\documentclass[letter,12pt]{article}

\usepackage[pdftex]{graphicx}
\usepackage{sidecap}

\begin{document}

% text from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giraffe

\begin{SCfigure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.55\textwidth]{Giraffa_camelopardalis_angolensis}
\caption{The giraffe (\emph{Giraffa camelopardalis}) is an African even-toed
ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species. Males can be
4.8 to 5.5~metres tall and weigh up to 1,360~kilograms. The record-sized bull
was 5.87~m tall and weighed approximately 2,000~kg. Females are generally
slightly shorter and weigh less than the males do.}
\end{SCfigure}

\end{document}