Zebra
Zebra
Zebra are an iconic safari animal and, fortunately, common throughout virtually all safari areas. There are three species of zebra: plains, mountain, and Grevy’s. Burchell’s zebra are a subspecies of plains, which are the most common species of zebra. Plains zebra are found throughout east and southern Africa. Mountain zebra are found in Namibia and Angola while Grevy’s are found in the semi-arid grasslands of northern Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia.
These social animals tend to congregate in large herds where their iconic stripe pattern can be utilized for its evolutionary advantage of confusing predators who may lose track of which individual they are pursuing. It comes as no surprise that a group of these animals is nicknamed a dazzle of zebra!
Zebra Itineraries
Intrepid Zimbabwe Explorer: Victoria Falls, Hwange and Canoeing Mana Pools (Origins Collection)
Step back in time to the era of exploration with our Intrepid Zimbabwe Explorers itinerary, customized for remote adventure in some of the most pristine wilderness on Earth.
Big Five of Southern Africa
Southern Africa is an incredibly diverse region with varying weather, landscapes, cultures, and wildlife. This itinerary covers three major highlights of Southern Africa: The Greater Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta.
Essential Diversity: River and Desert
This safari is designed for the safari connoisseur seeking rarity, exclusivity and luxury along with the full diversity of wildlife. The itinerary includes private guiding and vehicle at both safari camps, offering the ultimate in flexibility and maximizing the opportunities to see wildlife you want to see, while maintaining supreme comfort and luxury.
Malawi Expedition: Trekking Mt. Mulanje and Liwonde Safari with optional Lake Malawi Finale (Origins Collection)
Our Malawi Expedition combines an incredible hut-to-hut alpine trekking experience, outstanding scenery, wildlife viewing in a premiere national park, and the optional finale of swimming, snorkeling and kayaking off your private island camp in Lake Malawi.
Wonders of the Crater and Trek to Lake Natron with optional Serengeti Biologist Finale (Origins Collection)
Our Tanzania Trekking and Wonders of the Ngorongoro adventure is the very epitome of getting off the beaten track. This adventure takes you on foot through the volcanic landscapes of northern Tanzania, traveling through areas that are impossible to reach by road.
Botswana Elephant Safari
This elephant-focused safari takes you to some of the best locations in all of Africa for seeing and interacting with elephants.
South African Splendor: Cape Town and Sabi Sands Safari
Southern Africa is an incredibly diverse region with varying weather, landscapes, cultures, and wildlife.
Deserts of Namibia
Experience magnificent and vast landscapes and desert-adapted wildlife of Namibia in a personal way.
Classic Zimbabwe: Hwange and Mana Pools with Victoria Falls
This adventure-level safari features classic bush camps, thrilling walking safaris, and an excellent value.
Zambia Walking and Waterways Safari
Zambian safaris are distinguished by the vintage expedition-style adventure delivered under the care of exceptional guides in remote wilderness areas teeming with wildlife.
Quintessential Tanzania: River Crossing Season
With the Great Migration of nearly 2 million animals in the area, the Northern Serengeti is the stage for one of nature's most famed events - the dramatic migration crossings of the Mara River.
Botswana Desert and Delta Safari: Outstanding Value, Top Wildlife and Diverse Landscapes
This safari is customized to take advantage of the best opportunities for the green season in Botswana to observe diverse wildlife.
Kenya Luxury Safari
This safari includes some of our favorite unique Kenyan accommodations and a huge variety of activities during one of the best kept secret seasons.
Ultimate East Africa: Exceptional Guiding in Northern Tanzania and the Masai Mara
This incredible itinerary features East Africa's top guides on a private safari through Tanzania and Kenya.
Wild Origins Safari: Botswana and Zambia
From $14,850 per person Explore the highlights of Botswana's world class Okavango Delta and the wilds of Zambia's South Luangwa.
Kenya Family “Lion King” Safari
Kenya is the original safari country and still delivers the classic game viewing experience. This family safari is inspired by Disney's 2019 remake of its classic animated film, "The Lion King."
Wild Kenya: Big Cats and Biodiversity in the Mara
Kenya is the original safari country and still delivers the classic game viewing experience. Featuring the Masai Mara Reserve, which is quite likely the most productive wildlife viewing area in all of Africa, this is a superb location for serious game viewing and photography.
Ultimate Predators of Botswana
This safari includes our favorite private concession areas which have proven to provide exceptional opportunities to view Botswana's iconic predator species including lion, leopard, cheetah, and wild dog.
Zebra Videos
Best Places to See Zebra on Safari
The Great Migration is famous as a mass movement of wildebeest; however, what most people do not realize is approximately 250,000 zebra make up part of that migration. They are often found in the company of the large herds of migrating wildebeest. This makes the Serengeti and Masai Mara the best place to see zebra as well as wildebeest.
Zebra and wildebeest have a somewhat symbiotic relationship. The two species do not need to compete over food as zebra typically eat longer, tougher portions of the grass, which makes way for new shoots, which the wildebeest prefer. Wildebeest have better hearing and zebra have superior eyesight, thus making both groups together less susceptible to predators.
In Botswana, there are seasonal migrations of thousands of zebra to and from the Makgadikgadi Pans area and between the Linyanti Concession and the Savute area of Chobe National Park. The timing of the migration is contingent upon rainfall, so it is difficult to predict; however, January is a good month to aim for a visit to the desert regions of Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi to see this migration. During the peak season months, large herds of zebra can be seen from the banks of the Boteti River which borders the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Kenya’s Laikipia/Lewa region offers the chance to see the endangered Grevy’s zebra which has a much tighter stripe pattern.