Plains zebra

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Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

Plains zebra_Kruger_9

The photogenic plains zebra is one of Africa’s most familiar and popular large game animals and they occur in good numbers in protected areas almost all over South Africa.

Plains zebra
Plains Zebra stallion, sporting battle scars
Plains Zebra

They occur in small and relatively stable family groups of up to 30 animals, consisting of a dominant stallion, up to nine mares and their foals of various ages. Young stallions are kicked out of their maternal groups at about the age of three years, and then band together in bachelor groups. Larger groups, that sometimes number into the thousands, are aggregations of these family and bachelor groups. Adults are normally very protective of the foals, though stallions will often kill foals when they take over a family group from another stallion.

Plains Zebra
Plains Zebra
Plains Zebra
Plains Zebras drinking at Zincakeni Dam
Plains Zebra
Plains zebras

Plains zebra inhabits open grasslands and bushveld and avoid densely vegetated areas. They are extremely dependant on water and need to drink daily, and subsists almost exclusively on a diet of grass.

Foals are born at any time of the year, though births peak around the start of the rainy season. The foals can stand and walk within twenty minutes of birth and are suckled until about 13 months of age. Adults weigh between 220 and 340kg (stallions being only slightly heavier than adult mares) and stand up to 1.4m high at the shoulder.

Plains Zebra mare and foal
Plains Zebra
Zebra foals mutual grooming
Plains Zebra mare and foal
Plains zebra
Plains Zebra
Plains Zebra

Zebras are a favourite prey of lions and spotted hyenas, and foals also often fall prey to leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs. As a result, their life expectancy in the wild is usually below 20 years.

Huge congregation of zebra at Mooiplaas
Zebras and marulas outside Satara
Plains Zebra mare and foal
Plains Zebra
Zebras at sunrise
Another energetic zebra
Plains zebra
Thirsty baby zebra
Plains zebra
Zebra altercation
Plains zebra
Plains zebra
A dazzle of zebra on the plains south of Pafuri
Plains zebra
Plains zebra
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68 thoughts on “Plains zebra”

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  43. ilargia64

    Yes, I have been very near to zebras, and they did not get scared….I was told each one has different stripes patterns,…That way the foals can recognize them….Do you know if that is true?

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  45. timecollage

    Gosh, these zebras are absolutely fascinating! Nature is an amazing artist. I am simply stunned at how beautiful they are and how amazing your photos are. It looks like you got pretty close to them to take the photos. Were they not afraid of you?

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thank you very much for the kind comments Time Collage!

      Zebras are less skittish than most antelope for instance, and you’ll be amazed how close you can get to them, especially when you’re in a vehicle and they can’t recognise the human form.

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