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East African Giraffe

Q: What are the chances of seeing an East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park?

Very likely. About 80% of wildlife watchers report an East African Giraffe sighting in Tsavo East National Park on a given day, based on 124 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 4th most-seen of the 32 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see an East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park?

September. In that month about 90% of wildlife watchers report an East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park on a given day, against about 60% in December, the lowest month. That is one of Tsavo East National Park's driest months, with about 15 mm of rain against 130 mm in November.

Q: What time of day is best to see an East African Giraffe?

Between 9 am and noon. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most East African Giraffe sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Tsavo East National Park the best place to see an East African Giraffe?

Among the best. Of the 16 parks where we can rate East African Giraffe sightings, Tsavo East National Park ranks 5th at about 80%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Mikumi National Park (Tanzania, about 80%), South Luangwa National Park (Zambia, about 80%) and Tsavo West National Park (Kenya, about 80%). All parks ranked.

Q: Which relatives of the East African Giraffe live in Tsavo East National Park?

Same order: Artiodactyla. The closest relatives of the East African Giraffe that you can see in Tsavo East National Park (order Artiodactyla, Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans) are Grant's Gazelle (about 80%), Impala (about 80%) and Hartebeest (about 70%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the East African Giraffe sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the East African Giraffe is recorded against all the mammals logged in Tsavo East National Park (124 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Giraffa tippelskirchi

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KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassMammalia (Mammals)
OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
FamilyGiraffidae (Giraffes and Okapi)
GenusGiraffa (Giraffes)
SpeciesGiraffa tippelskirchi (East African Giraffe)

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

at Tsavo East National Park

In 3 days >90%

124 Verified sightings at Tsavo East National Park From 2019 to 2026

3,299 In all 16 parks

September Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge Savanna Classics AfricaEasy

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About the East African Giraffe

The Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), also spelled Maasai giraffe, and sometimes called the Kilimanjaro giraffe, is a species of giraffe. It is native to East Africa. The Masai giraffe can be found in central and southern Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Luangwa Valley region of Zambia. It has distinctive jagged, irregular leaf-like blotches that extend from the hooves to its head. The Masai giraffe is currently the national animal of Tanzania.

Genetic research on giraffes in 2016 determined that there are likely four separate species of giraffe rather than just one. The IUCN's Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group has now accepted that there are four species of giraffes: the Masai giraffe, the reticulated giraffe, the northern giraffe, and the southern giraffe.[3] The Masai giraffe has therefore been elevated to a full species, the research also established that the Thornicroft's giraffe also known as the Luangwa giraffe, found in the Luangwa Valley region of Zambia, is a subspecies of the Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi thornicrofti).

The Masai giraffe was described and given the binomial name Giraffa tippelskirchi by German zoologist Paul Matschie in 1898,... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Known range (Mammal Diversity Database, Marsh et al. 2022)Our parks where it lives In captivity: 73 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~80%
2	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~80%
3	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~80%
4	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~80%
5	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~80%
6	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~80%
7	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~70%
8	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~70%
9	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~70%
10	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~70%
11	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~70%
12	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~60%
13	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~50%
14	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
15	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
16	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Disney's Animal Kingdom	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	Busch Gardens Tampa	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	SeaWorld San Diego	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	San Diego Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
5	Cleveland Metroparks Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
6	Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
7	The Wilds	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
8	Garden Route Safari Camp	🇿🇦 South Africa	In captivity
9	Zoo Miami	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
10	San Diego Zoo Safari Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
11	Lion Country Safari	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
12	Toronto Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
13	Safari West	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
14	Haller Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	In captivity
15	Columbus Zoo and Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
16	Nashville Zoo at Grassmere	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
17	江苏淹城野生动物世界	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
18	Los Angeles Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
19	Oakland Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
20	Phoenix Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
21	Toledo Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
22	Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
23	Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
24	Leofoo Village Theme Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	In captivity
25	Africam Safari	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
26	Louisville Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
27	Southwick's Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
28	Calgary Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
29	Brevard Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
30	Franklin Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
31	ZooTampa	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
32	Gatorland	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
33	Oregon Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
34	Virginia Zoological Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
35	Houston Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
36	Cameron Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
37	Fresno Chaffee Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
38	Cebu Safari and Adventure Park	🇵🇭 Philippines	In captivity
39	Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
40	Terra Natura Murcia	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
41	Roger Williams Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
42	Giraffe Centre	🇰🇪 Kenya	In captivity
43	Turtle Back Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
44	Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo	🇯🇵 Japan	In captivity
45	Nairobi Safari Walk	🇰🇪 Kenya	In captivity
46	Lehigh Valley Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
47	Manatí Park - Cerrado	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	In captivity
48	Potawatomi Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
49	Racine Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
50	Santa Barbara Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity

Show all 50 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Tsavo East National Park

Nanger granti

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Aepyceros melampus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Litocranius walleri

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Oryx beisa

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Hippopotamus amphibius

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Tragelaphus imberbis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Syncerus caffer

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Phacochoerus aethiopicus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Taurotragus oryx

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Phacochoerus africanus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park?

Very likely

About 80% of wildlife watchers report an East African Giraffe sighting in Tsavo East National Park on a given day, based on 124 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 4th most-seen of the 32 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park?

September

In that month about 90% of wildlife watchers report an East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park on a given day, against about 60% in December, the lowest month. That is one of Tsavo East National Park's driest months, with about 15 mm of rain against 130 mm in November.

What time of day is best to see an East African Giraffe?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most East African Giraffe sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Tsavo East National Park the best place to see an East African Giraffe?

Among the best

Of the 16 parks where we can rate East African Giraffe sightings, Tsavo East National Park ranks 5th at about 80%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Mikumi National Park (Tanzania, about 80%), South Luangwa National Park (Zambia, about 80%) and Tsavo West National Park (Kenya, about 80%). All parks ranked.

Which relatives of the East African Giraffe live in Tsavo East National Park?

Same order: Artiodactyla

The closest relatives of the East African Giraffe that you can see in Tsavo East National Park (order Artiodactyla, Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans) are Grant's Gazelle (about 80%), Impala (about 80%) and Hartebeest (about 70%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the East African Giraffe sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the East African Giraffe is recorded against all the mammals logged in Tsavo East National Park (124 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Tsavo East National Park

East African Giraffe

About the East African Giraffe

Recent sightings of East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Tsavo East National Park

Grant's Gazelle

Impala

Hartebeest

Waterbuck

Gerenuk

East African Oryx

Common Hippopotamus

Lesser Kudu

African Buffalo

Desert Warthog

Common Eland

Common Warthog

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park?

When is the best time to see an East African Giraffe in Tsavo East National Park?

What time of day is best to see an East African Giraffe?

Is Tsavo East National Park the best place to see an East African Giraffe?

Which relatives of the East African Giraffe live in Tsavo East National Park?

Where does the East African Giraffe sighting chance come from?