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. Masai giraffes feed on the umbrella acacias in the park's woodland, especially in the east.
When a giraffe lines up with a flat-topped acacia and Kilimanjaro behind, you have one of the most iconic photos in Africa.
10. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The Serengeti is one of the world's great wildlife areas, and Masai giraffes are found across its plains and acacia woodlands. Look for them in the central Seronera area and the western corridor, alongside lions, leopards, cheetahs and the Great Migration.
Many travellers combine the Serengeti with the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, where giraffes are also common. See our Tanzania safaris.
11. Nyerere National Park, Tanzania
Nyerere National Park, formerly the Selous, is one of Africa's largest protected areas. Giraffes are common in the northern sector but absent from much of the south, separated by the Rufiji River.
Boat safaris on the Rufiji give a rare view of giraffes drinking at the water's edge, as well as hippos, crocodiles and elephants.
12. South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
The Luangwa Valley in Zambia is the only place on Earth to see Thornicroft's giraffe, a rare form of the Masai giraffe with only a few hundred left in the wild. Its darker, star-shaped patches set it apart.
South Luangwa is also famous for walking safaris and excellent leopard sightings. See our Zambia safaris.
13. Kruger National Park, South Africa
Kruger, South Africa's largest national park, has thousands of South African giraffes and is one of the easiest places to see them, often right beside the road. It is also a top Big Five destination, ideal for both guided and self-drive safaris. See our South Africa safaris and holidays.
More Great Places to See Giraffes in Africa
- Tarangire and Arusha National Parks, Tanzania: giraffes among baobabs, and walking safaris below Mount Meru.
- Lake Naivasha, Kenya: walk among giraffes on Crescent Island.
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya: giraffes, rhinos and chimpanzees in one place.
- Etosha National Park, Namibia: giraffes gathering at waterholes in the dry season.
Plan a Kenya or Tanzania Giraffe Safari
Best Time to See Giraffes in Africa
You can see giraffes in Africa all year, because they do not migrate long distances. The dry seasons are the easiest time, as the bush is thinner and animals gather near water:
- Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania: June to October and December to February.
- Zambia and South Africa: May to October.
Early morning and late afternoon game drives give the best light for photos, when giraffes are often feeding in the open.
Amazing Facts About Giraffes in Africa
- The tallest animals on Earth: adult males can reach about 5.5 metres, taller than a double-decker bus.
- Fast runners: giraffes can gallop at up to about 55 to 60 km per hour over short distances.
- A long tongue: their dark tongue is about 45 to 50 cm long, perfect for stripping leaves from thorny acacias.
- Little sleep: giraffes sleep for only short periods, often standing up.
- Risky drinking: to drink, a giraffe must splay its front legs and lower its head, which makes it vulnerable to lions.
- Born standing tall: calves drop about 2 metres at birth and can stand within an hour.
- Unique patterns: no two giraffes have exactly the same coat, just like fingerprints.
Protecting Giraffes in Africa
Giraffe numbers fell sharply in the late 20th century because of habitat loss and poaching. In 2016, the IUCN listed the giraffe as Vulnerable, and the northern giraffe is now the most threatened of the four species.
Uganda is a success story. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and its partners have moved Nubian giraffes from Murchison Falls to Lake Mburo, Kidepo and other areas to create new, healthy herds. Every safari you take pays park fees that support this work.
Giraffe Safari Packages
These Tulambule trips give you excellent chances of seeing giraffes in Africa:
- 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with game drives and the Nile boat cruise
- 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Rhino Tracking
- 3-Day Lake Mburo Safari with a walking safari among giraffes
- 10-Day Murchison Falls to Bwindi Safari with giraffes, chimps, lions and gorillas
- 7-Day Rwanda Big Five, Chimps and Gorillas Safari with Akagera's giraffes
- Kenya safaris to the Masai Mara, Samburu, Nakuru and Amboseli
For more wildlife ideas, read about the animals of Uganda and our Uganda wildlife safaris and game drives.
Giraffes in Africa: FAQs
Where is the best place to see giraffes in Africa?
Murchison Falls in Uganda, the Masai Mara and Samburu in Kenya, the Serengeti in Tanzania and Kruger in South Africa all offer excellent sightings. Murchison Falls has one of the largest populations of the rare Nubian giraffe.
Can you see giraffes in Uganda?
Yes. Uganda has Nubian giraffes in Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley and Lake Mburo National Parks, and Murchison Falls alone has more than 1,500.
How many species of giraffes are there in Africa?
There are four: the northern, reticulated, Masai and southern giraffe, officially recognised by the IUCN in August 2025.
Where can I feed giraffes in Africa?
At the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, you can feed giraffes from a raised platform. Guests at Giraffe Manor next door can feed them from the breakfast table.
Are giraffes endangered?
Giraffes are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The northern giraffe, which includes Uganda's Nubian giraffe, is the rarest species.
When is the best time to see giraffes in Africa?
You can see giraffes all year. The dry seasons, June to October and December to February in East Africa, are easiest.
Plan Your Giraffe Safari with Tulambule
Tulambule Uganda Safaris is 100% Ugandan-owned, accredited by the Uganda Tourism Board and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and rated 4.9 stars on TripAdvisor. Since 2014 we have planned safaris across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, where you can see giraffes in Africa alongside gorillas, chimpanzees and the Big Five.
Call or WhatsApp +256 782 915 447 or email info@tulambule.com for a free quote.
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