Watch Giraffes in Koure Nature Reserve

Watch Giraffes in Koure nature reserve near Koure town which is found in the south-western part of the country and it is home to one of the last remaining populations of giraffes across Western Africa. These giraffes have a tendency of moving closer to the road and foliage on the nearby vegetation during the rainy seasons. Many tourists enjoy game drives to see these very tall animals gracefully feed on the treetops, and a number of holidaymakers actually prefer to hike to this area and see these animals while on foot. Koure can easily be accessed from the capital city Niamey.

After decades of falling populations due to poaching and loss of habitat, giraffes are experiencing a comeback in Niger. Conservationists hope that other countries can learn from their success.

The leaves of the tree are gently swaying as a five-meter-tall giraffe stretches that final few inches to grab a snack off the treetop. It is a West-African giraffe, a species that can only be found in the Koure reservation about 37 miles (60 kilometers) east of Niamey, the capital of Niger. Visitors to the reserve can get up close and personal with these giants in their natural environment.

The sight was quite different 20 years ago. Only a few giraffes remain where previously thousands roamed. Most were killed by hunters and poachers or were victims of desertification in the area. The expansion of farmland also impacted their numbers as the native plants the animals relied on for survival were replaced with crops. By the mid-1990s, only 50 West African giraffes remained in Niger.

Experience with the Giraffes in Koure

Leave from Niamey after a swift pickup and departure from your hotel for the road south in a sturdy SUV with bottled water After an hour to an hour and a half you will reach the entrance gate to Koure National Park, to pick up your regional expert from the local community and track the herds of giraffes that wander the park. Once dwindling to a population of only 48l, the park now hosts over 600 of the uniquely large and gentle beasts. Stop the car along the way to approach to within 5 meters and take photographs. Giraffes are among the only animals in Niger that pose no danger to humans at close range.