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:
- $12,151 to $43,397 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Jennifer | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Once in a lifetime experience
We had a great experience on our safari traveling around Tanzania. We are a family of 4 (two parents and two teenagers). Having our own private guide (Ian) with us the entire time allowed for a worry-free trip.
We loved the overall experience, but especially loved the higher end Lamala properties we visited (Nanyukie and Mpingo Ridge). The accommodations were magical, the staff world class and the food delicious. We loved the sun-downers we did throughout our safari and the unexpected surprises that came with each one.
The animals were amazing, and we saw everything we had expected. Unfortunately, some of the areas were overcrowded with safari vehicles which felt a bit intrusive on the animals. Our guide knew many areas that were remote and made for a more intimate experience. The cultural experiences were very special and made us feel as if we gained a better understanding of the way of life in Tanzania. I highly recommend the banana plantation lunch cooked by local ladies followed by a tuk tuk tour around the local village.
Overall, we had a great experience on our safari and would recommend it for anyone!
Email Steve S. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Another fantastic safari with Dancing Zebra!
This was our third trip in three years with Dancing Zebra Safari Co, and once again we had a fantastic safari! Dancing Zebra owner Jessica Matthews is simply the BEST for organizing an African safari, especially in Tanzania, where she spends lots of time and knows very well. She has all the connections to get the best deals at the best camps at the best locations for the season. We were very pleased with the Lemala camps we stayed at. I have had past trips with other safari companies, but they do not come close to the Dancing Zebra experience!
Our safari driver/guide, Ian, proved again he is the best guide in Tanzania. We saw hundreds of lions, many cheetahs, including several thrilling full speed cheetah chases! We also spotted rarely seen animals like Serval and Caracal Cats, and Bat-Eared Foxes. Ian knows the spots to take us to, which maximizes our chances to see the most wildlife, which we did. Every safari with Dancing Zebra, and Ian as our guide, turns out to exceed our expectations!
We have another trip planned next year with Dancing Zebra Safari Co, this time to Botswana, and we are looking forward to another great experience!
Email Tara Delaney | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Family vacation to escape 2020 Safari
My husband and two teenage children booked a safari tour of Tanzania with Dancing Zebra Safari Co (this was my mine and my husband's second time to travel to Tanzania through Dancing Zebra). Both trips were amazing and different. Jessica knows Africa and has a special love for Tanzania. Our trip consisted of two mobile tented camps and two permanent luxury camps. We love each place for different reasons. The food was superior at each camp. Our guide, Ian, has been a guide for 16 years and it shows in his expertise at finding animals and his driving abilities. He also took such good care of my family! To spend two weeks with my family, watching the awe on my teenagers face as we watched group of cheetahs, or stood quietly in the safari jeep as a huge heard of elephants calmly passed by us (within arms distance). We have been able to travel extensively as a family but both my children said that this trip will always be the MOST memorable trip as a family. Thank you to Jessica and Dancing Zebra Safari Co for giving my family such incredible memories. Tanzania is so beautiful, the landscape, the animals but mostly the people. This experience has left an indelible imprint on my family.
Email Steve S. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Dancing Zebra Safari team is the best!
This was our second safari with Dancing Zebra. Tanzania was open for business after their Covid 19 lockdown was lifted, and we were eager to go, so Jessica quickly got us a discounted rate at a luxury lodge in Northern Serengeti, where the Mara river crossings were in progress! Jessica’s connections and experience make her the finest safari agent we have ever used. She put in the extra work to make sure we had everything we wanted in a custom safari. She is the absolute best at planning safaris!
And our driver/guide Ian is simply the top safari guide in Africa! I say this after 5 trips to Africa, so I have had many guides. He knows the Serengeti so well that he was giving directions to several guides who were a little lost. Everything that could be seen, we saw! Ian is the best! And our camp, Lemala Kuria Hills was great. After 11 nights there, they gave us a fabulous sendoff with song and dance!
To summarize – the Dancing Zebra Safari team is the best!
Email Phil and Meg | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had a wonderful escape including extraordinary wildlife sightings with the two best guides ever.
Our trip to Africa was absolutely amazing and except for the minor blip of no pick up in Kilimanjaro, all went very smoothly. You clearly strategized every phase of our trip. You not only know the best properties, but the best rooms which you select and then you specifically select a person at the property who looks after our every need. This was particularly true in Tarangire where our every need was attended to by a member of the staff that you selected, who knew you and who was intent on impressing you with his attentiveness.
Both of our guides, Amos in the Serengetti and Masa at both Ngorongoro and Tarangire were stellar. Both had in depth knowledge of every plant and animal as well as their behavioral characteristics. They both had a great sense of humor, would engage in fascinating conversations about any topic. They both became our friends. Towards the end of the trip, any anxiety that we might have had over the trip simply disappeared. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire trip from start (well almost) to finish. The entire safari was designed for our specific needs and unique and very special.
Our favorite parts of the trip were getting to know the Tanzanian people. So warm and friendly. All were most gracious hosts. Probably the most exciting part of the trip was watching about 2,000 wildebeests cross the Mara River on two different occasions. Sadly a zebra was lost on the first crossing and a wildebeest on the second crossing. However, the crocodiles appeared not to be sad.
Thanks again for putting together such a wonderful trip. You were always fully accessible and very responsive to us as we planned the trip, often giving us the impression that we were your only client, which we know is not the case. Thank you again!!
Phil and Meg
Email Wendy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Catered to all of my Desires!
This was the best company I have ever worked with. I was traveling alone and so requested some very special side trips such as cooking with a Swahili woman, visiting tribes that others may not get to meet, in addition to the Massai so that I could gain a greater cultural understanding of Tanzania. Jessica Mathews, one of the co-owners was wonderful to work with and added in a trip to Jifundishe: a woman's micro lending program, women's beading program to grow self-sufficiency and free library and schooling as well as many other activities that related to my personal interests.
The guide that was assigned to me, Daniel was exceptional. I would strongly suggest asking for him when you go. He is a highly educated guide, intelligent, culturally sensitive, and was able to answer EVERY question I had. And it was all fabulous. After researching and speaking with many companies, I chose Dancing Zebra. One of the best choices in travel that I have made. I believe because this is a small company, they are able to give personal attention to your needs and interests. I emailed Jessica several times to ask for advice on tipping on the special events I did - like cooking and she always responded fully and promptly. If and when I return to Tanzania, I would never consider any other company. The entire trip was perfectly planned to my desires. I can't point to one favorite because it was all fabulous. The attention to detail was superb.
Email Tammy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond our Expectations!
Zicasso found the perfect travel specialist for our Tanzanian safari. We were introduced to our safari travel designer. She planned a custom trip for my daughter and I, and every detail was thoughtful and flawless! She was very communicative and easy to talk to, returned calls and emails quickly. It was the most relaxing trip I have ever experienced since our travel designer planned every detail based on extensive conversations of our hopes and wishes of what we hoped to see and experience. It was a truly magical vacation! Our 8 day trip to Tanzania was well beyond our expectations!! We stayed in amazing, elegant lodges and spent 3 nights in a Serengeti tented camp. We had a private guide for the entire trip who took us on daily game drives based on what we wanted to see. We experienced the Tanzanian culture and the Massai, and saw and studied oh-so many animals in their natural habitats onlya few feet away from our Land Cruiser. We soaked in the beauty and natural wonders of the Seregenti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. Everything about this trip was relaxed, well organized, and stress-free. It truly was a trip of a lifetime that we will treasure forever!
Email Collette and Mike | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
We had a wonderful safari, better than we expected!
We first saw this company as a sponsor of "Nature" on PBS. The owner was available by phone in the U.S. which made communication very easy. Jessica was very caring and made sure all our questions were answered as needed. Together we designed our custom tour so that we could travel a little slower, allowing us to relax as well as time to do some bird watching. A nice mix of accommodations; surprisingly luxurious resorts, a tented cabin, and a mobile camp in Serengeti. We were offered cultural experiences, and we chose the walk through a village near Karatu and a couple of walks by different guides local to each area. Our driver and guide, Yunus, was very knowledgeable about animals and birds, and loved nature. He went the extra mile to make sure we saw all the critters we had mentioned and many more. As a driver he was always very safe. The owner, kept in touch with our guide throughout the safari, checking to make sure all was well. Finally our scenic flight from Serengeti to Arusha topped off our stay. In summary, we will always have very fond memories of our wonderful safari with Dancing Zebra.
Email Leslie K | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our safari dream came true, thanks to Dancing Zebra and Jessica Mathews
We went for the animals, fell in love with the people
A safari has been a dream of my husband’s and mine for years, but planning it seemed insurmountable until Zicasso connected us with Jessica Mathews and Dancing Zebra Safari Company. Jessica made our dream trip come true, more stunningly than we could ever have hoped. Just as important, she made it easy for us.
From our first phone call with Jessica our confidence in her grew, increasing with each of several iterations of our itinerary. She listened to what we wanted. Because we mentioned loving “Out of Africa,” she booked us two days in Nairobi at the outset so we could visit the Karen Blixen Museum and stay at the nearby Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and Cottages. Our time in Nairobi also included visits to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and The Giraffe Center, as well as a dinner with family friends. It also provided a chance to get our bearings after the long flight before transitioning to the actual safari segment of our trip.
Our time in Tanzania began with some moving personal experiences in the village of Mto wa Mbu, first at a school ambitiously educating hundreds of eager young students in the face of ever-present resource constraints Next we visited three homes where we were privileged to sponsor small solar electricity installations. These efforts are supported by Dancing Zebra in partnership with Lemala Camps, companies that invest ethically and generously in the people and country. These interactions added a measure of reality, texture and reflection to what was otherwise a truly luxury safari trip. That day, the campaign motorcade of the President of Tanzania swept through the village while we watched. Jessica had alerted us that it might disrupt our schedule, which it did not. This was just one example of her excellent communication with us before, during and after our trip.
Prior to leaving home, we wondered how we would connect with our guides and hosts along the way. We were amazed at how seamlessly we were able to make all the transfers. Everywhere we went, there was someone to meet us. Even the seemingly chaotic nature of the small airports didn’t faze us because there was invariably someone looking out for us. The one and only time we didn’t look for our greeter (though she WAS waiting and looking for us!) another airport employee took us under his wing until the right connection was made.
Every lodging Jessica chose for us had its own vibe, and all were well-appointed, hospitable and memorable, with staff focused on our comfort and enjoyment. Our two nights at Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp afforded an authentic camp environment in an ideal location close to the Crater. After giving us an amazing first drive in the Crater, our guide bypassed scores of picnickers and drove us to a secluded spot where five Lemala staff members had set up a tent for a private lunch for us, complete with grilled meats and a full bar. Back at the camp that night we put four tables together for dinner with new friends, followed by singing and dancing
by the staff. Manager Winston, Evelyn and Emmanuel stand out, along with the first of many Maasai escorts we met.
Our second camp was ENVI Sisini Mara, a newly-opened camp that Jessica selected when a nearby Lemala camp wasn’t available. This “Plan B” earned an A-plus! Manager Anthony, Nicholas, Winnie, Naomi and especially our dedicated server, Shemeji — as well as many others! — took such great care to make our time there special. The chef at Sisini is a true talent. The food everywhere was delicious; here it was gourmet. On the third night of four, they upgraded us to the family tent (a fully-equipped, luxurious house). Everything they did seemed to be designed to surprise and delight us. (We joked to ourselves that they might be mistaking us for VIPs.) They welcomed us with song when we arrived and saw us off with more songs, hugs and exchange of WhatsApp contact information.
One morning of our stay in the Northern Serengeti was dedicated to a thrilling hot air balloon ride followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. Jessica booked the region’s premier balloon company for our trip.
Our final accommodation was at the Lemala Nanyukie Lodge in Eastern Serengeti, another delightful camp with welcoming staff, a great gathering space and bar, and delicious food. Our suite was incredible, with full views out into the bush and visits from many animals. Among many wonderful staff members there Manager Wright, Emmanuel and Japhet made big impressions on us. While at Lemala Nanuykie we were treated to two special events, a sundowner out in the bush and on our last night there, a private dinner under the stars with a cake, singing and dancing for our anniversary. We ate with our guide in the light of lanterns hanging from trees, under the watchful eye of a spear-carrying Maasai guard and with the sounds of lions and hyenas all around us—magical.
Oh, I suppose I should mention that there were ANIMALS! We saw many lions, several cheetahs, a leopard in a tree guarding his kill from hyenas, countless elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, impala, hippos, pumbaa, baboons, gazelles, and birds of all kinds. One fleeting view of a rhino. And a dramatic Mara River crossing of zebra and wildebeest threading their way through a phalanx of waiting crocodiles. The Great Migration didn’t disappoint. There were so many wildebeest that our guide joked that if anyone asked how many we saw, we should reply, “ALL OF THEM!”
That guide was Frédéric “Fredy” Mkunde — the Magic Man. Fredy was with us for almost our entire time in Tanzania, which meant that on two days he dropped us off at an airport before driving for many hours to meet us at the next destination. Fredy holds an honored place among his peers for his deep knowledge of the land and animals, dedication to guests, sense of humor, infectious laugh and booming singing voice. When Fredy was in the camp everyone felt hispresence. On drives there were countless instances where he spotted a lion, leopard or cheetah from a great distance with no other trucks around. We were able to pull up closer than we thought possible, silently marveling at an animal, pride or herd without company. Late one afternoon he stood outside the truck and gave us a surprisingly comprehensive lecture on elephant dung. It turns out he was stalling while the Lemala team set up our sundowner close by! We had a good laugh over that, one of many. Leaving Fredy on the last day felt like saying goodbye to a family member.
It is clear from speaking with staff at all the locations we stayed that Jessica is well-known and respected there. They have affection for her, and know that she insists on quality experiences for her clients. These strong connections are why Jessica and Dancing Zebra are equated with the top level of quality in safari planning and execution. We have already recommended her to friends and give an unqualified endorsement to anyone with a safari on their bucket list. Our recipe for a guaranteed amazing safari? Hire Jessica and Dancing Zebra.
Email GreginRI | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
From start to finish, the Safari was well organized.
The Safari, from start to finish was well organized, and orchestrated as described in our travel book. This included airport pick up, transfers, daily transportation, and all of the intermediary details that make for a smooth Safari operation. The staff at all locations was outstanding. The needs and entire satisfaction of the guests was their primary concern. Throughout the Safari, the meals were outstanding. There was never a concern about not finding something satisfying. The accommodations throughout were also outstanding. Friends and family couldn't believe what the outfitter is calling tents. They were very much impressed. Our tour guide Robert, was exceptional. I will call him "Robert with the eagle eyes". If there was something to see Robert would find it. Robert was cordial, interesting and a true gentleman. His main goal was our satisfaction. We never lacked for something to do. Daily excursions started early and ended by dinner time. This was our desire and there was no pressure from Robert to drive us toward any particular regional location and the time window was completely at our discretion.
The weather proved to be cooler than we expected at the beginning of October. Most of my time was spent with a wool cap, heavy sweatshirt and lightweight down jacket over it to stay warm. Except for the middle of the day, this was pretty much my attire for the full 11 day safari. My only knock on anything during the Safari was the transit between Arusha and Hamerkop house. We stayed two nights at Hamerkop house, with one day spent almost entirely at Arusha National Park. The 20 minute drive to the main road near Arusha is on a busy dusty dirt road that is full of potholes and required me to wear an n95 dusk mask during transit. While a majority of the roads throughout the safari are also on pitted and dusty roads (which I expected), I think this beginning portion of our Safari adventure could have been served better by Lemala having a lodging site closer to the main road near Arusha.
Overall, the Safari was an experience I will cherish and never forget. Orchestrated by a team that is a well oiled machine.
