There is a small herd of giraffes in western Niger, just east of Niamey. Our guidebook thought that there were about 40 animals in the herd, and we were craning our necks as we drove hoping to get a glimpse, fearing it was too late in the morning and that they had already found shelter. But we were exceptionally lucky to see six of them cross the road directly in front of us, presumably to get to the other side.