 How many different species of giraffe? Four. How did you know that? Oh, I read. But can you name them? No. I knew you were going to ask me that, too, as the follow-up. The Maasai, southern, northern, and reticulated giraffes. Of course, the northern giraffes live in the north part of Africa. The southern species live in the southern part. And the other two species, Maasai and the reticulated giraffes, are happiest in the east.