Zebras
Zebras in the Maasai Mara – Kenya
Two Digital Gypsies Rating – 3.5 Stars
We saw two types of zebra on our safari in Kenya. We saw numerous herds of Plains (or Burchell’s) zebras in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Maasai Mara National Reserve, but only a few of the Grevy’s zebras from a distance.
The Burchell’s or Plains zebra will grow 45-55 inches at the shoulder, weigh from 475 to 550 pounds, and live up to 40 years in captivity. The Grevy’s zebra is bigger in size than the Plains zebra, growing from 50-60” at the shoulder and weighing 750-1000 pounds. The gestation period for the Plains zebra is 12 months and 13 months for the Grevy’s zebra. The Swahili name for zebra is Punda Milia.
When a zebra foal (baby) is born the mother will keep it away from other zebras until the foal recognizes her by sight, voice, and smell. Within 15 minutes from birth the foal is able to stand up on his or her own, and within an hour able to walk and accompany its mother as she rejoins the herd.
During game drives in the Maasai Mara, we saw zebras dust bathing and a zebra foal nursing. These were the first zebras I’ve seen that were not in a zoo and seeing them in their natural habitat was a real treat.
