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|Adult female, Mikumi National Park, Tanzania|
|Subspecies:||G. c. tippelskirchi|
|Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi
|Maasai Giraffe range in olive-green|
The Masai giraffe, also spelled Maasai giraffe, or the Kilimanjaro giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi), is the largest subspecies of giraffe and the tallest land mammal. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania.
The Masai giraffe has jagged spots on its body. It also has a short tassel of hair on its tail. The bony outgrowths of the male's skull superficially provide the appearance of up to five ossicones. The dominant male's spots tend to be darker in colour than those of other members of its herd.
Adult males usually reach around 5.5 m in height—although they have been recorded at reaching heights of up to 6 m—and females tend to be a bit shorter at around 5–5.5 m (16–18 ft) tall. Their legs and necks are both about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long, and their heart has a mass of roughly 12 kg (26 lb).
No breeding season is noted for the Masai giraffe. Females typically can breed from the age of 4. They give birth standing up. Giraffes give birth after 2–6 hours of labor. About 50–75% of the calves die in their first few months due to predation. Though many calves die, the mothers stab predators such as hyenas or lions with their sharp hooves. This can critically injure or kill a predator quickly; the Masai giraffe's kick is strong and is capable of crushing a lion's skull or shattering its spine.
Masai giraffe in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Detail of head, taken at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
Two Masai giraffes in Mikumi National Park