Africa has a lot to offer the eager traveler. From the fledgling drummer drawn to the music, to the student of politics trying to wrap one’s mind around apartheid’s legacy, to the seeker in search of a personal connection to their ancestral homeland, the continent extends its welcome. And while it’s certainly possible to go on one’s own, some may want to enlist the help of a travel professional. The Atlanta Post has rounded up eleven black companies that specialize in coordinating tours from the US. While all help with standard requirements like airfare, accommodation, tour guides, translation, etc., some go further, organizing trips that explore such concepts as spiritual development or investment opportunities. Whatever your interest, you’re bound to find a firm that can assist you in realizing the ideal travel experience.
Henderson Travel
Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey
Opening its doors in 1955, Henderson Travel considers itself the first full-service, black-owned travel company to operate in the United States. In 1957 when commercial travel between the US and Africa did not exist, Freddye and Jake Henderson chartered a flight to Ghana to celebrate its independence. Today the founders’ daughter, Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey, heads the firm, continuing a long tradition of promoting African travel. Itineraries reach across Africa and, of late, Brazil, where African culture has strong resonance.
Africa for the Africans Tours & Investments
Bomani Tyehimba and Mahdi Uwizeye
Founded by Bomani Tyehimba and Mahdi Uwizeye and based in Atlanta, GA, Africa for the Africans Tours & Investments is a company born of conviction: Africans abroad are misplaced. If you can’t go back to Africa as Marcus Garvey implored, then you can certainly visit. Trips are organized to Ghana where, in addition to taking in cultural attractions, participants can attend investment forums, explore real estate opportunities and get assistance in repatriation.
African Ventures
Before Marlene Melton decided to devote her full attention to African Ventures in 2001 she handled tourism advertising sales for the New York Times. This work, along with multiple years heading up the New York chapter of the Africa Travel Association, and extensive personal travel, afforded her a multi-layered understanding of the industry. Today she takes clients all over Africa, Brazil and Australia, inviting each traveler to follow their dreams.
Dr Elizabeth Bouey-Yates Tours
Dr. Elizabeth Bouey-Yates
If South Africa piques your interest you may want to consider Dr. Elizabeth Bouey-Yates Tours. As an educator she’s worked and travelled widely in Africa, spending nearly a decade in South Africa during the apartheid years. Based in Washington, DC, Dr. Bouey-Yates organizes trips that endeavor to go beyond stock safari and sightseeing excursions to create in-depth encounters with the diversity of South-African culture.
Colesville Travel
Cynthia Amin-Hall
Like so many entrepreneurs Cynthia Amin-Hall spent several years volunteering her services to family and friends before establishing her own business. In 2007 she launched Colesville Travel. Based in Silver Spring, MD, the company’s 2011 African destinations include South Africa and Egypt, but trips to each continent are planned. One offering that Colesville has become known for is a 10-day trip exploring “Black Paris”. Of course customized travel is available, and one area where clients can expect special attention is destination weddings.
Ebony Heritage Travel Tours
Meredith McCleary
Based in Hollywood, FL, Ebony Heritage Travel Tours arranges itineraries around the world. Owner Meredith McCleary has gone through the trouble of securing travel specialist certification for South Africa, Kenya, the Bahamas and Jamaica, but operates well beyond these borders; Tanzania, Ghana and Australia are just some of the places she has lined up for 2011. Tours are customized and have focused on such topics as apartheid, rites of passage and pilgrimage.
African Travel Seminars
Georgina Afua Lorencz
Education is as much a goal as recreation for African Travel Seminars. Founded by Georgina Afua Lorencz, a Ghanian based in Minnesota, the company prides itself on creating experiential learning opportunities rooted in responsible tourism practices. Trips are organized around various themes such as, gender issues, business potential in Africa, legal customs and traditional medicine. Destinations are spread throughout Africa as well as Costa Rica and Brazil.
Full Circle Retreats
Dr. Cynthia B. Dillard
The spark for Full Circle Retreats came to Dr. Cynthia B. Dillard while visiting a slave castle in Ghana. As an African-American returning to the motherland, the professor of education at Ohio State University recognized that she was completing an historical, but more importantly, a spiritual journey. Today the company organizes trips to Ghana for individuals and organizations seeking greater understanding of Africa and spiritual awareness.
Global Academic Adventures
Another educator that’s staked out Ghana as a destination is Dr. Siri Brown, chair of African American Studies at Merritt College. Her company, Global Academic Adventures (GAA), organizes tours that highlight the music, dance, art and intellectual contributions of host countries. While GAA serves a variety of lone and group travelers, special support is offered to teachers desiring to take their students abroad. In additon to Ghana, tours are available to Jamaica, Belize, Cuba and Panama.
Meticulous Tours
What a client seeks most in a travel company is attention detail. Meticulous Tours’ has pegged their name to that promise of service. Born and raised in South Africa, having lived in Zimbabwe, and now settled in the Washington, DC, Nomvimbi Meriwether is in a unique position to design tours with both an insider’s knowledge and westerner’s view. The company specializes in safaris in southern Africa but arranges excursions across the continent.
Xodus International Group
A desire to help people get to know Africa prompted Donna McKeithan to start Xodus International Group in 2004. Since then the company, based in Alexandria, VA, has grown to include itineraries throughout the Caribbean, Asia, South America, Europe and the Middle East. Xodus courts a diverse clientele including individuals, businesses, churches and schools.
