Weekly Photo Challenge: Two Subjects

"Down & Up" (Male Impalas & Maasai Giraffe) Copyright Anne M. Freeman

This photo of a lovely, large, mature female Maasai Giraffe was taken by me in the Tarangire National Park in Tanzania, Africa. This park is hilly and has thick grass by the edge of woodlands, a favorite setting of the stunning Impalas. A group of male Impalas are resting in the grass around the giraffe. To get a sense of how large the giraffe is, the impalas’ height from chest to horn tips while sitting is about three feet. You can find the impalas by looking for their long dark horns in the grass.

These females grow to about 18 feet tall. Male giraffes have a third horn that protrudes from the center of their forehead. They grow up to 21 feet tall. Their heart is 25 pounds! It takes a lot of heart to pump blood up that long neck. Giraffes feed on tall Acacia trees. Their long tongue is about 20 inches long, which they use to wrap around the leaves in between the long and sharp Acacia thorns.

Impalas stand about three feet tall at the shoulders. Their neck, head and horns can be just as tall. Impalas can jump three feet in the air and up to 30 feet in length. They are amazing animals! Females don’t have horns. Young males and adult males that do not have a harem of females band together, which is what you see in this photo. Their horns look like dead branches in the grass. Lions and other big predators avoid adult giraffes, which can kill them with a swift kick, so the impalas can enjoy a period of rest while the giraffes graze nearby.

Cheers!

~Anne

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Tags: Acacia, Africa, Anne Freeman Images, Giraffe, Impala, Masai Giraffe, Safari, Tanzania, Tarangire National Park

20 thoughts on “Weekly Photo Challenge: Two Subjects”

jmgoyder on 04/18/2012 at 9:33 PM said:

Wow!

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- annefreemanimages on 04/19/2012 at 8:32 PM said:
  
  Thanks!!
  
  ~Anne
  
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Kate Walsh / designhouse9 on 04/18/2012 at 10:07 PM said:

Great photo! Thanks for the write up about the photo. I was not aware of Impalas and their size. I’ve always loved giraffes. Such graceful and beautiful animals.

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- annefreemanimages on 04/19/2012 at 8:31 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Kate. Our guides pointed out th impalas in the grass, otherwise we probably wouldn’t have seen them. They are lovely creatures. I absolutely fell in love with giraffes on my safari. They have huge dark eyes, and seem so graceful despite their size. I hope you have an opportunity to see them in their natural environment one day. Thanks fro dropping by.
  
  ~Anne
  
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  - Kate Walsh / designhouse9 on 04/19/2012 at 8:47 PM said:
    
    I saw a TV program about this place and have wanted to visit ever since. Imagine being able to “live” with the giraffes! http://www.giraffemanor.com/
Colline on 04/19/2012 at 6:13 AM said:

The giraffe is such an unexpectedly graceful animal.

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- annefreemanimages on 04/19/2012 at 8:32 PM said:
  
  I agree completely with your assessment, Colline. They are lovely to watch in the wild. I fell in love with giraffes on my safari! Thanks for commenting.
  
  ~Anne
  
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readytochangenow on 04/19/2012 at 8:25 AM said:

It took me a while to catch them hiding in the grass…lovely shot.

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- annefreemanimages on 04/19/2012 at 8:23 PM said:
  
  I wondered if folks would see them – I, of course, know that they’re hiding there. The guides pointed them out to us. Pretty neat!
  
  ~Anne
  
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Jessie on 04/19/2012 at 8:59 AM said:

Thanks for the mini bio. lesson along with such a neat picture!

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- annefreemanimages on 04/19/2012 at 8:22 PM said:
  
  Glad you enjoyed it, Jessie.
  
  ~Anne
  
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Touch2Touch on 04/19/2012 at 8:47 PM said:

That’s fascinating. I always thought giraffes were amazing creatures, and have seen them in zoos (Cologne had a wonderful area for them) but your picture — with the impalas so small you have to hunt for them — really drives the point home. And I hadn’t realized just how formidable they are! With even lions afraid of them —
Terrific post.

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- annefreemanimages on 04/20/2012 at 4:11 PM said:
  
  Thanks for your comment. So glad that you enjoyed it. Animals are fascinating!
  ~Anne
  
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Northern Narratives on 04/20/2012 at 12:06 PM said:

I love giraffes. It would be amazing to see them in Africa.

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- annefreemanimages on 04/20/2012 at 4:12 PM said:
  
  I hope you have the opportunity someday. They are lovely creatures. Thanks for dropping by.
  
  ~Anne
  
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changeversations on 04/20/2012 at 12:09 PM said:

Fascinating! Great photo! Thanks so much for the write-up and description of photo. Took me a while to see the Impalas.
Btw, love your request for comments. 🙂

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- annefreemanimages on 04/20/2012 at 4:13 PM said:
  
  Glad you enjoyed the photo. The guides pointed out the impalas, otherwise we might not have noticed them, either. It was wonderful. Thanks for dropping by.
  
  ~Anne
  
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Fergiemoto on 04/25/2012 at 8:18 PM said:

Very striking!

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- annefreemanimages on 04/25/2012 at 9:08 PM said:
  
  Thank yhou, Feriemoto. They are beautiful animals.
  
  ~Anne
  
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