Most people celebrating their 40th anniversary might opt for a cruise or a beach getaway — but for South African couple Marius and Michelle Nortje, nothing beats a trip to the wild.

Their love story, already four decades strong, was about to take an unforgettable turn deep inside Kruger National Park.

What started as a routine drive turned into a moment the couple — and soon the internet — would never forget.

“We go at least once a year, but sometimes as much as four times,” Marius said in an interview with The Citizen.

But during their anniversary trip this past December, something extraordinary emerged from the bush: three giraffes. And one of them was unlike anything Marius, a seasoned wildlife photographer, had ever seen.

“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,” he recalled.

Acting fast, Marius captured the giraffe on camera and later shared the images on Facebook, where they quickly stirred both curiosity and concern.

“People wondered if she was in pain,” he said. “However, she was grazing peacefully, and it didn’t seem to bother her, although it appeared painful.”

He also tagged the South African National Parks (SANParks) in his post to raise awareness, but as of the time of the interview, hadn’t yet received a response.

A rare condition

The giraffe’s photos gained even more traction after being picked up by WorldWide Vets, an international animal welfare organization. According to Dr. Gemna Campling, founder and director of the organization, the giraffe is suffering from a condition caused by papillomavirus.

“There are many types of papillomavirus, each affecting a specific species. However, the cow variation (Bovine Papillomavirus or BPV) is believed to affect this giraffe,” Dr. Campling explained.

She said the virus is spread through direct contact — in this case, likely via oxpecker birds.

“In this instance, it is assumed that oxpecker birds, landing on the giraffe and pecking at their naturally occurring parasites, spread the disease from one animal to the other. In this case, the whole herd is normal apart from this one animal, as was the case when this disease had been spotted previously.”

While the disease may look shocking, it isn’t deadly.

“Many cases of BPV are self-limiting and can heal with the animal recovering completely,” Dr. Campling said. “There is no treatment for this disease in giraffes, and wildlife vets closely monitor the situation. Thankfully, this version cannot be passed on to people, although the Human Papilloma Virus occurs in humans.”

However, Gemma Camping says: ”Whilst it is not a life threatening disease, it no doubt causes discomfort when the lumps become as advanced as this.”

It’s hard to say exactly how much pain the giraffe was in, but it’s heartbreaking to think she has to live with this. Despite the noticeable lumps, she was calmly grazing — seemingly unaffected by her condition. Still, the photos touched many hearts online, sparking a wave of empathy, wonder, and curiosity from thousands of viewers.

For Marius and Michelle, it was a powerful reminder of why they keep returning to the wild.

Sometimes, the most unforgettable moments come when you’re not looking for them. And sometimes, it takes the lens of one devoted nature lover to remind the world just how resilient — and vulnerable — wildlife can be.