Nature ReachA striped grass-eater
Look closer at the zebra's stripes
Equus quagga
A zebra's coat is covered in stripes, but the pattern is its own. Look beyond the stripes to discover a life spent grazing and moving with other zebras.
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Across East Africa's grassy plains
This page introduces the plains zebra found in the Serengeti and Maasai Mara. Herds move through grassland to find food and drinking water.
Grazing with the herd
Zebras live in herds and eat grass on the savanna. Finding fresh grazing and places to drink shapes where the animals travel.
Three things to notice
- No two zebras have exactly the same stripe pattern.
- Zebras groom one another with their teeth, helping remove loose hair and reach itchy places.
- Zebras visit rivers and pools to drink, as well as spending time grazing.
From grazing to the food web
Prey for lions
Zebras can be hunted by lions. Their place in the food web connects the grass they eat to a large predator.
Food for dung beetles
Zebra droppings provide food for dung beetles. Beetles use this material, helping return nutrients to the soil.
Find the zebra in Nature Reach
Open the free savanna map and find the zebras. Listen to their introduction, then follow a connection to the lion.
Explore the savanna
Meet another species
Lion
Panthera leo
A lion resting under a tree gives us one glimpse of its day. Later, as daylight fades, the pride may become much more active.
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Umbrella thorn acacia
Vachellia spp.
Its spreading crown makes a patch of shade on a sunny plain. For animals, this tree can offer somewhere to rest or something to eat.
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Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
A warthog may lower itself onto its front legs while feeding. A nearby burrow gives this busy forager somewhere to shelter.
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Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
A herd may pause to graze, then move on as food changes with the seasons. In the Serengeti and Maasai Mara, this journey links many parts of the landscape.
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White-backed vulture
Gyps africanus
A vulture circling overhead is searching for food on the ground. Its meal comes from an animal that has already died.
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Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Notice the impala's curved horns and light-footed movements. Only males have those horns.
Meet this speciesSources
- Zebra and wildebeest migration, Nature Communications
- Lion prey, Animal Diversity Web
- Grazing relationships in the Serengeti, Bell
Reviewed by Nature Reach on 28/09/2026.