Page 58 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Explore the Earth

Walk among

nature’s

tallest animals

The South African giraffe, or Cape giraffe,
can be found foraging in savannahs
and woodlands for leaves, flowers,

fruits and shoots. Their blotched spots,
purplish tongues and intriguing eating
habits make these gentle giants a must-see.
Giraffe populations in South Africa are
steadily rising, and in 2016 there were
around 31,500 individuals in the wild. At
a height of 5.5 metres (18 feet), they are
the tallest animals in the world, and are
even more impressive when seen up close.
Their long, muscular necks have developed
complex blood circulatory systems, which
are still not fully understood. Their necks
are used to reach high-up vegetation,
where their long prehensile tongues pull
the leaves into their mouths and strip them
bare. Their tongues are also used in battle,
as males strike and wrestle each other for
the right to reproduce.
Giraffes are easy to spot in the Kruger
National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park,
where you can take a self-drive safari, a
guided drive, or a bush walk.

Go on an

ocean safari

Whether from land or sea, South Africa
offers some of the most spectacular
views of marine mammals in the world,
with over 37 species of whale and
dolphin visiting the coast annually.
Each year, from June to November,
southern right whales visit the ‘Whale
Coast’ on the southwestern Cape as
they migrate to warmer waters to mate
and rear their calves. The best spots
for whale watching are along the cliffs
and beaches at the Addo Elephant
National Park, Table Mountain National
Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and
the West Coast National Park. But for a
closer encounter, many choose to take to
the seas.
Marine eco tour company, Raggy
Charters, operate whale, dolphin and
penguin tours, as well as ocean safaris
in Algoa Bay from Port Elizabeth.
Their tours cover nearly 50 kilometres
(31 miles) of ocean and the money
generated helps to fund the Baywatch
Project and the Penguin Research Fund.

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