Grevy's zebra historically have been found in Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya.  Today they are mainly found in Kenya, Ethiopia, and parts of Sudan. They travel through a variety of habitats, including savannahs, short grasslands, tall grasslands, and open woodland. They are dependent on water, and so must stay within 20 miles of water holes during the dry season.

The Grevy's Zebra is an endangered species because Grevy's were probably exterminated in Somalia due to hunting for food, trophies, and possible medicinal use by the Somali people.  Until the 1980s Grevy's zebra skins were sought by hunters either as trophies or for fashion markets of Europe and North America.  At the present time, there is no legal trade of Grevy's parts