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
Quintessential Tanzania: River Crossing Season
-Top wildlife regions of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit
-Biologist informed planning to see the world famous Great Migration river crossings
-Private naturalist guide from The Wild Source (name and bio provided at booking)
-Private vehicle with unlimited mileage and fuel
-Learn from biologists at our Njozi Northern Serengeti Camp
Quintessential Tanzania: Calving Season
-Top wildlife regions of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit
-Biologist informed planning to see Great Migration calving and herds in the thousands
-Private naturalist guide from The Wild Source (name and bio provided at booking)
-Private vehicle with unlimited mileage and fuel
-Learn from biologists at our Njozi Ndutu Camp
Botswana: Best of the Delta
-Unbeatable value (under $10,000 per person for a 10-night peak season safari in Botswana)
-Three private concessions of the Okavango Delta
-Opportunities for some of the best leopard, wild dog and sable antelope sightings in all of Botswana
-Track wild dogs with your Bushman guides, whose ancestors have nomadically patrolled this land for 10,000 years
-Magic under canvas – all three authentic tented camps
Ultimate East Africa: River Crossing Season
-The best of The Wild Source private guiding in both Tanzania and Kenya
-Designed to cater to full-day, serious wildlife viewing, flexible meals in the bush, and avoiding crowds
-Wildlife biologists who have unmatched knowledge of the local animals
-Strategically planned for best chances of Great Migration river crossings
-Authentic tented camps with a classic safari feel
Kenya Expedition with Top Private Guiding
-Private guiding with Kenya’s most legendary guides (Ping or Peter Kiyaa)
-Best of the world famous Mara Reserve plus additional exclusivity of a private conservancy
-Support local ownership – Enaidura is majority guide-owned and operated, Mara Siana is 50% Masai owned and 50% female owned
-Full days on safari with ultimately flexibility of a private vehicle
-Diversity of activities – game drives, night drives, off-roading, walking safaris, Maasai culture
South African Splendor: Cape Town and Sabi Sands Safari
-A diverse itinerary in regions and activities, but with the simple logistics of traveling to one country – great for first-time safarigoers
-The best of a Big Five safari experience in the Sabi Sand private reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park
-Safari in the private reserve means fewer vehicles and camps, and no day trippers or public campsites like Kruger
-Delicious wine, stunning scenery and outstanding culinary delights in the charming Cape Winelands
-See Africa’s cosmopolitan side and breathtaking coastline in modern Cape Town
Deserts of Namibia
-Experience the other worldly landscape of Namibia’s sand dunes, ancient deserts, magnificent rock formations and exquisite stargazing
-Wildlife viewing in Namibia’s best national park, Etosha, where large congregations of animals gather around water holes
-Hand feed giraffes in a historical guesthouse at the start of your journey
-Travel on your private journey with an expert, local naturalist guide from Ultimate Safaris
-Stay at luxurious lodges designed to blend in with Namibia’s unique landscape
Botswana Desert and Delta Safari
-Top wildlife viewing regions of Botswana at 40-50% discount off peak season
-Focused on private concessions where there are very few vehicles traversing extremely large areas
-Expert guide AND a tracker per vehicle to increase chances for wildlife sightings, especially predators
-Green season magic – well-fed and watered animals, lots of baby herbivores, dramatic lighting for photography
-Avoid the higher crowds and inaccessible prices of peak season
Kenya Family Safari
-Family-oriented with private guides, family tents, and a private bush house with a pool
-Special kids’ activities, including bush tracking, local school visit, Maasai cultural learning
-Explore the best regions of the Mara for charismatic big cat sightings
-Visit the unique Laikipia region, inspiration for the animators of “The Lion King”
-Diverse activities to beat boredom! (day and night game drives, guided walks, horse riding, camel treks, sleep outs, Samburu cultural visits, mountain biking)
Tanzania Elevated
-The quintessential “bush and beach” combination – perfect for honeymooners
-Luxurious safari camps offering the best locations with peak service
-Private naturalist guide from The Wild Source and private vehicle throughout safari
-Classic game driving plus crater hikes, cultural visits and beach adventures
-Snorkeling, kayaking, spa treatments and more on stunning Pemba Island
Kenya Elevated
-An off-season luxury safari at a 40% discount compared to peak season
-Secret February wildlife – resident Loita herd of 200,000 wildebeest in the Mara calve in mid-February, big cat viewing is typically excellent
-Crowds much smaller than the high season
-Stay at exquisite luxury camps, including the most famous in Kenya, Mara Plains
-Pair the Mara with the stunning, unique scenery of Northern Kenya and the Chyula Hills
Botswana Elevated
-Exquisite luxury camps offering supreme service
-Combines the best two regions of Botswana for diverse wildlife viewing: the Okavango Delta and Selinda Reserve
-Private concession areas only, limited to a small number of guests traversing extremely large areas
-Off-road game driving with incredibly close viewing of predators
-Variety of activities including walking, night drives, boating, mokoro canoeing and off-roading
Zambia Walking and Waterways Safari
-A vintage safari experience staying in remote, intimate bushcamps, with excellent guiding and lots of adventure including river-based activities
-Explore on foot in the South Luangwa,the birthplace of walking safaris, where animals are habituated to humans on foot
-True night drives, staying out for long periods of time rather than just a quick sundown drive on the way back to camp for dinner.
-Exceptional guiding by local Zambian guides
-Wildlife ranges from the iconic safari species (lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, hippo, zebra and more) to rarer species such as the African wild dog.
Essential Diversity: River and Desert
-Luxury on the wild side – designed for the safari connoisseur seeking rarity and luxury along with the full diversity of wildlife
-Private guide and vehicle at both camps for ultimate flexibility and exclusivity
-Explore the lush, diverse river ecosystem of the Lower Zambezi National Park, where night drives are a highlight
-Visit the best place to find rare species – Tswalu Kalahari – including possible pangolin, aardvark, meerkat, and brown hyena
-Combine and contrast the extreme diversity of river and desert ecosystems with smooth logistics
Serengeti and Ruaha Research Safari
-Rare opportunity to travel outside of the Northern Circuit with your private guide from The Wild Source
-Research-focused itinerary where you can participate in hands-on conservation work at your camps
-Classic, down-to-earth camps with authentic canvas style and no frills
Iconic big cats and Great Migration viewing in the Serengeti
-Explore the lesser-known Ruaha National Park to look for buffalo, large prides of lions, and exceptional concentrations of elephants
Classic Zimbabwe: Hwange and Mana Pools with Victoria Falls
-Adventurous itinerary that features the thrilling walking safaris and ‘big games approaches’ Zimbabwe is known for
-Excellent value year-round with an affordable safari experience at classic bush camps
-Zimbabwe is known for its incredibly high standard of guiding, with some of the most respected professional guides in Africa originating here
-Outstanding wildlife viewing in Hwange and Mana Pools, especially elephants, and 8 large carnivore species
-Visit the mighty and majestic Victoria Falls
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.