Giraffes live predominantly in the savannahs and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, where vast grasslands and scattered trees provide ideal conditions for browsing their primary food sources, such as acacia leaves
. Their range extends widely across the continent, from countries in East Africa like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, to southern African nations including Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa
. Specific habitats include:
- East African reserves such as Serengeti National Park and Amboseli National Park
- The Okavango Delta in Botswana, a large inland water system with lush vegetation amid dry savanna
- Etosha National Park in Namibia, which hosts one of the largest giraffe populations in the world
- Various savannahs, shrublands, and open forests across countries like Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan, depending on the giraffe subspecies
Giraffes prefer hot climates with wide open spaces that allow them to see predators from a distance and move freely
. Their home range size varies from about 85 square kilometers in wetter areas to up to 1,500 square kilometers in drier regions
. In summary, giraffes inhabit diverse savannah and woodland ecosystems across much of sub-Saharan Africa, favoring areas with scattered trees for feeding and open terrain for safety and mobility