Two species of this iconic, horselike equid live throughout southeastern Africa.

Massive herds of zebra roam the open grasslands of the Serengeti. Though the population of the Grevy's zebra is stable, it is considered endangered because its numbers are so small. The Grevy's zebra has a population of just 1,966 to 2,447, according to IUCN . Monitoring populations helps zebra conservation. Distribution Patterns Examining Africa entirely, clumped dispersion shows that the population is more concentrated in the Southern part of Africa whereas it may seem as uniform dispersion since it is equally spaced out through Southern Africa.On the map, red demonstrates the former range of the population of zebras and green is the zebra population range currently.

Although in the past they naturally occurred especially in the central, northern and eastern parts of South Africa, they are widely distributed throughout South Africa through introduction on game farms and private reserves. Burchell's zebra, also called the plains zebra, is the most widespread. Zebra occur throughout South Africa. Partnering with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), other conservation organizations, and various community-based groups in Northern Kenya’s Samburu and Isiolo Districts, African Wildlife Foundation set out in 2002 to conduct population censuses on community lands and the protected areas. • Grevy’s zebra have a black dorsal stripe (much like a donkey) and have larger, more rounded ears than plains zebra. The larger Grevy's zebra lives primarily in northern Kenya.

Grévy’s zebra lives in grasslands and thorny scrublands on the borders of northern Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. The Plains/Burchell's Zebra lives throughout the grasslands, savanna, and scrub of East Africa, reaching as far as Angola in the west generally in close proximity of a permanent water source.