Zebras inhabit vast regions of eastern and southern Africa, but they do not live in true deserts. While they occupy dry landscapes, such as semi-arid shrublands, the hyper-arid conditions of a desert environment are unsuitable for them. The lack of consistent grazing and reliable water sources prevents zebras from establishing permanent populations.
The Habitats Zebras Prefer
Zebras primarily thrive in environments characterized by open terrain, abundant grass, and access to water, most commonly inhabiting savannas and grasslands. These ecosystems offer the necessary resources for these grazing animals, allowing them to subsist on lower-quality vegetation compared to other grazers. The wide, treeless grasslands and savanna woodlands are the preferred habitat for the most common species, the Plains zebra.
Savannas are wide, open areas that permit zebras to spot predators like lions and hyenas from a distance. In these areas, they are bulk feeders, ingesting large quantities of grass to sustain their energy needs. Zebras actively avoid dense rainforests, permanent wetlands, and deserts, demonstrating a clear habitat preference.
The Three Species and Geographical Distribution
The three recognized species of zebra distribute themselves across different parts of Africa, reflecting varied environmental tolerances. The Plains zebra (Equus quagga) is the most widespread, ranging across much of southern and eastern Africa in grasslands and savanna woodlands. It is found from South Sudan down to northern South Africa.
The Mountain zebra (Equus zebra) is found in the rugged, mountainous terrain and escarpment areas of South Africa and Namibia, surviving at altitudes up to 2,000 meters. Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi), the largest species, is confined to the more arid shrublands and grasslands of Kenya and southern Ethiopia. While these species show a spectrum of dry-region adaptation, none extend into the truly hyper-arid desert zones.
Water Dependence and Avoiding Arid Extremes
A zebra’s physiology places a strict limitation on how far it can venture into arid regions. Zebras are classified as hindgut fermenters, meaning they digest fibrous grass in their large intestine and cecum. This process requires a significant amount of water to process the low-nutrient forage they consume. Most Plains zebras are highly water-dependent and rarely wander more than 10 to 12 kilometers from a water source.
While the Grevy’s zebra has evolved to be slightly more resilient, able to go three to five days without drinking, it still relies on consistent access to permanent water sources. This reliance on frequent hydration is the biological reason zebras cannot survive in the vast, water-scarce terrain that defines a true desert.