Lake Manyara National Park

In the dry season the Endabash River area is frequented by several of the animals in the Park.

Because giraffes feed almost exclusively on the tender leaves of acacia trees, they are rarely seen anywhere but in areas where these trees grow. The species of giraffe occurring in Manyara is the Maasai giraffe, which has irregular roseate or star-shaped markings that cover almost the entire body.

Giraffes have individually distinct patterns—the neck is a good place to look at the markings and recognize individuals. Giraffes are able to share their habitat with a wide range of creatures because they do not compete for food with grazing animals, and feed at a different height from most other browsers.

For all its great length the giraffe's neck has only seven vertebrae, just as in man. A male giraffe weighs about 500 to 800 kilograms (1,102 to 1,764 pounds) and stands three and a half meters (11.5 feet) at the shoulders: The female is about one meter (3.2 feet) shorter and correspondingly lighter. If you watch giraffes walk you will notice that they have a characteristic gait in which they bring both limbs on the same side forward together.