Founder of Dancing Zebra Safari, Jessica Mathews
Dancing Zebra Safari
- Located In:
-
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:
- $12,142 to $43,363 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Sam | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime with the most knowledgable and thoughtful guides
I visited Tanzania and Rwanda with Dancing Zebra last month and had the best trip of my life. My itinerary was:
- 1 day to rest and recuperate on a golf course in Arusha
- 1 day/night in the Ngorongoro crater
- 5 days / 4 nights in the Serengeti
- 1 day/night in Kigali
- 2 days / 2 nights at the Virunga Lodge
Our safari guide, Ian, is an animal whisperer. We were first on the scene to every interesting animal siting in the Serengeti. Although he said he couldn't promise anything, when we asked to see a leopard he found two over the course of an hour. He got us up close and personal with some lions feuding over a kill, hippos jostling for dominance, and baby elephants following their mom.
The accommodations were incredible. The staff were so kind, friendly, and thoughtful and made us feel comfortable throughout the trip. The food was great and the location was incredible, particularly for the lodge in the Serengeti and the lodge in the Virugna moutains.
I felt like we spent the right amount of time in each location. If you needed to cut time off your trip, you could do one less day in the Serengeti and skip the day in Kigali.
Thank you to the Dancing Zebra for giving me the experience of a life time! I've already shared the itinerary with friends who want to take the trip after seeing my pictures and it was a no brainer to tell them to leave it all to Dancing Zebra to plan it perfectly.
Email Shazia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience
Since the very first email from Jessica M, I have always been amazed at the level of service provided by her and her team. Be it planning & understanding our needs (large group of 8 - with 4 kids), planning our itinerary (which perfectly aligned with what we hoped to get from this trip), providing easy and timely updates, travel and packing tips, and follow up service during and after our trip-- Dancing Zebra Safari is A+
We had around a week in Kenya, and the places we visited were thoughtfully chosen to give us the best experience. Every hotel/camp we stayed at was luxurious, with fantastic service. The trip was completely planned for us- we even had staff come to us inside the airport to help. We showed up knowing we were in good hands. I cannot wait to go back!
Email Tracy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
I traveled to Tanzania for safari in Ngorongoro Crater and the Eastern Serengeti and to Rwanda for the Gorilla Trek in May 2023. I made the trip with my twenty something son and future daughter-in-law. I cannot say enough good things about Jessica Mathews and her team at Dancing Zebra Safari. From initial planning through the end of our trip, Jessica made everything easy and seamless. Her knowledge of these countries and the contacts she has made in Africa allowed us to see the best there is to offer. I followed her recommendation to travel from mid to end of May just before the high season to avoid the crowds and am so glad we did. We had hours on the Serengeti without another tour in sight.
Our private guide in Tanzania, Ian, was wonderful and extremely knowledgeable about the Serengeti, the many animals to be seen and where the animals would be at any give time of day. As a result, we were able to view all of the animals residing in the park multiple times including lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, hyena, cheetah, endangered rhino, hippopotamus, wildebeest and even the elusive leopard. Without the summer crowds we were also able to view the animals close up, sometimes within only a couple of feet. It was truly magical.
Wanting the truest experience as possible, we stayed in a beautiful camp in the bush of the Serengeti, accompanied by a local lion pride. We came to understand that the lions were not much interested in us and had never attacked camp residents but we were accompanied throughout the camp by a Masai warrior just in case. :)
We then proceeded to Rwanda to see the gorillas. Rwanda is a beautiful country, very lush and tropical. Our private guide, Frank was terrific and as with Ian, was with us daily to make sure all was well and that we got where we needed to go. We hiked approximately two hours to see the gorillas - shorter hikes are available - and upon reaching the gorillas sat amidst a family of about 10, including a nursing baby. It was beautiful to spend time with these amazing, surprising gentle souls while they interacted with each other and on occasion with us. For anyone, who dreams of this experience - as I have for so many years - I strongly recommend taking the trip.
More general information - accommodations were lovely, opulent and beautifully decorated, consistent with the environment. In each location, we each had our own dwelling, consisting a large bedroom, bathroom, sitting area and balcony and in one case, even a private soaking pool. Meals were taken in a communal dining area and the food was quite good and plentiful. Staff at all of the accommodations were welcoming, friendly and professional, ensuring all of our needs and desires were promptly attended to.
This was a bucket list trip for me and it exceeded my expectations in every way. Thank you Jessica, Ian and all of the Dancing Zebra Safari staff for making this dream come true. xoxo
Email Darren & Angie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A perfect safari week!
Our safari was expertly planned by Dancing Zebra Safari and their guides Ian and Edson made our family’s trip unforgettable. They made sure we saw “the big five” and so much more. Ian even found our cell phone in the middle of the Serengeti after backtracking to figure out where it had gone missing…a miracle and a testament to his amazing client service! We had spectacular accommodations at both Lemala Ewamjan and Nanyukie. The food was excellent and the staff were so warm and attentive. We didn’t want to leave when it was time to go home.
Email Patty & Jeff | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Jessica and her team is amazing!
This was our first Safari experience and we had the most incredible time there! We decided to do 15 days total 10 days in Tanzania and the 5 days in Zanzibar to relax at the beautiful beach. Our tour guide was the best! His name is Thomson, he knew all the birds and we were able to see the big 5! He was extremely knowledgable of the whole safari experience which made it so much more rewarding. I would highly recommend you all to book with Thomson as your tour guide, he was the one that made this trip a memorable and once in a life time experience! Jessica and her team were very responsive and made sure our trip was seamless and on point! We will be using their services again if we plan to go back!
Email Brad | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nothing about this trip was "canned!"
My trip was definitely a bucket list item! While looking to book a trip to Tanzania I would find so many "canned" trips where you had to take it or leave it. While some of the canned trips sounded exciting I was less excited about other parts of their trips. I found this safari travel company through Zicasso and they were able to customize a trip to meet my goals!
The best part was spending the entire day out on the safari vehicles enjoying the wildlife and scenery!
Email Jen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Honeymoon in Tanzania!
I went through Zicasso to find a travel company to work with in planning our honeymoon to Tanzania. We did a lot of research and reached out to several travel companies for quotes, information and itineraries. When working with this travel company and this agent - her service and passion stood out to us. Which is one of the reasons we ultimately chose to move forward with this company. She planned a 10 day itinerary for us in Tanzania starting at the Arusha Coffee Lodge --> Lake Manyara, Neptune Lodge --> Ngorongoro Crater, Lemala Kuria Hills --> Northern Serengeti (we had a self-booked accomodation in Zanzibar). She planned every detail possible for us, from our arrival to Kilimanjaro, all transfers and domestic flights between the different reserves, accomodations and games drives and all we had to do was arrive and her in-country team took it from there, this put us at ease and made our lives easy. Our travel planner was a pleasure to work with, you can tell she has a passion for Tanzania, travel and planning these amazing trips! She does her research too. You won't be disappointed when you choose this company, this travel planner will put her heart and soul into making sure you have a wonderful trip!
Driving through the reserves, being able to observe wildlife in their natural habitats. The accommodations (Arusha Coffee Lodge, Neptune Lodge Ngorongoro, Lemala Kuria Hills, Baraza) were outstanding as well!
Email Virginia Low | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Experience - Exceeds ALL Expectations! Jessica is the BEST!!
My 5th time on safari using Jessica with Dancing Zebra Safari Company, and as always, it was perfect! Despite managing multiple activities and camps all the detailed planning resulted in a hassle-free relaxing trip. My fellow safari goers, all on their first trip, were amazed by the luxury of the camps, the professionalism and hospitality of the staff, and the ease of traveling throughout Tanzania! Jessica does a wonderful job tailoring the trip to travelers' interests, while keeping on track of the budget. The accommodations are spectacular, I wish I had more time to stay!
Destinations: Arusha, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, & Zanzibar
Duration: ~ 2 weeks
Starting off in Arusha, staying at the beautiful Kiligolf and Wildlife Estates we began our adventure going on a walking safari at Arusha National Park. It was thrilling to walk and learn about the park's ecosystem while viewing giraffes, vervet monkeys, lots of pumbas up close and personal! The evening ended with a relaxing sundowner at Kiligolf with Mount Meru & Kilimanjaro in view! It was a fantastic way to the start of our safari!
Next stop - Northern Serengeti: we saw such an abundance of animals and exotic birds on our first day, that the first timers didn't even think they would see so much on the entire trip! Each day we experienced more encounters that somehow seemed to surpass the day before. For my FIRST time ever I witnessed the wildebeests crossing the Mara River! We also saw (a FIRST for our guide, Robert - the BEST!!) a "Giraffe Crossing"! Actually 2 giraffes successfully crossed while we watched and held our breaths in awe! Took my first balloon safari which gave another perspective, seeing the vast expanse of land and all the groupings of animals; followed by a delicious champange brunch!
At Ngorongoro we spotted the elusive rhino (another first for me!) and had many close encounters with the wildebeests & hyenas coming to investigate our vehicle! Jessica arranged a very special privately catered lunch at the crater which was spectacular. We felt like nobility receiving the ultimate experience! The Osonjoi Lodge at the crater was so luxurious and provided an incredible views of the crater.
We ended our excursion going to Zanzibar to relax (some more) staying at the Baraza Resort & Spa. Wish I could move the resort closer as the service, surrounding beauty, and accommodations were top notch! It was very hard to leave this most beautiful place! While in Zanzibar we had a walking reef tour at Baraza. We traveled on a dhow and went snorkeling, seeing all kinds of fish among the reef - followed by a private lunch of grilled lobster, shrimp and multiple sides at our own private beach tree house! We vistied and ate at the famous Rock restaurant as well! Highly recommend all these activities!
Through out the trip, the food was delicious and plentiful and the staff very sincere in making the whole experience as wonderful as could be. Jessica is so personally involved with all the details and plans, she personally knows the guides and coordinates the best guides for her clients - you will not be disappointed!
Seven years ago, I went on my first "once in a lifetime" safari to Tanzania...and now after my fifth trip - I still want to go back for more! [And I'd only do that using Jessica Mathews with Dancing Zebra!!]
Email Steve S. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Another amazing 5-star trip with Dancing Zebra Safari Company!
This was our 9th trip with Dancing Zebra, and for this one, I told Jessica early on (over a year in advance) that we wanted to see gorillas! I was not sure how we would work that in, but luckily for us, Jessica had gorilla trekking experience herself in Rwanda, so she personally knew all the ins and outs of adding this on! She recommended November, since prices and crowds will be lower, but all the animals are still there. Jessica came up with an itinerary starting at Tarangire National Park in Tanzania, then 6 nights in the Serengeti, then fly to Rwanda for the gorillas. She is the best at organizing a safari! Especially with multiple countries and internal flights, which can complicate things.
Our driver/guide in Tanzania was Steven James, and he is at the expert level of finding the animals. Especially leopards! One highlight was crossing the Mara River and heading close to the Kenya border, where hardly anybody else was going. We spotted a leopard, and stayed with her for several hours, being the only safari vehicle there! Another highlight was witnessing crossings of the Mara River by the wildebeest herds, including crocodile action! Without Stevens skill, we might not have seen any of this. He is one of the best. In fact, all our guides booked through Dancing Zebra in the 6 different countries we have been to, have been at the very top of their game. The Lemala camps we stayed at were excellent, as always. This was our third time at Lemala Kuria Hills, so they were glad to see us again. We stayed there the first time in 2020 for 10 nights, when hardly anyone was traveling (except us) due to all the Covid complications.
Then it was on to Rwanda. We flew to the capital city Kigali, and stayed there the first night, and toured the city the next morning. We had a knowledgeable private escort/driver throughout our Rwanda stay. We stopped at the Genocide Memorial, an experience I would recommend. We then drove to the Virunga Mountains, for two days of trekking for Gorillas and golden monkeys. Both treks were about 30 to 40 minutes hiking each way, which was less than we expected, and the lodge even cleaned the mud off our shoes when we got back! The gorillas were awesome; we spent about an hour with this family. They would walk right past you within touching distance, but we never felt any fear. They were mainly gentle and ignored us, as they fed and played on the forest floor. The golden monkeys were awesome too. These were the most colorful monkeys we have ever seen!
So altogether, this was another great safari with Dancing Zebra, and I would recommend them for your first safari, or your 10th! And for us, our 10th safari is already booked for Zambia next May.
Email Ron & Karen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
In spite of our large group of 14 and our complex itinerary everything went off without a hitch!
Our Dancing Zebre Safari representative, Jessica Mathews, was able to coordinate the various arrival dates, times and activities seamlessly. The 4 facilities where we stayed were very well run by their camp managers and staff. The food and services provided were all better than anticipated.
For our safety Maasi Warriors would escort you to and from your lodge. At our last camp we were able to explore the area without an escort while it was light. For those uncomfortable walking alone a Maasi Warrior would accompany them. Our driver/guides Frank, Hassan, and Miraji, are well educated and able to explain and answer questions about the many different animals, birds, insects, vegetation, trees, and landscape surrounding you. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was professional, personable and polite! My only wish would be that the vehicles not follow so close to one another to reduce the dust intake for those with respiratory (asthma, COPD) issues or those wearing contact lenses. Not a big deal but several mentioned their concern.
Bottom line-It was the "trip of a lifetime"! Jessica did a wonderful job for our group of 14! Wouldn't hesitate to use again, or recommend Dancing Zebra Safari
Thank you so much Jessica
Ron & Karen G