Our Resident Reticulated Giraffe

Meet Kibo, our graceful, reticulated giraffe that you’ll see during your African Bush Safari tour. Perhaps you’ll even get a kiss from the big lug.

Kibo is a tall, handsome bachelor with ancestors from Ethiopia and Northern Kenya. At birth, his owners named him Fred, a rather ill suited name for such a beautiful and energetic creature. Since his arrival to Out of Africa in 2002, he’s answered to Kibo, a much more fitting name.

The word “Kibo” means apex, which happens to be the name of the highest peak in Africa on Mount Kilimanjaro. From the way he shows affection with our safari tour guests, you might assume it means “good kisser.”

Giraffes can live up to 25 years in the wild, while Kibo has the potential to live up to 30 years in our park.  They’re usually found in herds of 12 -15, which is why we hope to bring in a full family for Kibo, one day.

Kibo’s habitat was built to replicate the giraffe’s natural terrain, that of the savannas, grasslands and open woodlands. In the wild, male giraffes use their horns to playfully fight each other, but also during defense of lions and even crocodiles, if needed. They’re also known to deliver a powerful kick to those who make them feel threatened.

Fortunately, Kibo doesn’t have to worry about predators at our park. He spends his time on long walks through the brush and glutinous rendezvous with his snack-packing friends on the safari tour.  With the arrival of our new Predator Zip Line, you can easily spot Kibo neck-high in the Acacia-like trees, one of giraffes’ most important food sources.

To gain his favor (and earn a wet kiss), offer Kibo a celery stick which is one of his favorite treats; available during our African bush safari tour, Unimog adventure tour, and VIP Behind-the-Scenes tour. If you fall in love with Kibo (we’re sure you will), you can play a large role in his life as a park parent through our adoption program.

Essential Enlightenment:

• Newborn giraffes weigh up to 200 pounds and stand as tall as 6 feet. (Some grown men never reach that stature)
• When a calf is born, it drops 6 feet to the ground head first, causing it to take a deep breath. The calf will stand and walk within an hour of birth. (Talk about a rude welcome)
• Giraffes are ruminants, meaning they first chew food, swallow it for processing, then visibly pass the half-digest cud up the neck and back into the mouth to chew again (sounds gross, but it’s better than indigestion)