Fascinating Botswana’s zebra migration phenomenon

KAZA working to secure the zebra migration routes

Botswana is working with Angola, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, under the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area ( KAZA TFCA), to secure the zebra migration routes across the five countries.

Speaking on Monday, January 31st on the occasion of World Zebra Day, the Minister of Environment Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Philda Kereng said the migration route contributes to the Botswana conservation story.

She said Botswana’s zebra migration phenomenon occurs twice a year, as herds of zebra move first from north to south, then back from south to north.

This is ordered and aligned to the changes in seasons and rainfall as the zebras search for grazing areas. While it is not Africa’s largest migration in terms of the number of animals involved, it is the longest single migration of animals in Southern Africa that has ever been recorded and is an incredible sight to see firsthand, as thousands of zebras kick up plumes of dust as they move from one grazing area to another.

Minister Kereng explained that thousands of zebras traverse the Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park to find more grazing further south. They enter the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, a place devoid of life and water in the dry season, but bursts with vast greenery in the wet season.

It is around the Makgadikgadi Pans that they spend the rest of the rainy season, before turning back to reach the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park by the start of the next dry season.

Conveniently though, the migrations start and end in two of Botswana’s most spectacular national parks; the Chobe National Park in the north, and Makgadikgadi Pans National Park deep in the interior to the south.

“This offers excellent coordination of tours for viewing this impressive migration,” Kereng told the world.

She said zebras are the most iconic of all of Africa’s grazing animals. Zebras inhabit Eastern and Southern Africa and can be found in a variety of habitats such as savannahs, grasslands, woodlands, shrublands, and mountainous areas.

In Botswana, they are mostly associated with the Chobe National Park and the Makgadikgadi/ Nxai National Parks, as well as the areas in- between these protected areas.

Zebras are primarily grazers and can subsist on lower- quality vegetation. In the ecosystem, Zebras play a critical role for other herbivores by clearing the way for the growth of tender new leaves and grasses.

Other animals including wildebeests follow behind the zebras grazing on the new shoots that grow after they have passed.

Kereng said the Ministry is therefore working to secure the integrity of the protected area network, and the Wildlife Management Areas that connect National Parks and Game Reserves, as this will ensure the long- term survival of the zebras in Botswana

Today, the Zebra is celebrated all over the world and has January 31st dedicated as the World Zebra day since it was founded by a group of conservation organisations with an interest in seeing the continued survival of the species, as well as raising awareness about the zebra’s plight so that they can be preserved and protected throughout the world.

Botswana continues to facilitate expansion and diversification of the Botswana tourism offering through the new Tourism Policy of 2021, as well as urging both the national and international investors “to tap into opportunities that the zebra and the wilderness provides.”

Kereng said Botswana is synonymous with the ‘ zebra’, known as ‘ Pitse Ya Naga’. In recognition of its symbolism, it is befitting that the nation named some initiatives after the zebra.

These include the national football team, The Mighty Zebras, the female national team as The Mares, and the junior national football team as Dipetsana ( foals).

With football as a sport that unites the nation from all corners of Botswana; this symbolises the tenacity, agility, speed, and strength to defend against the opponent.

Kereng said her examples demonstrate the love and close association that Botswana and Batswana have with the zebra.

“Our gallop on this day shall emulate Botswana’s magnificent annual Zebra migration, a competitive booster to our tourism product, and a marvel of a lifetime. I invite the whole world to come and witness this migration here in Botswana”.