Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra

There are two species of mountain zebra in the world: Cape and Hartmann’s. Cape mountain zebras can be found up to 2,000 meters above sea level in South Africa, but move to lower elevations in the winter. Hartmann’s mountain zebras on the other hand can be found in the arid, mountainous regions of the Namib desert of Namibia and Angola. Due to this dry habitat, these crepuscular zebras have to consistently travel between locations during the early morning and evening to find drinkable water. In fact, Hartmann’s mountain zebras are known to dig down 3 feet to uncover hidden water. This action sustains the zebra populations AND benefits plenty of other desert animals as well. When they aren’t traveling or grazing, these zebras are commonly found at play. Types of play include chasing, racing, play-fighting, and challenge games. Challenge games usually consist of nose-to-nose contact followed by mutual grooming. All of these activities help to increase the bond between the zebras in a herd.