All about the Kruger Park’s popular Striped Pony

The Burchell’s Zebra is one of the most iconic animals that can be seen not only in the Kruger National Park but all-around South Africa. The zebra is a member of the Horse family that shares similarities with domestic and wild horses like the whip like tail, long face, long skinny legs and a mane that runs down the back of the neck. The differences between Zebras and horses are Zebras are smaller than horses and their very iconic black and white coat that has become very iconic worldwide.

Zebras are non-seasonal breeders that have a gestation period 350 – 400 days after which a single foal will be born. Though Zebras have no breeding period, there have been records of increased birth rate during summer months. When Zebras give birth, they will sometimes distance themselves from their herds so they can recover after birthing with their foal. Shortly after recovering, the mother and foal will then return to the safety of the herd. When the herd gets threatened or whenever a predator is on its way, Zebras face their rear ends towards the threat and stands tightly next to each other forming a long wall of black and white stripes that can sometimes throw predators off or confuse them.

Zebras live in small family herds that consist of a single bachelor, a mare and all their foals. The average age of a family herd stallion is 12 years old and if bachelors aren’t part of a family herd, they form their own bachelor herds and travel together until they can find their own mates.  Family herds will often raze among wildebeest and baboons to increase their safety against predators.

The Burchell’s Zebra can be seen all throughout South Africa from the Kruger National Park to farms, fields and towns in both the low and highveld as well as in the Cape where they are found in the mountains and plains. Zebras are natural grazing animals and will be in areas where there are lots of grass and leaves. The Cape Mountain Zebra, like the name says, can only be found in the Southern and Western Cape while the Burchell’s Zebra can be found throughout the rest of South Africa. Another Member of the Zebra species used to live in South Africa but became extinct in the 19th Century. This member was known as the Quagga, an animal whose appearance resembled a combination between a horse and Zebra.

Book a Kruger Safari with Vula Safaris and witness this popular pony in the wild!