Dancing Zebra Safari
- Located In:
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United States
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Member Of:
- Africa Travel Association (ATA) & The International Ecotourism Society (T.I.E.S)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $550 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Mel & Eileen Neville | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Jessica Matthews is exceptional and considerate as she listens to help you plan your perfect safari!
How do we begin to describe our amazing 14-day safari adventure to Tanzania planned by Jessica Matthews of Dancing Zebra Safari Company? Perfect!
Jessica is an exceptional woman with whom to work, listening to everything one might want to do in Tanzania, while offering her insights from her numerous visits and connections. Because we had originally planned to go in August, 2020, we had lots of time over two years to have many questions and changes, and each was addressed by Jessica with much patience and understanding. Our safari turned out to be the PERFECT, expertly-planned combination of a Tanzanian wildlife and cultural safari. Every single detail was covered, and there was not the slightest glitch.
When we arrived at Kilimanjaro, we were met by our guide Ian Kiwelu, who looked after us expertly and professionally for the next two weeks. Each evening the three of us planned our tentative schedule for the next day. Ian is an exceptional guide with a kind, loving spirit. With his keen eyes and exceptional knowledge of the bush of Tanzania, Ian made sure we saw everything we wanted to see and more – animals, birds, plants, landscapes. He always made sure we had the best positions for viewing the animals, and he spent as much time as we wanted while he explained so much about the animals and their habits. He truly is the best! He has become more than our guide, as we consider him a friend with whom we have continued to stay in contact.
Our adventures included starting at Lamala Hamerkop House in Arusha, hike to a waterfall at base of Mount Kilimanjaro and coffee farm visits in Arusha and Moshi, Nomad Kuro Camp in Tarangire National Park, Nomad Entamanu Camp at Ngorongoro Crater with a Maasai boma visit, Lamala Tented Camp very near Mara River, Lamala Kuria Hills Tented Lodge, and returning to Hamerkop for one-last memorable day in Arusha basking in our memories and visiting with our new African friends.
One of our highlights was viewing three major Mara River crossings, the first less than a half-hour after we landed at Kogatende Air Strip in the northern Serengeti. Another was sitting in our comfortable 4x4 photographing lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, hippos, African buffalo, etc, etc. Some only an arm’s length away. We even saw a black rhino from a distance in the Crater. Yes, we saw the Big Five, but so much more! Another real highlight was getting to visit with and befriend some of the hosts and servers at our camps and lodges. It was wonderful learning about their homes and families. Because of their hospitality, kindness, and openness, we felt like we became part of their extended family.
The camps and lodges we visited were all exceptional. We were treated like VIPs at each camp whether a mobile camp or luxury lodge. We joked between us that we were sure they must have thought we were someone else, someone really special. The food was delicious, and every meal was exquisitely presented. The chefs were amazing! Several of our delicious meals, breakfasts and lunches, were packed so we could spend most of the day out in the bush. Although each camp was different, whether we had a hand-filled bucket shower, an exclusive outdoor shower, or a glass, tiled-lined indoor shower, every camp -- service staff, food and accommodations -- exceeded our expectations.
Thank you, Jessica, for planning our safari, PERFECT in every way!
Mel & Eileen Neville
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Email Alyson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Jessica loves Tanzania and is very knowledgeable and thorough when creating custom itineraries.
My husband and I visited Tanzania on Safari for two weeks to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. It was a trip that did not disappoint. We visited the Ngorongoro Crater, the Eastern and Northern Serengeti, and Tarangire National Park where we stayed at 4 different Lemala camps with beautiful accommodations, delicious food and wonderful service. We went on daily game drives with a great guide who knew the territory and shared interesting and informative facts about the animals. We saw so many animals, including several that are less common to find. Our guide had “good people sense” and could pace us according to our energy level on a given day and what we wanted to do. He also had good suggestions for maximizing the experience.
Our favorite animals were the cheetahs, elephants and the famous river crossing of the wildebeests (which we saw twice!).
The only thing we would change about the trip is to shorten it by 2 days. We saw so much during our time that we didn’t need the extra days. Overall it was a once in a lifetime trip we will always remember!
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Email Steve S. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Our fourth amazing safari with Dancing Zebra. Thanks to Jessica Matthews!
On this trip we went to Botswana and Zimbabwe, and it was originally planned for June 2020, then of course, Covid hit, and countries closed down. We postponed a few months, then had to postpone again, and then again! And this is where it really pays off to have an outstanding travel agent like Jessica Matthews. Every time we considered postponement, we talked it over with Jessica, and she advised, gave us options, and then quickly rebooked everything. And after two years we finally went this June! I should note though, that during the two years of postponements, Jessica quickly booked us on two Tanzania safari’s instead, since Tanzania had less complicated entry requirements. So we did not miss any safaris due to Covid! We actually went on MORE!
This trip was awesome! Jessica has all the connections with the safari industry in Africa to set us up in the best locations. We visited Victoria Falls first, and it was as spectacular as ever. Then on to the 10-day safari in Botswana at 4 different camps. Chobe—Moremi—Savute--Makgadikgadi Pans. They were all excellent. The camp staff sang and danced for us before dinner each night, which led to a very festive feeling, which was quite enjoyable.
All our safari drivers were amongst the best. Very knowledgeable and able to find the animals we were looking for. Highlights would be the four lion brothers eating their buffalo kill for two days, a rare encounter with a pack of wild dogs, a leopard kill, and the cruises on the Chobe River, where herds of elephants come down to drink. Also, the many other lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, elephants, and all the African animals you expect to see.
Another great feature were the sundowners every late afternoon before returning to camp! That really added to the enjoyment factor.
So this was another great adventure, and we are looking forward to our fifth safari with Dancing Zebra in Sept 2022, and back to Tanzania! Jessica and Dancing Zebra are simply the best at custom safaris!
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Email Eileen & Mel Neville | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Dancing Zebra Safari Company will help you plan the perfect trip to Tanzania
If you are thinking of a trip to Tanzania, wait no longer! Contact Jessica Matthews, owner of Dancing Zebra Safari Company now! She will help you plan the trip of a lifetime! The trip can include not only the best safari, but cultural experiences you will never forget. Tanzania is truly a beautiful country of loving people. And there is no better place than the Serengeti and its abundance of wildlife.
We just got back from our second trip to Tanzania. This time we went to the central Serengeti, and we stayed at a beautiful tented camp in amazing surroundings, ate delicious meals, and had so many wonderful animal encounters. There are many, many large cats in this area, and of course, a multitude of other animals. Just like our first trip to Tanzania that Jessica planned, this trip was perfect in every detail, and everything happened just like it was supposed to without one flaw.
Jessica and Dancing Zebra specialize in trips to Tanzania. Tanzania is Jessica’s second home, and she makes frequent trips each year to this beautiful country. She knows the best places to visit, and the perfect camps and lodges in which to stay. The guides she uses are amazing: friendly, lovely human beings, proud of their native country, know the wildlife and eager to share their wealth of knowledge (animals, birds, and plants) during game drives, and always willing to answer questions. They strive their hardest to make sure you see everything you could possibly want to see and more. It seems to us that they are usually the first to most viewings and are always sharing their found sites with other guides from other companies.
We can’t say enough about Dancing Zebra Safari Company. Jessica is the perfect person to work with in tailoring your trip just the way you want it within your budget. She is easy to work with, always willing to answer your questions, and provides extremely excellent recommendations and service. She tries to make sure that everything you are looking for has been addressed and that you have the perfect Tanzania experience: the safari of your life.
We hope to return to Tanzania again, and when we do, we will call Jessica at Dancing Zebra. We know what a wonderful, perfect trip she will plan for us! Can’t wait until next time.
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Email Darren Cook | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible and life changing experience with Dancing Zebra!
I traveled to Tanzania with Dancing Zebra Safari this past February and it was the experience of a lifetime. This was my first journey to Africa and it was unforgettable. My first camp was at Ngorongoro Crater and the time spent there was magical. The next several days where spent in Serengeti National Park. The accommodations at Lemala Endutu and Nanyukie were first rate. The food was exceptional and the wildlife viewing was everything I hoped it would be. As a wildlife photographer…I had hopes of seeing and photographing a wide range of species. The big five (Lion, Leopard, Cape Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant) was on my short list but I was interested in seeing more and did my guide Ian Kiwelu ever deliver. I was thrilled with the number of species we found and photographed. I can’t stress enough how phenomenal Dancing Zebra was in their attention to detail. Everything about my Safari was impeccably managed from the time I touched down at Kilimanjaro Airport to the time I left for home two weeks later. Jessica Matthews was such a pleasure to work with and I’m thrilled to say that I have booked a return trip with Dancing Zebra in 2023! If a once…or twice in a lifetime Safari is on your bucket list….contact DZS!
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Email Sarah | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A hand-held, wonderful tour through Tanzania’s wildlife parks
At every step along the way our family of 5 were cared for and attended to, with special attention given to the kids that was so meaningful! The accommodations and the food were excellent, but it was the attentive staff that put it over the top - both at the resorts and while out on safari. We saw SO many animals! My youngest kept a log and had 52 bird sightings alone in our first park area! We saw lions and leopards and zebras and elephants - all within 10’ of our vehicle!!! Tiny pairs of dik-diks and antelope were abundant. Hippos, giraffes, flamingos, baboon troops, a chameleon, warthogs, even an albino Cape buffalo…we saw a ton of animals bouncing on and off roads. Our guides listened to our hopes and then went looking with their experienced eyes and we saw more than we thought we would. Dancing Zebra Safari set us up for a wonderful tour from even before leaving with good advice on what to pack, etc. Our only challenge on the tour was figuring out how tipping works in Africa. The guide we were given did help, but wished we had read it more thoroughly before leaving so we were prepared with more small bills/cash. If you want a wonderful safari, we highly recommend Dancing Zebra Safari to set you up for the trip if a lifetime!
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Email Steve Shames | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Another great Tanzania experience with Dancing Zebra Safari Company!
This was our fifth trip with Dancing Zebra Safari Co. and I have said this in previous reviews, but it’s worth saying again -- Jessica Matthews, the owner of Dancing Zebra, is the best out there in organizing a private custom safari! She has all the connections and knowledge to put together a great safari.
Several years ago, we went the cheap route and did a “group” safari with a large tour company. They have rigid itineraries, and we really did not have much say in where we went and what we did. It was ok, but we decided to do a private custom safari next, and after shopping around, we came across Jessica and Dancing Zebra in 2019, and we have been with her ever since! We consult with Jessica about where we want to go, how long, the luxury level of the lodges to fit our budget, and she puts together a custom itinerary for us.
Our Safari driver, Ian Kiwelu, who calls the Serengeti his “backyard”, seems to have a detailed map of the entire Serengeti in his head! He knows every road in this vast wild area, no matter how small or remote, and has something of a sixth sense of where to go to find the animals. We saw all the usual African animals, including all the big cats. And we saw thrilling events, like full speed cheetah chases, and large wildebeest herds crossing the Mara River as part of the Great Migration. We were there towards the end of the river crossing season, but we saw two river crossings the first two days, with only minutes of waiting. Later we found out that others at our camp had waited for up to 8 hours at different spots of the river, and did not see anything. So it really pays to have a driver like Ian, who just seems to know where to go. The Lemala camps where we stayed, were great as always. After 8 trips total to Africa, I can say they are the best. So thanks again to Jessica and Ian for making this another great safari!
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Email Jill Tolles | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely amazing, attentive and responsive to all of our needs.
We took our family on this once in a lifetime trip to see the majestic animals, meet the welcoming and resilient people of Tanzania and Rwanda, and explore the unforgettable landscapes of Africa. Jessica was incredibly accommodating and responsive to our needs and desires. Everyone we met along the way from our guides to the hospitality staff were warm, knowledgeable, and a treasure to get to know as people. We have already referred Dancing Zebra to numerous friends looking to explore Africa either on Safari or in the Virunga Mountains with the world-famous gorillas. I cannot recommend them highly enough for your Africa Adventure!
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Email Vic | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A professional team dedicated to provide their guests with a lifetime experience
I met Jessica and her team back in 2020 at the Bay Area travel show. Their cheetah photo on display surely caught my attention and soon we started building an animal focused safari trip to Tanzania together.
We had a lot of tricky situations in our group due to members weren’t able to travel because of COVID restrictions and changing numbers of travelers last minute. From the start for two entire years, Jessica worked tirelessly to listen to our needs and helped us sort out all the postponements. She was always there for us the entire time to handle questions and deal with travel logistics in a promptly manner. I cannot thank her and her team enough for what they’ve done for us! For this, I totally recommend Dancing Zebra!!!
We were in Tanzania for 14 days and spend an abundant amount of time with the wildlife at Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti NP! All the camps/lodges we stayed at (hamerkop house, Kuro tarangire, entamatu, lemala nanyukie, Lamai Serengeti) were beyond amazing with kind hearted staff members! It’s very hard to pick a favorite since they each had their own uniqueness.
In terms of wildlife viewings, both of our two guides were simply beyond incredible. I had a lot of meaningful conservation related conversations with them and their pure love for the bush was reflected on every single game drive. Ian was with us for the longest. This person truly knows the national parks like his backyard:) I had no doubt from the beginning that I was gonna see a lot of cheetahs but when we were at Serengeti, it was almost two to three different sightings of cheetahs EVERYDAY!!! I’m always impressed with Ian’s skill to find the most memorable sightings and be as close as we could to witness everything yet creates a comfortable space between us human and the animals!! This is what I consider an ethical guide with professionalism! The sightings gets better and better everyday that it’s just too hard to pick the most memorable one:) It’s definitely worth considering visit there during the off peak seasons as for most sightings, we were the ONLY vehicles beside the animals!! We even got to see the migration^o^ if I could retake my safari, I would stay even longer!
In short, I’m forever grateful that I met Jessica and Ian 2 years ago! If you want to create a lifetime memory in Africa be it honeymoon or casual vacation, look no further than dancing zebra! You’ll definitely be in good hands with this knowledgeable, wonderful team of people!
I look forward to go on safari with them very soon! Asante Sana Team dancing zebra
Xx
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Email Steve M | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible skill and ability to translate our objectives in to the perfect vacation.
This was the trip of a lifetime for our family. Our sons are in their early 20s and we have never traveled extensively as a family. A close friend used DZ a few years back and I jumped on his recommendation. Jessica listened to all of our requirements and took care of every detail. We wanted to be taken care of, not worry about anything, and have accommodations that were top-shelf. Every aspect of the trip that DZ controlled was fantastic. Our trip to Tanzania was 10 days over the holidays. We stayed at 3 lodges all within the Lemala Camp group at Nanuyukie, Kuria Hills, and Mpingo. We also stayed at Lemala's Hamerkop House on arrival and departure which gave us a nice soft landing. They were all fantastic locations and incredible accommodations, among the best we've ever stayed at anywhere in the world. Plus, the food was terrific. Our favorite lodge was Kuria Hills for its breathtaking location and that we were the only guests for the 3 nights we were there. The staff prepared an unforgettable Christmas Dinner that we will remember and cherish forever. All aspects of the arrangements were met. Our guides were amazing, and the internal flights between lodges were great. We arranged 2 long drives between locations to add to the experience. Each of the Lemala camps were designed and built eco-friendly which I found impressive given the remote locations. Additionally, DAZ proactively monitored our arrival and progress through the trip. Jessica was in direct contact with the lodges throughout the 10 days which gave me confidence that everything about our trip was going to be great.
