Enquire
Why book with us?

What are you looking for?

Hello traveller!

It's in Cape Town now.

We're sorry. Our safari planners aren't available now. Our office hours are 08:00 - 19:00 (GMT+2).

Call us to speak to an experienced safari planner.


Alternatively, we recommend...

travel-form-icon

Complete our travel enquiry form to connect with a safari planner

ENQUIRE TODAY

Last Updated: 30 January 2024

Giraffe rescued from swimming pool [Youtube video]

Alice Lombard Headshot

Written by  Tiffany Bowers

 • Travel Writer

Verified by  Alice Lombard

 •  Destination Expert

Part of the South Africa Safari Collection

Watch as a giraffe is rescued from a swimming pool in this YouTube video.

While filming the television series Wild at Heart, the crew found a nine-year-old, pregnant giraffe in a swimming pool, as caught on the above YouTube video.

The show is filmed in the Leopard’s Den game reserve in South Africa, where wildlife roam free and the crew do their best not to interfere with them in their habitat. On this occurrence though, the 14 months pregnant giraffe, named ‘Lucy’, managed to squeeze through a fence around the set situated in the Glen Afric game sanctuary.

Producer Adam Friedlander says he is not 100 per cent sure how the giraffe landed up in the pool, but he guesses that she may have been drinking from it, and with her head being too low, became disorientated and fell in.

Actor Stephen Tompkinson who was on the set at the time said: “It was such a bizarre sight – as soon I walked round the corner all I could see was this great neck sticking out of the pool.”

The rescue began with the crew first draining the pool with the idea of using sandbags to build steps that the giraffe could use to climb out. The idea was abandoned after concerns that the animal would slip and fall over.

The Fire Brigade was called to the rescue, and decided to dig a trench at one end of the pool and lure the giraffe out with food.

After three hours, Lucy eventually climbed out of the pool without a scratch.

So for future reference thats how a giraffe is rescued from a swimming pool – YouTube video style!

Source: The Telegraph

Written by  Tiffany Bowers

 • Travel Writer

Team Member Headshot

Verified by  Alice Lombard

 •  Destination Expert

Alice is our Sales & Product Manager, responsible for managing the Sales Consultants as well as all the products and itineraries that we promote.

Discover the African Journey that’s Right for You

Discover Africa Through Travellers' Stories

The true magic, though, is with the people. They’re not just staff; they’re my friends, my family.

JJ Towler

United States

Matthys Van Aswegen

JJ Towler's journey was crafted with the expertise of Matthys Van Aswegen

I went to Africa to help my parents check a box, but I returned with a new perspective on my own life. Africa is no longer a "someday" destination for me; it’s a "must-return".

Steven

United States

Vihann Van Wyk

Steven's journey was crafted with the expertise of Vihann Van Wyk

We trusted our guide implicitly as we sat mere metres from elephants, lions, and hippos.

Cathy & Debb

Canada

Vihann Van Wyk

Cathy & Debb's journey was crafted with the expertise of Vihann Van Wyk

The Serengeti offered us sights we had never witnessed before, such as the surreal image of lions lounging high in the trees

Cathy & Nat

Canada

What Our Guests Have to Say?

Read recent reviews from travellers who have planned and booked their trips with us

star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Google review

"Justin helped us with the safari and Victoria Falls portion of our trip to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The lodges were fantastic and ground transfers perfectly executed. We had an amazing time!"

Kelly Headrick, United States02 Jun 2026

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Trustpilot review

"Matthys van Aswegen of Discover Africa went above and beyond to plan a two week trip for myself and my family (6 travelers) through multiple African countries that was unforgettable! There were many moving parts to our schedule, but every step was thorou..."

Ann Schall, United States08 Mar 2026

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"From start to finish, every phase of our trip was seamless. From the man who greeted us at Nairobi airport when we arrived to the woman who assisted us at our departure, we were taken care of perfectly. Our lodges at Saruni Samburu and Saruni Mara were beau..."

Lynne Calero, United States20 Nov 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"The best trip of our lives!! I am so glad I came across Discover Africa and was paired with Dev. We started with a video chat and Dev listened to my vision for the trip- all of the things I was excited to do, and he shared his travel expertise. He took thos..."

Nithya Mohrfeld, United States27 Oct 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"This trip was all about making memories, and it did just that. Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Mala Mala Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls, and finally Zanzibar. Our boutique hotels along the way were nothing less than stunning, as was Lanzarac Manor in Stellenbosch. T..."

Angela Dandy, United Kingdom24 Sep 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"A Truly Unforgettable Journey – Thank You, Megan! I wanted to give a special thanks to Megan for planning such a wonderful trip for us. Our adventure began at the breathtaking Victoria Falls and continued to the stunning Chobe Lodge — what an amazing experi..."

Lorena, Italy07 Aug 2025

Read More
View All Testimonials

Our safari traveller reviews are independently verified and sourced from trusted third-party review platforms.