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Saturday, 15 June 2019

4-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - NAMIBIAN GIRAFFE (Giraffa camelopardalis ssp. angolensis)


The Angolan giraffe (Giraffa giraffa angolensis), formerly (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) also known as the Namibian giraffe or smokey giraffe, is a subspecies of the Southern Giraffe that is found in northern Namibia, south-western Zambia, Botswana, western Zimbabwe and since mid-2023 again in Angola, after its reintroduction to Iona National Park.

In August 2025 after reviewing the scientific evidence the IUCN's Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group recognised four distinct species of giraffe, the Northern Giraffe, Reticulated Giraffe, Masai Giraffe and Southern Giraffe. The Angolan Giraffe is now one of two subspecies of the Southern Giraffe. A previous 2009 genetic study on this subspecies suggests the northern Namib Desert and Etosha National Park populations each form a separate subspecies. However, genetic studies based on mitochondrial DNA do not support the division into two subspecies., but could identify giraffes in southern Zimbabwe as the Angolan giraffe, suggesting a further eastward distribution than expected.