A 40th Anniversary Surprise in Kruger National Park: A Rare Encounter with a Giraffe’s Struggle
Most couples celebrating their 40th anniversary might opt for a romantic beach getaway or a luxurious cruise, but Marius and Michelle Nortje, a South African couple, had something else in mind — a journey into the heart of the wild. Their love story, already four decades strong, was about to take an unforgettable turn in one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations: Kruger National Park.
This wasn’t their first time. For the Nortjes, Kruger had become a regular part of their lives. They had visited the park countless times before, sometimes as often as four times a year. It was their favorite getaway, a place where the sounds of the wild, the raw beauty of nature, and the thrill of animal encounters made it the perfect place to mark their 40 years together.
But this particular anniversary trip in December would bring them an encounter that neither of them could have ever anticipated.
The Unexpected Encounter with the Giraffes
On what started as a regular safari drive, Marius and Michelle were cruising along one of Kruger’s main tar roads, hoping to spot the iconic lions. As they reached a fork in the road, they decided to veer off onto a gravel path. That’s when they saw it — the first of a trio of giraffes emerging from the thick bush.
However, one of these giraffes wasn’t like any they had seen before. As it stepped into view, Marius immediately noticed something strange: the giraffe had strange growths all over her body.
“We couldn’t find the lions on the tar road and turned off on a gravel road when we first saw one and then two giraffes emerging from the bush. When the third of the herd became visible, we saw strange growths all over her body,” Marius recalled in an interview with The Citizen.
The growths on the giraffe’s body were not only noticeable but appeared to be painful. But despite the striking appearance of these lumps, the giraffe seemed to be grazing peacefully, showing no signs of distress. The sight was perplexing. Marius, who is a seasoned wildlife photographer, didn’t waste any time — he grabbed his camera and started documenting the rare sight. The images, once shared on social media, sparked both curiosity and concern.
Raising Awareness Through Social Media
Marius posted the photos on Facebook, tagging the South African National Parks (SANParks) in hopes of raising awareness about the condition of the giraffe. His post quickly went viral, with hundreds of comments from concerned people wondering if the giraffe was in pain. “It doesn’t seem to bother her, though it appeared painful,” Marius shared with a sense of disbelief.
Despite the growing attention on the unusual condition, there was no immediate response from SANParks at the time of the interview. However, the story had already gained traction, and the images were soon shared widely on social media.
What seemed like an oddity to the Nortjes turned into an opportunity to shed light on a rarely seen phenomenon in the wild.
The Giraffe’s Condition: A Rare Viral Infection
The mystery behind the giraffe’s unusual growths was soon unraveled by animal welfare organizations, notably WorldWide Vets, who picked up the story. Dr. Gemma Campling, the founder and director of the organization, explained that the giraffe was suffering from a condition caused by papillomavirus — a virus that’s not uncommon in wildlife.
“Many types of papillomavirus affect different species,” explained Dr. Campling. “However, the bovine papillomavirus (BPV) is believed to be affecting this giraffe.”
Papillomavirus is spread primarily through direct contact. In this case, Dr. Campling speculated that the virus had likely been transmitted by oxpecker birds that land on the giraffes to feed on parasites like ticks. These birds, in their feeding process, can inadvertently transfer the virus from one animal to another, thus leading to outbreaks in herds.
Fortunately, while the disease looks alarming, it is not typically fatal. The virus can cause lumps and warts on the skin, and while it may look grotesque, it is usually a self-limiting condition. Many animals recover over time as the lumps eventually disappear. Dr. Campling noted, “There is no treatment for this disease in giraffes, and wildlife vets monitor the situation closely.”
Despite the relief that the condition was not life-threatening, Dr. Campling admitted that it can still be painful for the giraffe. “While it’s not a life-threatening disease, it no doubt causes discomfort when the lumps become as advanced as this.”
A Powerful Reminder of Nature’s Resilience
The giraffe’s story wasn’t just a rare sighting for Marius and Michelle; it was a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of wildlife and the constant struggle animals face in the wild. For Marius, a wildlife photographer who had spent years capturing the beauty of African animals, this moment felt different — it was more than just a beautiful photograph; it was a powerful testament to nature’s resilience.
Despite the lumps and the discomfort the giraffe may have been experiencing, it was still grazing calmly and living its life. “It was a very humbling moment,” Marius said. “This giraffe was showing such strength, enduring something that looked painful yet continuing to go about her day.”
For Michelle, the experience was also a reminder of why they kept returning to the wild. “Sometimes the most unforgettable moments come when you’re not looking for them,” she reflected. “It’s moments like these that make you appreciate nature even more, with all its beauty, but also its struggles.”
The Nortjes’ 40th anniversary trip, which began as a simple celebration in the wild, had turned into something much more profound — a reminder of nature’s ability to endure, adapt, and survive, even in the face of discomfort and adversity.
An Unlikely Source of Empathy and Wonder
As the story continued to circulate online, it sparked an outpouring of empathy and curiosity. Thousands of people expressed their awe at the giraffe’s condition and their concern for its well-being. The images of the giraffe grazing peacefully in the bush, despite the painful-looking growths, moved many people to reflect on the resilience of animals in the wild.
For Marius and Michelle, this experience was one of the many reasons they kept returning to Kruger National Park — it was a place of beauty, surprise, and learning. “We’ve seen many incredible things over the years, but this will stay with us,” Marius said. “Sometimes, it’s not about the big moments. It’s about the quiet, unexpected ones that make all the difference.”
An Ongoing Mystery
While the giraffe’s story has captured the hearts of many, the ultimate fate of this particular animal remains uncertain. It’s unclear whether the condition will improve on its own or if further complications might arise. But for now, the giraffe seems to be thriving, and the Nortjes’ photographs will stand as a testament to the resilience of the African wilderness.
As Marius and Michelle continue to visit Kruger each year, they remain reminded of one simple but profound truth: nature is full of surprises, and sometimes, the most unforgettable moments come not when you are actively seeking them, but when they arrive, unexpectedly, as a gift.
This anniversary trip, which began with the couple’s simple wish to celebrate their four decades together, turned into a remarkable story of nature’s resilience, compassion, and the quiet beauty that only the wild can offer.
In the end, Marius and Michelle’s encounter with the giraffe wasn’t just about seeing something unusual — it was about understanding the complex, often hidden lives of the animals in Kruger and witnessing the simple, unspoken truth of their survival in the wild. Sometimes, the best stories are those that come when we least expect them.