Adopt-a-Giraffe Program

Mae lives on the Etosha Heights Private Reserve, adjacent to the iconic Etosha National Park in Namibia. She was added to our individual giraffe database in 2019, when we fitted Mae with an ossicone unit to learn more about her movements. The unit was removed 3 years later when it stopped working, but Mae is still a regular during our surveys in the central area of the reserve. Her slightly bent left ossicone gives her a cheeky look that matches her personality perfectly.

Ninja (HSBM136) is a handsome male giraffe with a calm and rather sweet personality. While he was first identified in the Hoarusib River in northwest Namibia he is very mobile – to put it mildly. We never know where we will find him next and he moves frequently between river systems. He seems to know all the giraffe back-routes through the steep and rocky mountains, so he can also be easily missed. Ninja is always good for a surprise encounter when we least expect him.

Mocha (EHM098) is a large male giraffe that likes to hang out on the plains near Mountain Lodge on Etosha Heights Private Reserve. The waterhole below the lodge is a popular drinking spot for giraffe and other wildlife and Mocha is often seen fsocialising with other giraffe – both male and female. The adjacent hills to the north and east of the plain have a good tree cover and offer ample browse — even during the drier months of the year. With his V-shaped ossicones, Mocha is easy to identify from a distance when he roams far and wide on the reserve and during his excursions into the iconic Etosha National Park.

Tima, aka EHF084, is a female giraffe who lives on the Etosha Heights Private Reserve adjacent to the famous Etosha National Park in Namibia. Tima means ‘mother’ in the local Damara language and the name is a tribute to her attentive, caring and vigilant nature as a mum. Tima is an older cow and has likely raised many calves including her most recent addition Axaros (pronounced ‘Acharos’, which means ‘girl child’). Bearing some claw scares on her left rump, suggesting she may have survived a lion attack, Tima is easy to identify.

Monkey (HNBF027) is a gregarious adult female desert-dwelling giraffe in northwest Namibia. She can usually be found browsing in the middle section of the Hoarusib River in the company of a mixed group of female and male giraffe. She has been one of our adopted giraffe since she was a young calf, and has developed quite a reputation because of her cheeky personality. She is not very keen on being photographed and while we spot her often, she likes to play hide-and-seek with our team by expertly hiding herself behind a tree or bushes whenever the camera comes out!

Kaoko (HSBF026) is a graceful and confident adult female desert-dwelling giraffe, who spends most of her time in the Hoarusib River in northwest Namibia. She spends most of her days moving peacefully up and down the dry riverbed’s length, often in the company of other female giraffe. When she is not delicately using her prehensile tongue to locate the tastiest leaves, she is often seen quietly ruminating in the shade of the tall trees that line the riverbed.

Winky Wonk (HNBM038) is an adult male desert-dwelling giraffe in northwest Namibia. He is easy to recognise because he has a bent left ossicone (horn). He is often seen roaming around on the lookout for females, and even though he has a bent ossicone, his ability to challenge other bulls does not seem to be affected. Like all the giraffe living in this part of Namibia, Winky Wonk is specially adapted to cope with the harsh desert conditions. He is able to walk long distances without having to rely on regular water sources; and browsing in the early hours of the morning when there is lots of moisture in the air from fog from the nearby coast allows him to get enough water from his food.

Kunene (HNB056) is a beautiful and gentle female desert-dwelling giraffe. She is named after the region where she lives in northwest Namibia. We have observed her reaching maturity in recent years and since then, Kunene has begun to venture beyond her familiar range, and we often find her wandering along the Hoanib River in search of food. Mostly, she is seen in herds of adult female giraffe, where she finds company and learns skills that help her survive in the harsh landscapes of the Namibian desert.

Cliff (HNBM070) is an adult male desert-dwelling giraffe in northwest Namibia. He is a very charismatic giraffe and is often found roaming the length of the Hoanib River and surrounding plains. Cliff has a small facial abnormality making him very recognizable – and, more handsome if we do say so ourselves. Ever since our first sighting of Cliff, he has had this special face, so he was likely born with a similar condition to a cleft palate. It does not hinder Cliff in any way we can see; he is a very healthy and robust adult male giraffe thriving in the arid regions of Namibia.

Dadel (EHF087) is an older giraffe cow with a noticeable arching back. She regularly feeds next to the road at an intersection we call ‘giraffe corner’ on the Etosha Heights Private Reserve. The area has a lot of good browse and we often see giraffe here – hence the name. The first time we spotted Dadel, she was on her way to Dadelpos waterhole, meeting up with a group of cows and a bull near the waterhole at sunset.