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:
- $700 to $2,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Matt | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
essentially flawless
The safari that Dancing Zebra planned was probably my favorite vacation/travel of my entire life (although I am only twenty, so take that with a grain of salt). The planning and logistics were outstanding and everything went off without a hitch and without stress. All of the places we stayed exceeded expectations in terms of service, accommodations, and food. Oh my god the food was so good. Our guide Frank was outstanding, funny, talkative, knowledgeable, and a great photographer. And of course, the most important part, the wildlife and game drives. Tanzania was unlike anything else I've ever seen. It actually felt like being in national geographic. I can't recommend Dancing Zebra enough
Email Joe H. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing. Simply Amazing.
Just returned from our first safari vacation. WOW. I cannot find the words to adequately describe just how amazing this trip was. Our entire trip took place in Tanzania, starting in Arusha then to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti. I’ll start with the game drives. I think we just expected to see a few animals through binoculars. I was blown away by the amount and variety of animals as well as the fact that we could get so close to many of them. We saw all the common wildlife as well as ALL of the big five.
Probably the most memorable part of the game drive portion of the entire trip was when we arrived at Lobo airstrip for the Serengeti portion of our trip. Our guide, Mokili, was standing at the door of our airplane when we stepped off. He introduced himself, grabbed our bags and took us to our Land Cruiser. After a few moments of getting to know each other, Moki asked what we most wanted to see. My wife immediately said, “elephants” and we found out that elephants had a special place in Moki’s heart and were his favorite as well. Moki shared some stories of elephant rescues that he had been involved with over the years and we quickly understood why they were so special to him. My answer was “cats”. Moki asked why and I just said that they are usually the hardest to find and it’s rare to see them. Moki told us that our camp was to the left but he heard that about a 45 minute drive to the right, that a cheetah had been seen and wanted to know if we wanted to drive that far to see if she was still there……”yes”. So, we drove 45 minutes and found her, “Super Woman” still there. We learned that she was named “Super Woman” because she had five cubs and that all five had lived to be 8 months old which is extremely rare. We were watching this beautiful girl and noticed about 40 yards away that we could see another cheetah. Not only was it just another one but it was all five of her cubs. Unbelievable.
The next day Moki took us to a spot where we were able to hang out with a pride of 17 lions for about an hour. Just the three of us with 17 lions for an hour within just a few feet of our vehicle. After spending time with the lions, we went to a mud/water hole where we watched five different families of elephants come to cool off with a mud bath.
When we left for this trip, I think our only expectation was to just do game drives all day, every day. What we found was that there was much more to this experience. From the moment we arrived at Kilimanjaro airport, we were treated like royalty. On top of being treated like royalty, each day was filled with little surprises that just set this entire trip apart. I want to describe these little surprises, but it would be like telling the ending of a movie to someone who has not seen it yet. It would ruin it so I will just leave it at that.
I really hate to start saying names because I am sure I will miss someone. There were so many who did so much and worked so hard to make this experience unforgettable. But I will do my best to name as many as I can. First, our host who was our very first contact, Eve. She really set the stage to get this trip off to an awesome start and she was there at the end to make sure we were sent off properly.
Samwel, our butler at Arusha. The man is a mind reader. He knew where we were and what we wanted before we did.
Sembeke, our first guide for our first game drives. A true professional and we consider a friend now.
Mokili, our guide for our Migration Camp/Serengeti drives. The man just knows the animals and has the eye of an eagle. We really enjoyed our time on the drives and spotting animals but even more so, getting to know Moki and hearing his story of how he got to where he is. A story that WE pulled out of him, not that he brought up. A great human being and we hope to see again one day.
Email Christine | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional at managing every single detail with high touch.
Jessica and the Dancing Zebra Safari Team put together the trip of a lifetime for us. Her recommendations on when and where to travel, lodging, and activities were all excellent and we had a seamless trip with exceptional service from both Jessica and team and from all the associated partners and vendors. We had a lovely visit to the Mto wa Mbu village on our way from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater. We loved Ngorongoro, then went to Central Serengeti, which was also fabulous. All along we stayed in Lemala lodging and received incredible service. Our last stop was Northern Serengeti, also outstanding! Our Safari driver was a wealth of knowledge about all the animals, birds, plants, and he knew every aspect of the land, and how to navigate us for the best possible experience with the wildlife. Jessica managed every detail of our journey with great thoughtfulness and care. She checked in regularly and was available anytime we needed her (and everything was so smooth we never did). This was an A+++ experience, and I would recommend Jessica and her exceptional team of partners to anyone and everyone interested in this amazing journey.
Email Jill | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding planning/logistics and stunning wildlife made our safari the trip of a lifetime!
Our family of six had never been to Tanzania or on safari, and Dancing Zebra Safari made it a huge success. We went to three national park sites (Ngorogoro, Central Serengeti, and Northern Serengeti) and saw an amazing array of animals up close – it was just magical. Lions (hunting and feeding!), elephants (mating!), giraffes (necking!), rhinos, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, wildebeests, zebras, 8 types of gazelles, flamingos, ostriches, crown cranes, the list goes on and on. The scenery was stunning, with gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. Our driver, Frank, had encyclopedic knowledge of the area and the animals and was great fun; he was a wizard navigating the Land Cruiser through tricky terrain. He was also a fantastic photographer, and shared his photos with us after the trip. We stayed at three Lemala camps (Ngorogoro, Ewanjan, and Kuria Hills) and loved them all – the staff was uniformly wonderful and we all agreed the service was the best we have ever experienced anywhere. And the food! No idea how the staff created such varied, delicious, and beautiful food in the bush. “Sundowners” were a favorite pastime, enjoying a cocktail by the fire while the sun went down and getting to know the staff and other visitors. Dancing Zebra made the whole process easy – Jess created a terrific itinerary, answered all our questions, and provided detailed written materials to help with packing and trip prep. When our return flights changed, she worked with her team to restructure our last day, including rebooking our flight out of the bush, gaining us one more day in the national park rather than spending the time in the airport. Our adult kids loved the all-inclusive food and drink! The trip was perfectly planned, well-executed, and a great value – we brought home incredible photos and memories that will last a lifetime.
Email Alexander Yegian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
He was energetic knowledgeable and funny.
I had a great time saw a ton of beautiful animals and the accommodations and food were great!
Email Toby | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beautiful first time luxury safari
My family recently traveled to Ngorogoro Crater and the Serengeti on safari for 9 days. It was one of the best trips I’ve been on in my experience of 20 countries. The wildlife is incredible, straight out of Nat Geo, and the landscapes are beathtaking.
Jess was a consummate guide throughout our trip. She wrote us notes on the day of our arrival at each new camp which were left in our rooms, the tour guide—Frank—she booked for us was knowledgable and charismatic, and she negotiated on our behalf with the camp agency to avoid a single-person surplus on a member of our group, avoiding hundreds to thousands of dollars of fine. We had no issues, no miscommunications, and were cared for from start to end of our journey by professionals; this is the service that separates a good tour outfit from a life experience.
Enjoy your safari! Wake up for the earliest breakfast time and get out before sunrise—the animals are most active then!
Email Jill | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect attention to detail, good communication, great suggestions equals a wonderful trip.
My safari was perfectly planned by Jessica at Dancing Zebra Safaris. Every one of my expectations was exceeded, and I especially appreciated the attention to the small details. From the moment I stepped off the plane and was greeted with warm smiles I knew this trip would be special. Jessica truly listened to what I wanted from this trip and thoughtfully brought that vision to life.
From the welcome at the airport, to my wonderful safari guide, John, who expertly navigated the Serengeti plains while pointing out a leopard lounging in a tree, to watching cheetahs and elephants. Not to mention the exceptional accommodations at Lemala Nanyukie, where I fell asleep each night to the sounds of the Serengeti, I felt personally cared for every step of the way. Every detail was taken care of, allowing me to enjoy a seamless and unforgettable experience.
This trip was particularly meaningful because it was a return to Tanzania and the Serengeti for me. Watching the sun rise over the endless savannah brought back cherished memories while creating new ones when my beloved husband and I visited together.
I highly recommend Jessica and Dancing Zebra Safaris. They will plan a trip of a lifetime for you as they have for me twice now.
Email Steve S. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic safari in Zambia!
With this trip to Zambia, we have now entered into the exclusive Dancing Zebra 10 timer club!
When we were in the Serengeti two years ago, we met a couple who went to Zambia every year. They mentioned they liked South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi. With just this bit of info, after getting back I talked to Jessica, and asked her to look into putting together a Zambia safari. She came back with an itinerary of 3 national parks, including the above mentioned two, and Kafue National Park. After looking things over, and talking with her again, we reserved everything. It can get complicated picking from the many camps, and scheduling all the internal flights and transfers, so it’s best when planning an African safari, to have an experienced agent put everything together, and Jessica is the best at that!
All of the animals you think of with Africa, are in Zambia, with lots of big cats, which are my favorite. We had several quality leopard sightings, including one at night, and many lion sightings, especially at Kafue, which is overflowing with lions! We also saw a mother cheetah with two small cubs eating a meal, which was very special. The lodges and the driver/guides were all excellent, like all the places we have stayed at when booked through Dancing Zebra.
Altogether it was another fantastic trip, and we are looking forward to February 2027 for our 11th Dancing Zebra safari!
Email Suman Prasad | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dancing Zebra is the ultimate safari operator, combining unmatched insider expertise and deep local
Hands down the trip of a lifetime—Dancing Zebra is the real deal!
We just got back from a family safari organized by Dancing Zebra, and honestly, we’re still wrapping our heads around how incredible it was. If you are looking to book an African safari, stop searching and just go with them.
Here is why our trip was so special:
Jessica really knows her stuff (and everyone knows it)
Jessica is a total veteran. She has visited Tanzania and Africa more than 15 times, and it absolutely shows. She is incredibly well-respected in local safari circles, and that insider connection makes a huge difference. She didn’t just hand us a cookie-cutter itinerary; she genuinely guided and educated my family on the nuances of where to go, what makes each area unique, and how to respect local traditions. The flow of the trip was perfect, and you can tell she plans with a deep love and respect for the culture and land.
Steven James is a legendary guide (and master photographer)
Our guide, Steven James, completely elevated the whole experience. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, tons of fun, and kept the whole family entertained the entire time. But what sets Steven apart is that he is an extremely skilled photographer. He understands animal behavior so well that he could predict exactly where a lion or elephant would move next, positioning our vehicle perfectly so we always got the best, most unobstructed views. Our trip photos are insane thanks to him.
Mind-blowing wildlife moments
The wildlife viewing was next-level. A few moments we’ll never forget:
The Leopard Track: We spent hours tracking a notoriously elusive leopard. Steven’s tracking skills totally paid off when we finally found it draped perfectly across a branch in that classic, iconic tree pose. Watching it elegantly climb down the tree trunk and just melt away into the tall grass was pure magic.
Ngorongoro Drama: We got to see a pride of lions right after a fresh kill in the Crater—raw, intense, and amazing to witness.
Peaceful Giants: On a super hot afternoon, we parked near an elephant herd just peacefully resting and sleeping under some trees. Being right there, totally immersed in their world in such a quiet, respectful way, was incredibly moving.
The Great Migration: Standing in the middle of literal hordes of wildebeest and zebras stretching out as far as the eye could see.
Amazing hospitality at Lemala Camps
Jessica set us up at three different Lemala properties: Lemala Ngorongoro, Lemala Ewanjan, and Lemala Kuria Hills. The camps were beautiful, but it was the Lemala staff that made it unforgettable. Their warmth, hospitality, and genuine kindness made us feel like family at every single stop.
Email Ashley cook | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tour operator was amazing! Made the trip for us!
We had an amazing time on our safari. I never imagined just how beautiful Africa would be. We saw the big five along with so many other beautiful animals. I’ve never seen so many vibrant colors and the landscape didn’t even look real! Apart from the beauty of Tanzania, our favorite thing had to be the people. Before we even started on our journey Jessica at dancing zebra planned everything perfectly for us. She was so knowledgeable and took time to talk with us (multiple phone calls) to alleviate any of our concerns and answer all of our questions. Our flight that we personally booked got changed and they had no problem rearranging our accommodations to match the new flight. Our tour guide Frank was phenomenal. He was so knowledgeable and taught us all kinds of animal facts. He made the safari for us because he was so into the animals. I really wanted to see the great migration and he went above and beyond to contact different people to make that happen. The migration was breathtaking. Frank took a ton of pictures that looked professionally done and shared them with us at the end of the trip. All of the lodges we stayed at were beautiful and the employees were absolutely amazing and so hospitable. We learned Swahili, had private dinners with gorgeous views, and went on nature walks learning about the culture and surrounding areas. We were so sad to return home and will definitely be back. And there is no doubt that we will use dancing zebra, Jessica, and Frank the next time we book!
