Who is Dr Z?
My name is Dr. Zaheera Soomar. I was born in South Africa, am a dual South African and Canadian Citizen, and have lived across South Africa, Botswana, India, the UAE, Canada and KSA. Today, I move between Canada and Madina, KSA — but truthfully, the world has long been my classroom, my calling, and my place of service.
I wear many hats: business advisor, academic, professor, investor, coach, speaker, wife, mother of three, sister, daughter, friend, and community builder. Yet over the past decade, one thread has woven all these roles together — purposeful travel rooted in service, connection, and humanitarian relief.
For more than 20 years, I have traveled intentionally across multiple countries — not simply to explore, but to serve. Through humanitarian missions, faith-based retreats, community initiatives, and global fundraising efforts, I have helped raise over $1M for communities in need. From delivering aid and supporting grassroots projects to organizing transformative retreats and historical journeys, my work has always centered around impact.
With a passport stamped by over 75 countries, I have witnessed both the breathtaking beauty of our world and the urgent needs within it. Travel, for me, has never been about checking destinations off a list. It is about standing in solidarity, building bridges across cultures, uplifting communities, and allowing experiences to transform us from the inside out.
As an avid mountain climber with dreams of completing the Seven Summits, I am constantly reminded that the greatest journeys are the ones that challenge us — physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Service has been my summit for over a decade.
So many women have reached out over the years asking to join these journeys — the explorations, the retreats, the missions, the giving back.
DrZExplore was born from that request.
This platform is about creating space — safe, intentional, purpose-driven space — for women to travel with meaning. To explore with depth. To give back while they grow. To see the world not just as tourists, but as contributors.
– Countries Visited
Or let me curate a personalized journey for you and your loved ones.
Through her own experiences, Dr Z has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to make travel meaningful, stress-free, and enjoyable for every traveler—whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, as a family, or in a group. Her passion for creating these unique experiences is what makes Explore with Dr Z more than just a travel resource; it’s a way to connect with the world, find joy in the journey, and celebrate the people who matter most.