Written by Daryll Williams

The giraffe is one of the most iconic species of Africa. As the tallest mammal on Earth, these creatures are both weird and wonderful with their long legs and necks, large eyes, long eyelashes, striking coat patterns, ambling gait, and calm demeanour.

All in all, who doesn’t like giraffes? Yet, despite their international love and viral moments, there is much about them that is unknown by the masses. Here are 7 facts you didn’t know about giraffes.

1. They go by several different names

If you ask the question, “what is a group of giraffes called?” you might get a different answer every time. There are a few collective nouns used to describe a group of giraffes, such as kaleidoscope, journey, herd, or even tower. These terms tie in with both the giraffe’s physical appearance and its social behaviour.

2. They have tiny hearts

For such a large animal, the giraffe has quite a small heart, weighing only some 11 kg. As it is, they have extremely high blood pressure, twice that found in humans. A giraffe’s heart has to generate almost double the normal blood pressure of other mammals in order to maintain blood flow to the brain against gravity. In the upper neck, a complex pressure-regulation system called the rete mirabile prevents excess blood flow to the brain when the giraffe lowers its head to drink.

3. They don’t speak much

There is a popular myth that these animals are mute. But according to modern data, they do have well-developed vocal cords. There is even some evidence that they communicate with each other with the help of special vocalisations such as bleating or grunting. Nevertheless, they cannot make any "true" sounds due to the peculiarities of their body structure.

4. They have strangely coloured tongues

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to see a giraffe’s tongue up close, you’ll notice that they can appear purple, bluish or almost black in colour. This is due to the density of dark “melanin” colour pigments in them.

There’s still no definitive explanation for this, but the leading theory is that the melanin provides extra UV protection, preventing their delicate tongues from getting sunburnt as they feed up high. As it is, adult giraffe tongues measure around half a metre long. The extraordinary length of their tongue helps them both get extra reach for those super-high acacia leaves, and dexterously wrap their tongues around branches to strip leaves whilst avoiding the thorns.

5. They are not very thirsty

Giraffes only need to drink water once every couple of days. They get most of their water from their plant-based diet - which is good considering their height makes the process of drinking difficult (and, if a lion happens upon a drinking giraffe, even dangerous).

6. There are 9 subspecies in Africa

A less well-known fact about this fascinating animal is that there are 9 subspecies of giraffe currently recognised in Africa. These subspecies inhabit different countries across Africa, but increasing genetic evidence suggests that some may not be that different from others, while others may be distinct species in their own right. Research efforts are currently underway to unravel the mystery of giraffe genetics. Each of these subspecies differs not only in their coat pattern, but also in size.

7. There are very few of them left

Currently, there are fewer than 90.000 giraffes left in Africa. Numbers have dropped by 40% during recent years and the species is under a lot of pressure. Currently, they are already extinct in at least seven countries on the continent, and according to the IUCN Red List, two giraffe subspecies, the West African giraffe and Rothschild’s giraffe are currently listed as “Endangered”. The species is threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, but also poaching and human encroachment.

Time to go spot some giraffes for yourself!

If you’re after a giraffe-rich wildlife spotting experience - Viatu has plenty of fantastic sustainable destinations on offer. So, why not get started on planning your journey of a lifetime!