Zebra Hunting in South Africa

Zebra trophy hunting can prove difficult, as judging stallions from mares can be very hard. Zebra is a remarkably tough equine family member; shot placement is critical.

There are no seasonal restrictions on hunting Zebra in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Nick Bowker Hunting offers Zebra African hunting safaris year-round.

Shot placement for Zebra hunting
Shot placement for Zebra

Table of Contents

  1. Zebra Hunting Cost
  2. Interesting Facts about Zebra
  3. Difference between Male and Female
  4. About the Zebra
  5. Zebra in South Africa
  6. Trophy Judgement and Rifle Caliber

Zebra Hunting Cost

The average cost of a Zebra is $1200. Zebra can be added to any African safari hunts package.

Included in the Zebra trophy hunting package is a licensed hunting guide. As well as a hunting license and all permits for the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Alternatively, we can customize a Zebra hunt package.

South African Zebra Safari with Nick Bowker.
Zebra safari hunt in Africa

Zebra in pictures

Zebra hunting techniques and shot placement.
Zebra group in open grass lands. Zebra live in groups.
Feeding habitats. They have little impact on the enviroment.
Predators of the Zebra include Hyenas.
Zebra hunting in South Africa. Zebra trophy taken on a hunt.
Zebra under a tree. Many theories explain zebra stripes.
Zebra size chart relative to a human.
Distribution across Africa.
Local African names.
Mare and foal. Mares give birth every 12 months.

Interesting facts about the Zebra

Zebra safari hunting in South Africa.
  • Every zebra has a unique pattern of black and white stripes. Scientists can use patterns like bar codes to identify individuals in a herd and keep track of them over time.
  • For a long time, scientists have wondered why zebras have stripes. According to one theory, stripes confuse predators, making it harder for a lion to pick out an individual zebra from a stampeding herd.
  • Recently some scientists believe that stripes keep zebras cooler. The dark stripes soak up more sunlight than the light ones, which stirs up eddies of wind that swirl heat away.
  • Also, researchers have discovered that biting flies avoid striped patterns. The two theories might be linked as biting flies prefer hot temperatures, so they may be less likely to bite a cooler zebra.
  • One of the three zebra species, the mountain zebra, was nearly extinct in South Africa but was saved by a farmer’s group.
Zebra hunt with Nick Bowker hunting
Zebra Hunting in South Africa
  • It has incredibly hard, sharp hooves help it negotiate in difficult, rugged terrain.
  • And while this wild critter can’t grow a mountain man beard, it does have a bizarre, prominent neck flap called a dewlap.
  • A distinctive subspecies of the plains zebra, the quagga was mostly yellow-brown and un-striped below its shoulders.
  • Native to South Africa, it was driven to extinction by European settlers and hunters. The last quagga died at the Amsterdam Zoo in 1883.
  • Zebras can breed with the horse family. The offspring come in a fantastic variety of semi-striped patterns and are usually infertile.
  • Burchell Zebra safari-style hunting can be done across South Africa.
  • Zebra often associate with blue wildebeest.
Zebra Hunting in South Africa.

Difference between a male and female

Determining the difference between a zebra stallion and a zebra mare is no easy task. Stallions will be heavier with thicker necks. The stallion will often be at the back of the herd, protecting them against predators.

Stallions fighting. The difference between male and female  is difficult to distinguish.
Zebra stallions fighting

About the Zebra

Description of Zebra for hunting

African hunting Safari with Nick Bowker Hunting

The unique stripes of zebras make them one of the animals most familiar to people. They occur in various habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, thorny scrublands, mountains, and coastal hills.

Zebras have excellent eyesight. The Zebra’s eyes are on the sides of its head, giving it a wide field of view.

They also have night vision but are not as advanced as most of their predators. Zebras have excellent hearing due to large, rounded ears and can turn their ears in almost any direction.

In addition to superb eyesight and hearing, zebras also have an acute sense of smell.

The eyesight of Zebra can make zebra hunting challenging.

Highly social, Zebra live in groups, called a dazzle, herd, or zeal—stallions keep harems up to six mares and their foals.

Bachelor males live alone or form bachelors until they are old enough to challenge a breeding stallion.

Zebra Hunting with Nick Bowker

Information for Zebra hunting

Trophy Hunted with Nick Bowker

The common plains zebra is about 47–51 inches at the shoulder. It can weigh up to 700 – 900 pounds, males slightly bigger than females.

  • Plains zebras are the smallest, most abundant, of the horse family’s wild members. They roam across much of southeastern Africa.
  • Plains zebras come in all sorts of subspecies and coat variations. For example, the further south you travel across Africa, the plains zebras will have fewer stripes on their legs. Nobody’s sure why, but it may have something to do with the temperature or populations of those biting flies.
  • Found in Kenya and Ethiopia, Grevy’s zebras have a more donkey-like shape, with huge round ears. The Grevy’s zebra is the largest wild horse family member and can weigh up to 990 pounds.
Zebra hunt. Zebra make a great add on to any of our packages.

Zebra Hunting in South Africa

Vital organs showing the position of the heart and lungs
Vital organs for shot placement

Shot placement must be in the bottom third of the animal directly above the front shoulder. This will ensure a heart or lung shot. Avoid head and neck shots, which are high-risk.

African safari Zebra hunting with Nick Bowker.

Your Zebra trophy should have an average shoulder height of around 50 inches and weigh about 800 pounds.

Zebra has been reintroduced into the Eastern Cape and is not genuinely free-ranging. Standard cattle and sheep fences impede the movement of a zebra.

Zebra are relatively widely spread across the Eastern Cape. Hunts mainly use ambush techniques in open country and walk and stalk techniques.

We offer the opportunity to hunt Zebra in several plains game packages.

Zebra safari african hunt with Nick Bowker.

Hunting Trophy Zebra can prove difficult, as judging stallions from mares can be challenging. Hunting is done by spot and stalk.

Although the mares choose the dominant stallion, the stallion will assume his position at the back of a retreating herd, thus being closer to the point of danger, often stopping to look back.

Zebra is very resilient and tough and likely will require a follow-up shot.

Zebra provides the ideal add-on to one of our packages, such as the kudu- Nyala Game Hunts package.

Trophy Judgement and Rifle-Caliber

Trophy shot with Nick Bowker

Zebra is a remarkably tough animal. Shot placement is vital; a poorly placed shot will result in a long day.

We would recommend the 7mm or 300 Magnums for your Zebra hunt.

For those hunters who do not wish to go through the red tape of bringing a rifle into South Africa, Nick Bowker has a Sako carbon light 300 Winchester Magnum fitted with a suppressor.

Mounted on the rifle is a Swarovski DS with a built-in rangefinder. We have hand-loaded Hornady ELD-X 200-grain ammunition.

This setup, including ammunition, is available as part of all hunting packages free of charge. Hunting methods are mainly spot and stalk.

African Zebra hunting.
Nick Bowker safari operator

Zebra form small herds, usually 8 to 10 in number, consisting of a stallion, several mares, and their foals. Excess males leave the herd and form bachelor herds.

Good glassing is essential in trophy assessment when hunting Zebra.

If it is the flat skin you are after, be advised that the old stallions will most likely be battle-scarred and worn and not a suitable trophy.

Look for a younger male or a mare if an excellent hide is what you seek. As often with African animals, hunting zebra is best in the early morning or late afternoon. They are regular drinkers; set up an ambush on trails leading to water holes or pans.

Africa Zebra  hunting with Nick Bowker.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to hunt a Zebra?

Zebra trophy hunted in South Africa.

The trophy fee as a standalone Zebra hunt is between $1,000$1,600. Daily rates vary between $250 and $500 per day.

Included in the Zebra trophy fee is a licensed guide. As well as a hunting license and all permits.

How to hunt Zebra?

Africa Zebra hunting with Nick Bowker.

Hunts mainly use ambush techniques in open country and walk and stalk techniques.

Where do you shoot a Zebra?

Zebra trophy hunted in South Africa.

Shot placement must be in the bottom third of the animal directly above the front shoulder. This will ensure a heart or lung shot. Avoid head and neck shots, which are high-risk.

What is a trophy Zebra?

Zebra hunting in Africa.

Zebra does not have a Safari Club International score. Hunting zebra can prove difficult, as judging stallions from mares can be challenging. If it is the flat skin you are after, be advised that the old stallions will most likely be battle-scarred and worn.

Zebra safari style hunt.

Seasonal Restrictions

When can you hunt Zebra in South Africa?

Zebra harvested in 2023.

There are no seasonal restrictions on zebra hunting in the Eastern Cape of South Africa

Zebra harvested in 20203.

References:

Smithers, RHN, 1983. The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion, 1st edition. University of Pretoria, CTP

Mental Floss – Zebra

News World Encyclopaedia – The Zebra

A – Z of animals – Equus zebra

Amino – Bizaar facts about Zebra

Africa Hunting – Black Powder Hunting