Billyand the Wild Forest

Story friend meets real animal

Discover Giraffes

Mammal

Willow sees far ahead in the stories — real giraffes really do have the best view on the savannah.

Meet Willow the Giraffe

Willow the Giraffe — detail from the original book artwork

Willow the Giraffe

Meet the real animal

A South African giraffe standing in open grassland with trees behind it, its patterned neck stretched upward
A South African giraffe in Kruger National Park.Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0

Giraffes are the tallest animals on land. They live in Africa, walking between trees and reaching leaves that nobody else can get to. Their long tongue helps them pull leaves from branches, and their patchwork coat makes each giraffe look a little different from the next.

Look closer

Look at the giraffe's coat. Are the patches all the same shape? Try tracing one with your finger.

Animal passport

  • Animal group

    Mammal — the tallest animal on land

  • Where they live

    Grasslands and open woodland in Africa

Did you know?

A giraffe's neck is long, but it has the same number of neck bones as you do.

There's more to discover: habitats, food, babies, special features, words to discover, a mini quiz, a simple activity and grown-up conversation prompts.

Wild Forest membership

Membership opens the full discovery world — passports, quizzes, activities and every adventure.

All twelve adventures, with the characters, feelings, conversations and real-world discovery that grow around each story.

Explore membershipWild Forest Family membership

Keep exploring

Stories where you'll meet giraffes

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