Northern Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
Silhouette: Bernard Dupont (photograph) and T. Michael Keesey (tracing) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
- FamilyGiraffidae (Giraffes and Okapi)
- GenusGiraffa (Giraffes)
- SpeciesGiraffa camelopardalis (Northern Giraffe)
About the Northern Giraffe
The northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), also known as the three-horned giraffe, is a species of giraffe native to North Africa. Once abundant throughout Africa since the 19th century, the Northern Giraffe ranged from Senegal, Mali and Nigeria from West Africa to up north in Egypt. The similar West African giraffe lived in Algeria and Morocco in ancient periods until their extinctions due to the Saharan dry climate.
Giraffes collectively are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, as the global population is thought to consist of about 97,000 individuals as of 2016. As of August 2025, the IUCN Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group recognizes four distinct species of giraffe: the northern giraffe, the Masai giraffe, the reticulated giraffe, and the southern giraffe.
A 2021 whole genome sequencing study suggested the northern giraffe as a separate species, and postulates the existence of three distinct subspecies, and more recently, one extinct subspecies. This supports the 2025 IUCN reports.
There are three recognized subspecies of northern giraffe: the Kordofan giraffe, the Nubian giraffe, and the West African giraffe. Often mistaken... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Northern Giraffe in Lake Mburo National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Lake Mburo National Park
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Common Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
Topi
Damaliscus korrigum
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Common Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Northern Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Klipspringer
Oreotragus oreotragus
Kob
Kobus kob
Bushpig
Potamochoerus larvatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 2 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 3 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 4 | Lake Nakuru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 5 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 6 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Northern Giraffe in Lake Mburo National Park?
About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Giraffe sighting in Lake Mburo National Park, based on 57 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Northern Giraffe in Lake Mburo National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Northern Giraffe in Lake Mburo National Park in our monthly data.