Giraffes are one of the dream animals of any African area. They're also a high-tier animal in Franchise mode (tier 4 or 5), so you'll usually spend a while building up your zoo before you can adopt them. In the wildlife reserve, giraffes fill the tall vegetation browser role that many African reserves are missing.
Both the reticulated giraffe and the Masai giraffe are in the game.
How tall is a giraffe?
This matters more than anything else when you build:
- Masai giraffe males average 5.4 m and can reach 5.8 m. They weigh around 1,200–1,300 kg.
- Females average about 4.7 m and around 800 kg.
That means every doorway, roof and beam in a giraffe house needs to be 6 m or higher. Measure before you build the roof, not after.
The barrier
Surprisingly, the fence only needs to be 1.25 m. Giraffes don't jump. That's great for guests, because you can keep the barrier low and give everyone a clear view.
Building a giraffe house
A big indoor giraffe house is one of my favourite builds:
- Use the planet theme animal pen pieces, pen bars and metal panels for a modern zoo feel.
- Glass roof pieces and skylights let light in.
- Add a backstage section next to the indoor area for keepers.
- Use custom images (like photos taken in photo mode) on the walls inside.
- You can split one big building into two giraffe sections, one for each species, with a shared backstage in the middle.
Mixing giraffes
Giraffes are great in a mixed savanna with zebras, nyala, Cape buffalo and antelope. A mixed giraffe house with nyala walking around their feet looks amazing.
Kids' education items include a giraffe height station that guests can stand next to. Put one by the viewing area.
Release groups
| Group | Members |
|---|---|
| Mixed group | 2 males + 4 females, with genetic diversity |
| Male group | 4 males |
| Female group | 4 females |
Giraffes also unlock other releases. African leopards couldn't be released into the Great Rift Valley until giraffes were there, because predators need their prey in the reserve first. Releasing four male giraffes opened up the leopard release straight away.
Tips
- Plan your Franchise path around giraffes. They're one of the most-wanted animals and getting them takes several accreditation tiers.
- Giraffe research and thriving work like any other species. Put a vet on it once they arrive.