“Zambia never disappoints. It feels like home” – Stacy James, Co-Founder and CEO Dazzle Africa, an award-winning, woman-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers incredible safaris blending with philanthropy in Zambia. 

There is nothing more magical than viewing a wild animal in nature. Seeing a herd of elephants cross the African savannah or even something as common as a crimson-red American cardinal captivates us. Given humans’ love for wildlife and nature, it is no surprise that wildlife tourism is experiencing significant growth.

Per Grand View Research, “the global wildlife tourism market is expected to reach USD 34.62 billion by 2030. Increased awareness and concern about global climate change and loss of species has led to increased demand for wildlife adventures, and tourism companies are working hard to meet it.  With an increase in wildlife tourism, big challenges persist such as potential environmental damage, habitat disruption, and the risk of over-tourism which can negatively impact wildlife and local communities​.

The good news is that travelers are increasingly more aware and desire to book travel with sustainable, responsible companies and give back to the places they visit (Booking.com). As more travelers care about traveling and doing good, it is exciting news that safari outfitters such as Dazzle Africa (a women-led nonprofit that provides safaris in Zambia) are there to welcome travelers wanting to go on a trip of a lifetime while also making a positive impact.

Meet Dazzle Africa

Dazzle Africa is an award-winning safari outfitter that stands out from the rest by offering safaris that seamlessly blend luxury, adventure, and philanthropy into unforgettable, bespoke experiences.

​Dazzle Africa,  a woman-founded 501(c)(3) based in Las Vegas, began its journey when six women visited Zambia in 2011 and were deeply moved by the beauty and wildlife of this precious corner of the world. Knowing they needed to take action, Dazzle Africa was born, and they launched their first guest safari in 2012.

With 12 years of safari experience, Dazzle Africa has been recognized by Travel and Leisure twice, in 2021 and 2024, in the Safari Operators Category. Over the years, Dazzle Africa has invested over $2.5 million in conservation, education, and clean water projects in Zambia, all while taking pride in curating exceptional experiences for their guests. It is one of the few non-profit safari outfitters in Zambia and is changing how guests experience and make lasting change with their life-changing safaris.

Photo credit: Mike Paredes

I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with the team at Dazzle Africa, Stacy James (Co-Founder and CEO), Amanda Dewey (Chief Operating Officer) and Lori Evans (Safari Director) to learn about their mission and why they are so passionate about the work they are doing on the ground in Zambia. Here is what they had to say.

Why did you start Dazzle Africa?

Stacy: It all started with me and 5 friends traveling to Zambia in 2011 to see elephants walk through the Mfuwe Lodge. We received so much gratitude from the local Zambians during our visit and were deeply moved by the beauty, the wildlife, and the friendliness of the locals. We knew we wanted to give back to the South Luangwa region and were so compelled that on the flight back to the U.S, we developed a plan to start a small nonprofit to help in ways we thought we could. At that time, we had no intention of hosting safaris or growing it to the degree that it has become.  It has grown organically over the years. We are named “Dazzle Africa” because a group of zebras is called a dazzle.

Why did you choose Zambia for your safaris?

Stacy:  Zambia is one of the last places in Africa where there are large areas of wildlife that are unfenced, meaning there is more of an untouched wilderness compared to other places.

With over 30% of its land designated for wildlife, Zambia boasts captivating wildlife encounters without the disturbance of large tourist crowds and some of the most expert, highly-trained safari guides in the world.

South Luangwa National Park, where 95% of our safaris are run, is massive. It is approximately the size of Yellowstone. Thus, without fences, wildlife can migrate and roam free, which is very important for maintaining biodiversity.

Amanda: I want to emphasize how big of a deal this is because it also significantly impacts conservation efforts when animals can move freely.

Stacy:  I believe that Zambia never disappoints. It feels like home. The Zambian people are incredibly kind and generous. As a culture, Zambia is a very welcoming place to go, and it’s less expensive than other places that you might go to.  On top of it, the wildlife is incredible.

What makes you different from other safari companies?

Stacy: Our slogan, The Modern Safari Experience, was generated to distinguish us from the typical safari tour most people can relate to when thinking of a traditional African safari. Our safaris are developed as a multi-dimensional experience by providing opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of the community and wildlife.

As a Dazzle Africa guest in Zambia, travelers know their dollars are going directly to our projects in conservation, clean water, and education. A minimum of  $1,000 you pay is donated to our local projects on the ground.

During the safari, we take guests to visit a water borehole, and guests learn about Conservation South Luangwa’s efforts to treat snared or injured wildlife in the bush.  Guests also learn about our funding of a helicopter for poaching surveillance, and how we are working to address human- wildlife conflict. They get the chance to visit with wildlife rangers, anti-poaching canine units, our Dazzle-sponsored wildlife veterinarian, and more! Our local partners help educate our guests and demonstrate the need and our impact.

Amanda: We just launched a new website to highlight our nonprofit project work and safari tours so people understand what we are doing, that we are a nonprofit that is making a difference. The site gives detailed information of our project work (we have donated over $2.5 million to our projects!) as well as our different safari offerings.

Tell me more about the different projects you support.

There are three pillars of our work: Conservation, Clean Water, and Education.

Conservation:

Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park and the entire Luangwa Valley are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, including many endangered species. This large, unfenced landscape serves as an essential protected haven for biodiversity, increasingly uncommon in Africa and around the world. However, wildlife in the area are facing critical threats.

Poaching poses a major danger to many species, as the wire snares commonly used by poachers indiscriminately target all animals in an area. Many animals lose their lives to snares and other poaching methods every year in the Luangwa Valley. As communities expand, these biodiverse areas are also experiencing more human- wildlife conflict as residents try to provide for their families and access clean water.

South Luangwa National Park is a massive protected area, roughly the size of Yellowstone National Park, and is difficult to monitor and access, especially during the rainy season. Our conservation partners do incredible work every day to prevent poaching, fight wildlife crime, treat injured animals, patrol the landscape, and promote community coexistence in this irreplaceable ecosystem.

We are proud to support these anti-poaching initiatives which includes regular aerial surveillance, helicopter patrols, K9 units, women scouts, and we also have supported the first veterinarian in Zambia for over 12 years now. 

Photos above: Conservation South Luangwa K9 unit (Photo credit Mike Paredes),  Veternarian Dr. Sichande (photo credit Mike Paredes), and Lions collared for monitoring and research (credit Zambian Carnivore Programme. 

Clean water:

In the Luangwa Valley, many residents don’t have convenient access to safe, clean water. Without reliable access to water, people (mostly girls and women) resort to digging holes in the sand or traveling to polluted rivers to gather water in dangerous conditions.  Hours are wasted each day either fetching water or missing school and work due to illnesses from drinking unsafe water.

Generous Dazzle donors and partners have funded 82 boreholes so far, providing clean water to approximately 29,000 people daily. This creates a ripple effect across the entire community, helping people thrive.

Education:

Students in Zambia enter school at around age seven. While students can receive free education through secondary school, attending school can still be challenging (especially for rural students) due to needs for supplies, difficulty traveling to school, and other responsibilities. This especially impacts girls, who are more likely to drop out early.  Dazzle Africa’s sponsorship program has helped 41 students attend higher education.

It’s really about investing in the next generation of leaders in Zambia so that folks from the community can lead in conservation and in every other sector.

Anything else you would like to add?

Stacy: We are incredibly passionate about our projects. Because we are centralized and focused in the South Luangwa region, many locals know the name Dazzle Africa, and we are welcomed with open arms and gratefulness for our efforts. This has exceeded our original expectations for making a difference. This, coupled with providing a multi-layered experience for our guests, demonstrates that our mission is a success. By making a difference, we have found that most guests return home with a deeper, global understanding of the world and a life-changing adventure that is lasting.

Want to learn more?

Check out our newly designed website, read our most recent Annual Report and follow our Instagram account. Also, visit our Safari website for news and information on upcoming safaris.