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 Leonard K. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing, comprehensive, responsive, delight to work with, and an in-country expert.
Dancing Zebra was recommended to us by friends who had an amazing safari, and we in turn have done the same. We had great back-and-forth during the planning stages, and they were very flexible accommodating everything we were asking for that wasn't the usual experience. As the trip near we received a personalized booklet of 30+ pages that had answers to every travel question we could imagine and many that we couldn't. Once our trip began, there was never a moment when we were left to wonder what would happen next. (Well, there was an airline strike in Kenya, but that had nothing to do with Dancing Zebra and we were ultimately well taken care of!) I could tell you all about the once-in-a-lifetime experiences we had, our personal driver who did so much to make our trip above and beyond, and the incredible animal and scenic encounters. But instead I will just say that both of us agree that every moment of our trip exceeded every expectation. Thanks to Dancing Zebra for making it all possible. Dancing Zebra is so much more than a travel agent. Their understanding of the area and their personal relationships with all of the vendors combine to create a seamless, top-notch experience.
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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.
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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 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 Sarah Mason | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dancing Zebra was very thorough, truly cares about its clients, and has a passion for Tanzania.
Our experience with Dancing Zebra was fabulous from start to finish! We booked our Tanzanian safari + Zanzibar beach honeymoon through them. The trip was awe inspiring and unforgettable! 10/10 would recommend booking your trip with them. This was our first time to Sub-Saharan Africa, so we were unsure what to expect and how to get around. They made sure we were taken care of every step of the way and there wasn't any guesswork (which was a huge relief). Communication was clear, timely, and thorough. It was reassuring that they booked us at places they had personal experience with and recommend based on their own travels.
Edson, the driver we were booked with, was amazing! We adore him and will ask for him when we visit again. He is a wealth of knowledge, helped us find a good spot for photos, and has a great eye for spotting animals and recognizing the different bird calls.
We opted for more comfortable luxury lodgings, and the value for the pricing was excellent. Each location was wonderful, with meals included and comfortable rooms.
If you want an amazing experience all around and want to work with someone that truly cares and has a wealth of first-hand experience, then do not hesitate to book with Dancing Zebra Safari!
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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 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 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 Donna D. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Jessica’s knowledge, passion and patience helped provide us a Tanzania Trip of a Lifetime!
Dancing Zebra Safari surpassed our expectations and provided an amazing experience which we will never forget. We began working with Jessica in 2019 to assist us with booking the right locations and route for our adventure through the Serengeti. She came up with an itinerary that would provide us variety, ample wildlife and the Great Migration. Life and the pandemic delayed our trip but, Jessica hung in there with us through re-bookings etc. and we were finally able to travel this year.
Jessica handled all bookings for our 12-Day trip, from detailed daily travel book, visa information, Lodges, in-country transfers, drivers and anything we needed during our stay. I felt we received great advice, recommendations, professionalism and superior service. Communication was exceptional and timely, accommodating with changes and happy to assist in a genuine way. She even arranged a private romantic congratulations dinner for us as we just got engaged to be married. We felt very well taken care of!
We spent time in Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Eastern and Northern Serengeti National Park. Our Dancing Zebra driver, Edson, was very knowledgeable and passionate about the areas and wildlife. He was dedicated to finding every animal we wanted to see and committed to providing opportunities to position us just right for a great experience. He did his absolute best to ensure we saw the Big 5, found cheetahs, lion cubs, and many more. Not only were we lucky enough to witness the migration, we saw 5 Wildebeest crossings complete with Crocodiles!
The accommodations Jessica selected for us were simply amazing, with views, plunge pools, tasty food, great wine, wonderful staff and excellent service. The Lodges and Camps were perfectly positioned for what we wanted to accomplish and absolutely incredible. We could not have asked for anything better.
We had a fantastic trip, I would not change a thing and we are looking forward to going back some day with family. I highly recommend going to Tanzania and working with Jessica at Dancing Zebra Safari for your incredibly well-planned adventure. She is the best!
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Email Amy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dancing Zebra was an absolute pleasure to work w/ & if I'm fortunate to go again it will be w/ DZ!!!
Before leaving for this trip of a lifetime, I was overwhelmed with the feelings of gratitude to be so fortunate and blessed to be able to experience such an amazing opportunity. Dancing Zebra and Tanzania did not disappoint!! I left this Safari and experience with even more gratitude and appreciation then I ever expected. On our drive to the Serengeti airport on our departure day, I couldn't keep the tears from falling as I reflected on my time on safari in Tanzania. Besides the beautiful, breathtaking and unique landscapes and most AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL animals, the people of Tanzania were beyond wonderful! For those who travel, we all know that it's the people that make the place. The welcome, the hospitality, the spirit and the smiles of the Tanzanian people were also a huge part of this special experience. And our most beloved Tanzanian....Ian, our safari guide! We were beyond blessed to have him guide us, teach us and share this experience with us. Thank you Ian for everything!!! We will never, ever forget you!!! You are truly the best! Although everything was beyond wonderful, this would all not be possible if it wasn't for our knowledgeable, caring and hard working tour operator Jessica at Dancing Zebra. Her passion for Tanzania and it's people shine through and her personable and thorough approach let you know you are in great hands. Jessica stuck with us through the trying times of Covid and delivered the most amazing, special and memorable itinerary one could ask for. I wouldn't have changed a thing and if I am so fortunate and blessed to be able to go on safari again, it will be with Jessica at Dancing Zebra. THANK YOU Jessica for your caring touch and your personable investment in making this vacation into what dreams are made of! I will never forget this one!!! MAHALO NUI LOA!!!