Africa-Travel-2019-Winter

Winter 2019

Come Back to the Black Land Commemorate the 400th Year Since the Delivery in Virginia of the first 20 Africans as Slaves.

1619-2019

Contents:

Travel Industry News Slavery Commemoration Events Safari Namibia African Cuisine - Namibia African Slavery: The Dutch Connection World Heritage Sites

page page page page page page

7 10 56-57 84 62 50-51

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In This Issue…

5

From the Publisher…

Columns

7 Travel Industry News 62 I’m Black and I Travel!…on the radar! “African Slavery: The Dutch Connection” 66 Travel Africa, Where To Go, What To Do 72 Ski Africa 76 Cruise Africa 80 Golf Africa 84 African Cuisine! - Namibia

Feature Stories

10 Come Back to the Black Land - to Commemorate Our History 14 Getting to Africa from the USA is Easier Than Ever 24 Egypt Unveils a WellPreserved 4,400-year-old Tomb 27 Here Are 5 Ways To Ensure You Travel More in 2019 56 Why Your Next Safari Should Be in Namibia 57 Going Off-Grid in Namibia

Travel Africa

18 Francophone Africa – The Continent’s Hottest Hospitality Market 26 Two Fastest Growing Tourism Destinations are in Africa (UNWTO) 28 6 African Islands You Gotta See 30 Africa’s Best National Parks in its Top 7 Safari Countries 31 One of the World’s Most Beautiful Lakes: Lake Nakuru, Kenya 32 The Best Hotels in the World: 2018 Readers Choice 36 The 50 Best Resorts in the World: 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards 43 Sankara Nairobi, New Marriott Hotel 46 The Best Islands in the “Rest of the World 2018 Readers’ Choice Award 50 World Heritage Site Mbanza Kongo, Angola 51 World Heritage Site Bagamoyo, Tanzania 52 The Best Hotels and

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Resorts in the World: The 2019 Gold List 53 One of Africa’s Luxury Hotels That Gives Back: Singita Pamushana Lodge

Travel Resources

20 TSA PreCheck Line Could Really Be Just for PreCheck Members 21 TSA PreCheck Members, Get Ready to Start Using Facial Recognition 21 TSA PreCheck: Clear

Connec ng the USA to West Africa and Beyond

From the Publisher…

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Earl “Skip” Cooper, II - Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Black Business News Group Sarah Harris - Associate Editor Narishima Osei - Production Manager Sarah Harris - Graphics La Sandra Stratton - Content Administrator Lion Communications - Layout/Typesetting Black Business News Group P.O. Box 43159 Los Angeles, CA USA 90043 1-323-291-7819 mail@bbala.org www.bbala.org View the publication at:

https://issuu.com/blackbusinessnews

Featured Destinations…

Republic of Botswana Republic of Egypt Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Republic of Ghana Republic of Kenya Repubic of Mauritius Kingdom of Morocco People’s Republic of Mozambique Republic of Namibia Republic of Saint Helena Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe

Republic of Senegal Republic of Seychelles Republic of South Africa United Republic of Tanzania Republic of Togo Republic of Zambia Republic of Zimbabwe

uring 2019 people in the USA will be commemorating the delivery of the first 20 African slaves to Virginia in 1619 - 400 year ago. An official government commission has been set up and funded to promote the proposition to the public, offer grants to organizations to conduct programs and conduct their own events.

One activity well underway is the “Roots & Reconstruction Ghana Trip & Conference” Earl “Skip” Cooper, II described on page 10. The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief pilgramage “Back to Africa” Black Business News Group is applauded by Travel Africa magazine. We, of course, promote the idea that we should all visit the continent of Africa at least once. This act of commemoration is an excellent opportunity to combine the quest for history and heritage linkages.

Not one for group travel, then conduct your own tour using your personal interest or heritage as a guide.

This issue of Travel Africa has articles on Namibia along with a wide variety of destinations from the Condé Nast list of favorites as voted by their readers.

Of special interest to me are the two World Heritage Site stories found on pages 50 and 51.

However you approach taking that visit to the African continent we hope that Travel Africa will be helpful. Check our back issues at www.issuu.com/ blackbusinessnews for ideas and travel information.

Whether you travel to Africa or not, do spend some time reflecting on the history of African American and African people over the last 400 years. We have all come a mighty long way.  www.bbala.org

We’re not African because we were born in Africa; but because Africa is born in us every day.

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Travel Industry News Delta’s New Boarding Process Is Based on Colors

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o matter how you feel about hovering at the gate, when one person crowds the entrance to the jet bridge, we all feel pressure to stand, even if our boarding group hasn’t been called. Good news: to help combat this, Delta is splitting its passengers up into even more boarding groups, so that fewer people are roaming around the gate at any one time. Starting January 23, the airline is globally introducing eight boarding groups—up from six—all designated by fare class and loyalty tier.

Passengers in Delta One business class suites and Diamond Medallion loyalty members will board first, followed

by Delta Premium Select and First Class in group two, premium economy Delta Comfort + with extra legroom in group three, Platinum and Gold Medallion loyalty members in group four, economy fares in the fifth, sixth, and seventh Main Cabin groups, and basic economy passengers in group eight. (Routes without Delta One suites or other luxury tiers will have fewer boarding groups.)

The airline is also introducing colors associated with each group—a deep purple matching the new Zach Posen-designed flight attendant uniforms for Delta One and the traditional Delta red for Sky Priority—to help passengers better identify when to board. Those colors will also extend into the online booking process, so passengers in basic economy can recognize their barebones fare class by its grey-blue, and first class fliers knows will spot

the magenta hue from booking to boarding. 

by Meredith Carey www.cntraveler.com/story/delta-newboarding-process?mbid=nl_121318_ Intel&CNDID=38890654&secondary_ link=1&utm_source=nl&utm_ medium=email&utm_brand=cnt&utm_ mailing=tvl_intel_ACTIVE_2018_1206%20 (2)%20remainder&bxid=MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYx S0&hasha=4a21b9167bf658408191e7c49140a 9aa&hashb=fd7238b4e9af267dd0a7ac937dfffd 5d0aa056fc&spMailingID=14788933&spUserID =MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&spJobID=1541094 563&spReportId=MTU0MTA5NDU2MwS2

T

Ethiopian Airline to open Ethiopian Skylight Hotel

he Ethiopian Skylight Five Hotel owned by Ethiopian Airlines officially opened on 28 January in Ethiopia.

“Ethiopian Airlines will have a sufficient number of internationally

standard hotel rooms to create an environment conducive to tourists in addition to receiving passengers during transit, stopovers or technical delays,” the company said.

The construction of the building began in 2016. The hotel is located five minutes from the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It covers 42,000 square metres and it has 373 rooms.

According to reports, the construction of this structure cost $ 65 million and is expected to generate 400 jobs.

Ethiopian airlines is reported to have provided 35% financing while EXIM Bank of China provided 65% of the project’s financing.

According to the Ethiopian Airlines, in addition to promoting Ethiopian tourism, this hotel will The Ethiopian Skylight Five Hotel Photo: African Media.

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Travel Industry News from page 7

also welcome passengers during transits, stopovers or technical delays.

The Ethiopian carrier is also preparing to launch the construction of a second 5-star hotel. The entry into service is scheduled for 2021. It will be built on an area of 22410 metres, the hotel will have 637 rooms.  https://africandailyvoice.com/en/2019/01/15/ethiopianairline-to-open-ethiopian-skylight-hotel

Ritz-Carlton Redefines the Cruise Market

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he largest hotel operator in the world, Marriott International, plans to launch The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, a fleet of three yachts that will redefine what it means to meet at sea. And RitzCarlton fans better believe that the vessels will mimic the high-end comfort and level of service for which the brand is known.

“Combining The Ritz-Carlton’s unparalleled service with journeys created specifically to offer immersion into the culture of the destination, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will set a new standard in sea travel and redefine the yachting experience,” says Lisa Holladay, global brand leader for The Ritz-Carlton.

In early December, the hotel company announced that the first yacht will be named Azora, meaning “sky blue,” and it will have its inaugural sail in February 2020. The yacht will feature 149 suites, each with its own private terrace, with the ability to accommodate up to 298 attendees. Other onboard highlights include all-inclusive dining, beverages, activities and entertainment as well as WiFi and water sports from the yacht’s marina platform. It will even feature a signature restaurant designed by Michelin-starred Chef Sven Elverfeld of The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, as well as onboard spa treatments.

There are five distinct categories of immersive excursions — Iconic Sights, Stirring the Senses, Cultural Connections, Active Explorations and Epicurean Experiences — that will give groups authentic experiences when docked on land. So far, the collection offers cruises throughout the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Canada (no Africa at this time).  www.prevuemeetings.com/ experiences/cruise/ritz-carltonplans-redefine-cruise-market/?utm_ source=nnnnewsletter&utm_ medium=email&utm_ campaign=breakout-011619&utm_ content=title

http://wildafricacream.blogspot.com

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Come Back to the Black Land to Commemorate Our History

President of Ghana, the Honorable Nana Akufo-Addo

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his year long series of events, memorials, paegents, replays, tours and more could not occur at a better time. As a people, African Americans have just relished the almost unspoken recogniztion and pride of having made the historial trek from slavery (20 Africans from Angola sold by their Spanish captors to Americans in Virginia in 1619) to electing and re-electing an African American to the Office of President of the United States of America within fewer than

400 years - which on the Earth timetable is a very short period.

The nation as a whole seems to be in upheaval as it tries to decide who and what it is or should be. And African Americans are key participants in that discussion and will be key to the resolution of the nation’s crisis of conscience.

The year of commemoration offers African Americans and those that share this land with us the opportunity to relearn who we all are and to

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reform our relationships with one another going forward.

African Americans need to be reminded and re-educated regarding who we are-both before Virginia and after Virginia.

The Commemoration Commission The Black Business News Group encourages you to take advantage of the opportunities for exposure to history and possibility that will be presented in your neighborhoods and across the continent of Africa during the season of commemoration.

One site to visit regularly during the Year of Commemoration is the 400 Years of AfricanAmerican History Commission (www.

Honorable Nana Akufo-Addo, has invited us all to come to Ghana in 2019, an excellent option.

However, if you are interested in visitiing the Black Land and want to go directly to your roots, visit the African Ancestry website (www. africanancestry.com) and order the DNA Test Kit of your choice and visit the nations that match up with your DNA. Personal Note: I share DNA with the Tikar people of Cameroon and the Ovimbundu people of Angola. And I am still mulling over the thought that I could be related to one member of the First 20 cohort of African slaves.

There is so much within the continent of Africa that even limiting yourself to your DNA heritage will have you missing out on so much history, culture, wonder and joy.

See the links we provide below to help you find the commemorative events in your neighborhood,

congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/housebill/1242) which was established to develop

and carry out activities throughout the United States to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619. The Commission is directed to plan programs to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States; encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and economic organizations to organize and participate in anniversary activities; and assist states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration; and coordinate for the public scholarly research on the arrival of Africans in the United States and their contributions to this country.

In addition, the Commission may provide grants to communities, nonprofits, research, and scholarly organizations, and the Commission terminates on July 1, 2020.

Opportunities to Participate in Commemorations The President of Ghana, the 11 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

see page 12

from page 11

across the USA and on the African continent. And please keep looking for more information.

Travel Africa

Giraffe Manor Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya telegraph.co.uk

Calendar of Events JUNE

Add travel to Africa to your plans for your life not just in 2019. There is much to see, do and experience.

Take pride in the accomplishments of African Americans, take pride in your heritage with Africa and her people (over 6,000+ years of history by the way). Check out this issue of the Black Business News Travel Africa and our past issues (www.issuu.com/ blackbusinessnews) to get a glimpse of some of the places to visit and things to do in Africa.

Here is one person's Africa dream trip itenerary, what's yours? - A safari that starts in Nairobi, Kenya (fitting in a visit to the Giraffe Manor); cross the savannah of Maasaï Mara on a tour, then on to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for gorilla-trekking; then in a final leg further south, visit the Okavanago Delta in Botswana.

Welcome to the Black Land.  BBA Travel Africa, Editor

Unveiling - Tomb of the Unknown Slave Commemoration and Celebration New World Motion Picture Studios & Gardens June 19th in Aton, California For information: 1-310-680-0700

AUGUST

Roots and Reconnection Time: YEAR OF RETURN Trip-Pilgrimage-Conference Conference theme: 400 YEARS OF MEMORY & BELONGING IN GLOBAL AFRICA August 2-August 11, 2019 in GHANA For information: www.facebook.com/ events/297094944234380/ For reservations: Theresa Scott Kwakye, Cross Cultural Travel and Tours at: travel@ crossculturalgh.com African Arrival Day Fort Monroe National Monment, National Park Service www.africanarrivalday.com

References

www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/ house-bill/1242 www.facebook.com/the400th www.africanarrivalday.com www.history.com/topics/black-history/ slavery www.abibitumi.com www.facebook.com/nakufoaddo/ videos/2226776850696851/ UzpfSTU0NzQ1MTIzODoxMDE1NTk4NjYwNjA3NjIzOQ/

https://youtu.be/7YhN3IMbIm0

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400th Commemoration Year of Enslavement 1619-2019 ALL ANCESTRY TEST KITS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL Don't be fooled by other ancestry test kits pushing highly discounted prices this holiday season. Over the years, countless people have called us disappointed with the lack of specificity from other ancestry test kits.

Get the results you want, the first time.

Order today!

Get the results you want, the first time.

Order at https://shop.africanancestry.com Sincerely, Gina Paige President, African Ancestry Maternal Country of Ancestry: Nigeria Maternal Tribe of Ancestry: Fulani

www.africanancestry.com

Getting to Africa from the USA is Easier Than Ever

By Anouk Zijlma

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or those living in the United States, a vacation to Africa may seem like an impossible dream, not least because of the arduous flights required to get there. The vast majority of routes involve a lengthy layover in Europe or the Middle East - and if you’re headed to a more remote location in the east or south of the continent, you’re likely to have a second stop at an African hub like Addis Ababa or Johannesburg.

However, several airlines do offer direct flights from the east coast of the United States to a number of African destinations. They are usually more expensive than indirect flights, but if saving time is a priority, they could be just the lifesaver you’re looking for. As of

July 2018, airlines flying direct to Africa include Delta (www.delta.com), South African Airways (www.flysaa. com), EgyptAir (www.egyptair.com), Ethiopian Airlines (www.ethiopianairlines.com), Royal Air Maroc (www. royalairmaroc.com) and Cabo Verde Airlines (TACV (https://flytacv.com)). Please be aware that schedules can change at any time.  Special Note: In November 2016, RwandAir’s CEO said that he wanted the airline to start flying between Kigali and New York by 2019, using an Airbus A350 (www.rwandair.com). www.tripsavvy.com/direct-flights-from-usa-toafrica-1454130

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www.airnamibia.com.na

Monrovia, Liberia www.rljkendejaresort.com First-class amenities catering to international leisure travelers. For the business minded traveler, the RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas offers full service business amenities along with meeting and function space for business and personal events. Amenities include ocean front beach, pool, spa, dining room, and relaxing bar.

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Sign up with: Julien Dothard P.O. Box 1736, Hollywood, CA 90078 E-mail: dothard@sbcglobal.net Phone: 1-818-419-8639 17 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Business of Hospitality

Francophone Africa – The Continent’s Hottest Hospitality Market

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar Sea Plaza tripadvisor.co.uk

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dentified as a strategic growth point for major international hotel brands, Francophone Africa has become one of the world’s most competitive and lucrative deal making environments. In a market first, the FrancoReal Summit (www.FrancoReal.com) was held in Dakar, Senegal on 16 and 17 October 2018, will provide the platform for hospitality leaders from the Radisson Hotel Group, Mangalis Hotel Group and Accorhotels to engage with regional investors and developers.

According to global authority, Horwath HTL France’s managing partner, Philippe Doizelet, there has been a measurable uptick in activity due to the historically low penetration of international operators in the market.

“Investment opportunities within the hotel sector in French-speaking Africa are on the rise. This rise in sentiment is predominantly explained by the lack of quantitative and qualitative supply in some regions, with many hotels not being able to respond to the

increasing demand.”

With 50 % of its Africa deals in 2018 taking place in the Francophone Region, one international operator focussed on the region is the Radisson Hotel Group, as its director of business development, Erwan Garnier explains.

“The Radisson Hotel Group has identified Francophone Africa as a key market, and we’re aggressively expanding within the region to become the market leader. Our objective is to double our current Francophone presence to 40 hotels with over 9,000 rooms in the market by 2022.”

Currently operating in 12 markets, Radisson’s growth strategy is matched by AccorHotels and Mangalis and other international and regional chains, who are upping the ante in the region says Doizelet.

“The market is currently dominated by Accor and the Radisson Hotel Group which continue their development in the region. Other international groups

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Radisson Hotel Dakar Diamniadio breakingtravelnews.com

actively looking for new development opportunities in the region, are namely Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Kempinski, as well as regional groups including Azalaï, Mangalis and Onomo.”

Considered a regional specialist brand, but with a robust international management team, the Mangalis Hotel Group hopes to become the preeminent brand in the region says its chief executive officer, Olivier Jacquin.

“By 2022, Mangalis will be the regional hotel operating leader with 20 properties in operation and under development offering 2,600 over rooms in the various segments of the industry.” And with such ambitious plans to scale, 2019 is set to be a significant year for the nimble and fast-growing brand as they launch four of their Noon branded hotels in Benin, Niger and Ivory Coast.

With a significant number of brands entering the market, growth at this juncture remains constrained to the midscale pricing bracket, as there remains only a few locations for high-end developments says Doizelet.

“So far, only a handful of destinations in Frenchspeaking Africa are suitable for top end hotel development, such as Ivory Coast or Senegal.”

The major international groups seem to agree with

Doizelet’s assessment especially in Senegal – with Radisson Hotel group particularly active in the Dakar market and using the city as a launchpad for regional growth.

As Garnier explains, “Senegal is the number one market for international investors because of its longterm economic stability. We already have two of the country’s leading internationally branded hotels; Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar Sea Plaza and Radisson Hotel Dakar Diamniadio, however, we now want to introduce the rest of our African brands to Senegal, i.e.

Radisson Collection, Radisson RED and Park Inn

by Radisson.”

And while competition grows daily in the market, Jacquin believes the scale of the opportunity in the market provides room for all operators.

“There is still room for all of us. The presence of a variety of suppliers gives the international and regional travellers choice of products in a market which is still growing. Mangalis like any other brand has its own DNA and signature, in addition, we are African rooted hotel operator and developer.”

For more information, you can visit: www.FrancoReal. com. 

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murray@apievents.com

TSA PreCheck Line Could Really Be Just for PreCheck Members

By Michelle Baran

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he U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ensure that only trusted traveler program members are permitted to use the PreCheck security lanes. The PreCheck Act of 2018, a bill that directs TSA to ensure that only travelers who are members of a trusted traveler program are allowed to use TSA PreCheck security screening lanes.

For travelers who have diligently gone through the application process, background checks, and paid the $85 fee to become Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck members, there are probably few things more frustrating than PreCheck security lines stacked with non-PreCheck members.

The only exception would be travelers under the age of 12 or over the age of 75 who are not members but are traveling on the same reservation as a PreCheck member.

At issue is the fact that when airport security lines start to get backed up, TSA often allows non-PreCheck travelers to hop over to the PreCheck lane in order to ease the backlog. The advantage of the PreCheck lane is that in addition to often being shorter than nonPreCheck lanes, travelers in these security lanes do not need to remove their shoes, belts, or jackets, and their laptops and liquids can remain in their carry-ons, further expediting the process.

Instead of allowing non-PreCheck travelers into the PreCheck lane, the bill directs TSA to create separate, modified screening lanes for non-PreCheck travelers deemed low-risk, but it did not specify what the modified screening measures would entail or how the low-risk passengers would be identified.

The PreCheck program has grown to more than 5 million travelers since it was launched in 2013. The

agency reported last week that even amid a recordbreaking 2018 summer travel season that saw TSA screen 253 million passengers and crew, 94% of TSA PreCheck members waited less than five minutes to get through security. TSA PreCheck is currently available at more than 200 airports throughout the United States. TSA actually has five trusted traveler programs, three of which include membership in the TSA PreCheck program. There is the standalone PreCheck program, for which a five-year membership costs $85; the Global Entry program, which allows for expedited international arrival processing at a cost of $100 for a five-year membership (and includes PreCheck); NEXUS, for expedited travel between the United States and Canada, a $50 five-year membership that includes PreCheck; the $122.50 five-year SENTRI program for expedited border crossing between the United States and Mexico; and the $50 five-year FAST program designed for commercial truck drivers who frequently travel between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The bill also mandates TSA to implement a longterm strategy of increasing enrollment in the TSA PreCheck program. So, while there may be many fewer non-PreCheck members padding the PreCheck lines if the bill gets signed into law, there may also be a few more PreCheck members to contend with over the long term.  www.afar.com/magazine/finally-the-tsa-precheck-line-couldreally-be-just-for-precheck-members?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=91418_TSA%20Precheck&utm_ term=Daily%20Wander%20Newsletter

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Image Credit: blog.tsa.gov

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he U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has unveiled plans this to expand the use of biometric technology in the country’s airports, plans that would ultimately include the general flying public. But in the meantime, the agency will start by having TSA PreCheck members submit facial images, in addition to their fingerprints, so that TSA can build up a useable database for implementing the advanced screening technology in TSA PreCheck security lanes.

Passengers who enroll in TSA PreCheck or renew their membership are now required to also provide their photograph.

Once there are enough images in the database, TSA will start using applicants’ photographs to test facial biometric technology in TSA PreCheck lanes at select airports.

TSA has already begun some biometric screening testing for TSA PreCheck travelers. In June 2017, TSA tested fingerprint technology for TSA PreCheck members at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and at Denver International Airport. (TSA already collects fingerprints from PreCheck enrollees in order to conduct criminal background checks.)

TSA has begun testing facial recognition technology for international travelers as well. The agency began collaborating with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) last year at John F. Kennedy International Airport and expanded testing to Los Angeles International Airport in August. The technology matches facial images to photos in government databases, such as photos obtained from passports or visa applications, in order to verify

TSA PreCheck Members, Get Ready to Start Using Facial Recognition

By Michelle Baran

travelers’ identity and reduce the reliance on physical documents.

Additionally, Delta Air Lines has partnered with the CBP and TSA to introduce the first biometric terminal in the United States at the HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport later this year. Once the biometric technology is installed, Delta customers flying direct from the Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal (or Terminal F) in Atlanta to an international destination will have the option of using facial recognition technology to check in at self-service kiosks, check their bags, use as identification in the TSA security line, and board their flight at any gate in Terminal F. As for when the general domestic flying population might start to see facial recognition technology being incorporated into the check-in and security process, there are still several hurdles the TSA faces in getting there—although it is clearly determined to do so.

“Many if not most [non-TSA PreCheck domestic] travelers do not have biometric data on file with the U.S. federal government (e.g., a passport photo), posing a unique challenge for TSA and its strategic security partners,” the agency wrote in its newly released TSA

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see page 22

from page 21

Biometrics Roadmap.

The agency acknowledged that as it moves forward, it needs to conduct a thorough assessment of things such as the privacy issues and costs associated with obtaining and storing that biometric data before it begins to find ways of creating a viable facial recognition screening experience for the domestic passenger population.

With more than two million commercial aviation passengers screened each day, TSA stated that it is

H

ave airline status, TSA Pre®, or Global Entry? Use it with CLEAR to get through even faster. CLEAR takes care of identity verification, so you can walk straight up to the security bins without any hassle.

At CLEAR, we’re working toward a future where you are your ID, enabling you to lead an unstoppable life. Instead of using traditional ID documents, CLEAR uses biometrics - your eyes and fingertips - to confirm it’s really you. These distinct characteristics are the most accurate forms of ID. CLEAR transforms your biometrics into an encrypted code The pattern of ones and zeros is unique to you, and only you. Our advanced technology is SAFETY Act Certified from the Department of Homeland Security.

We match your fingerprints and irises to your unique code every time you check in. That’s how we prove

motivated to continue pushing the implementation of biometric screening processes forward, not least because self-service facial recognition systems reduce the reliance on physical travel documents and manual inspections that can stretch the agency’s resources.

TSA reported that is also encouraged by the fact that travelers increasingly use biometrics, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, in their daily lives to access their mobile devices, apps, and various accounts. The hope is that as biometric usage continues to become more widespread in the consumer market, travelers, too, will become more open to it and will better appreciate the convenience and security that biometric solutions can offer.  www.afar.com/magazine/tsa-precheck-members-get-readyto-start-using-facial-recognition?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=102318_TSA%20Facial%20 Recognition&utm_content=Final&utm_term=Daily%20 Wander%20Newsletter Image Credit: sagaciousnewsnetwork.com

you are you, and keep you moving.

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Egypt Unveils a Well-Preserved 4,400-year-old Tomb

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gypt unveiled a well-preserved 4,400-year-old tomb decorated with hieroglyphs and statues south of Cairo recently, and officials expect more discoveries when archaeologists excavate the site further in coming months.

The tomb was found in a buried ridge at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara. It was untouched and unlooted, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters at the site. He described the find as “one of a kind in the last decades”.

The tomb dates from the rule of Neferirkare Kakai, the third king of the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom.

Archaeologists removed a last layer of debris from the tomb and found five shafts inside, Waziri said. One of the shafts was unsealed with nothing inside, but the other four were sealed. They are expecting to make discoveries when they excavate those shafts starting

in December, he said. He was hopeful about one shaft in particular.

“I can imagine that all of the objects can be found in this area,” he said, pointing at one of the sealed shafts.

“This shaft should lead to a coffin or a sarcophagus of the owner of the tomb.”

The tomb is 10 metres (33 ft) long, three metres (9.8 ft) wide and just under three metres high, Waziri said.

The walls are decorated with hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs. Waziri said the tomb was unique because of the statues and its near perfect condition.

“The colour is almost intact even though the tomb is almost 4,400 years old,” he said.

The tomb lies in a buried ridge that has only partially been uncovered. Waziri said he expects more discoveries to be made there when archaeologists start more excavation work in January.

Statues are seen inside inside the newly-discovered tomb of ‘Wahtye’, which dates from the rule of King Neferirkare Kakai, at the Saqqara area near its necropolis, in Giza, Egypt on Dec. 15, 2018.

Mustafa Abdo, chief of excavation, stands inside the newlydiscovered tomb of ‘Wahtye’, which dates from the rule of King Neferirkare Kakai, at the Saqqara area near its necropolis, in Giza, Egypt, December 15, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

The Fifth Dynasty ruled Egypt from about 2,500 BC to 2,350 BC, not long after the great pyramid of Giza was built.

Saqqara served as the necropolis for Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt for more than two millennia.

Ancient Egyptians mummified humans to preserve their bodies for the afterlife, while animal mummies were used as religious offerings.

Egypt has revealed over a dozen ancient discoveries

Mthetalkingdemocrat.comany

in 2018.

The country hopes the finds will brighten its image abroad and revive interest among travelers who once flocked to its iconic pharaonic temples and pyramids but who fled after the 2011 political uprising.  www.yahoo.com/entertainment/egypt-unveils-onekind-ancient-tomb-expects-more-141119582.html?. tsrc=daily_mail&uh_test=1_02

Two Fastest Growing Tourism Destinations are in Africa (UNWTO)

By Lyndsey Matthews

A

ccording to newly released data from the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO), overall, tourist arrivals across the world are up 7% in 2017—the highest amount since last decade’s economic crisis— but the countries at the top of this list tell a particularly interesting story. After years of security challenges and unrest in the region, Egypt, Palestine, and Israel all rebounded significantly last year.

1. Egypt: 55.1% Last year, 8,157,000 international tourists arrived in Egypt—a massive 55.1% increase from 2016. After antigovernment protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square in 2011 toppled the presidency of Hosni Mubarak, the unrest lead to a huge drop in numbers. But tourism is finally rebounding. The numbers haven’t yet returned to pre-2011 levels (14,051,000 people came in 2010), but it probably won’t be long until they do.

Intrepid Travel (www.intrepidtravel.com/ us/egypt) says it has already seen an impressive 177% growth in the number of North Americans traveling to Egypt in 2018 compared to 2017.

Egypt http://www.egypt.travel

2. Togo: 46.7%

While the West African nation of Togo Togo www.togo-tourisme.com/ welcomes significantly fewer visitors each year compared to popular safari destinations like Mystical West Africa trip to explore the region’s South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, the number of cultural traditions—including a voodoo ceremony—in international tourist arrivals between 2016 and 2017 Togo and its neighbors Benin and Ghana.  grew 46.7% from 338,000 to 496,000, making it the second fastest growing country on this list.

After a new airport opened in the capital of Lomé in www.afar.com/magazine/the-worlds-fastest-growing-tourist-destinationsarent-where-you-think?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_ 2016, airlines like TAP Portugal began adding routes campaign=101318_Tourist%20Destinations_B&utm_term=Segment_B into the country. To see it for yourself, book GeoEx’s 26 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Travel Planning

Here Are 5 Ways To Ensure You Travel More in 2019

By Rachel George

P

eople often come up with excuses when it comes to why they don’t travel. It could be money, time or not knowing where to go. It’s hard to take off work right now because you’ve expired all of your vacation time for the year. You’re not sure how to start saving for later when monthly bills are coming in now.

With proper planning and preparation, traveling is in your near future.

Here are five ways to ensure you travel more next year.

have no excuse to take a vacation and celebrate yourself. If that doesn’t work, take out a portion of your paycheck and put it into another account.

Keep up with the latest travel news.

That means subscribing to Travel Noire, but I assume you did that already. Allow us to be your travel guide by providing you with daily flight deals or the hottest new travel destinations. Apps like Hopper also help to keep you up to date on the best times to book the cheapest flights. I booked a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles for only $145 for a week. I love this app.

Sign up to receive travel deals and discounts on hotels and flights sites like Expedia, Kayak and more.

If you are considering travel to Africa, review issues of the Black Business News Travel Africa publication for ideas (www.issuu.com/blackbusinessnews).

Be open.

Being open to new experiences in other places with new people. Three years ago, I decided to start traveling to other cities and states I have never been to, being open to seeing what it looked like in other parts of the world. Being open to having those same fun experiences I have in my hometown somewhere else and sometimes better. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Negotiate your vacation days.

topyaps.com

For some, a new year means new contracts. It may be time to negotiate your contract or your benefits package at work to include more vacation days or more opportunities to travel for work. Look over your vacation policy, and see if there is any wiggle room. If this is a new job, there’s an effective way to negotiatemore vacation days without sounding unappreciative of what was already offered. it.

Create a vision board.

I know it sounds corny, but its true, vision boards do work. Cassie Owens created a travel goals vision board to help grieve with the loss of her loved one. It was a self-healing project for her, and let’s admit it, we all need a little of that from time to time.

Start a money jar/account.

Sometimes it can be hard to save money while using your debit card every single day. But there is something about saving physical cash that makes all the difference. For every $5 dollar bill you get, place it in the jar. After a year, you’ll lowlandcu.org

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https://travelnoire.com/7-thingscan-now-ensure-travel/

6 African Islands You Gotta See

By Sarah Khan

a trio of restored Georgian buildings

Mogundula Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago feels like an abandoned outpost at the edge of the world, filled with haunting, derelict Portuguese colonial buildings.

There’s new life, though, at this private island retreat, with five recently finished teak-and-coral villas and

These blips were once the sort of places you’d dream about but never visit. Now, thanks to better air links and new openings, they’re completely doable.

St. Helena The long-delayed opening of its first airport, in

Principe

panoramio.com

plenty of diving, snorkeling, and cast- away vibes.

Príncipe Saint Helena

dailymail.co.uk

2016, has made this ultra-remote island way more accessible. Getting there used to take five days aboard the spartan RMS St. Helena cargo ship; now you can get there in about six hours on an Airlink flight from Johannesburg. The Mantis St. Helena opened in November in the capital city of Jamestown (population: 629) with 30 basic-but-cozy rooms set in

São Tome’s sister island is home to some of Africa’s best beaches, yet they’re practically unheard of here in the U.S., in part because it takes at least two layovers to get there. But a duo of just-opened hotels are bound to lure the intrepid: Roça Sundy is a pair of refurbished villas on a

Fuerteventura

Mogundula

travelfuerteventura.net undiscovered-holidays.com

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former cocoa plantation, and Sundy Praia is a 15-tent resort set beneath banana and almond trees.

Fuerteventura

Crystal-clear Lake Malawi is the third-largest in Africa and a hush-hush favorite of adventurous honeymooners, divers, and kayakers, who find the lack of stuff to do an asset, not a liability. Most inns on Likoma Island, in the middle of the lake, are seriously barebones, but the stone-and-thatch Kaya Mawa, with 11 beachside rooms, is a step up.

Rubondo

Kaya Mawa, Likoma

planetbell.me

Everyone knows Tenerife, the biggest of Spain’s Canary Islands, but this lesser-known isle will be trending after the May release of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which was filmed in part on its gorgeous golden sands. Getting there is easiest if you’re already in Europe, thanks to budget-airline nonstops, like Easyjet’s from Gatwick or Condor’s from Frankfurt, but Iberia has one-stop flights from the U.S.

Tanzania’s Lake Victoria is home to the continent’s largest national park on an island, one filled with elephants, giraffes, sitatungas, and terrapins. Stay at Asilia Africa’s Rubondo Island Camp, where guides can show you a population of now-wild chimpanzees that were relocated here from European zoos in the 1960s. V https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/six-african-islands-you-gotta-seeto-believe?mbid=nl_102818_Daily&CNDID=38890654&weekend=2&u tm_source=nl&utm_medium=email&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=tvl_ traveler_news_newdb_ACTIVE_2018_1028%20(1)%20remainder&bxid= MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&MD5=4a21b9167bf658408191e7c49140a9aa &SHA1=fd7238b4e9af267dd0a7ac937dfffd5d0aa056fc&spMailingID=145 15272&spUserID=MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&spJobID=1502184242&spR eportId=MTUwMjE4NDI0MgS2

Likoma

Rubondo

wetu.com

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Africa’s Best National Parks in its Top 7 Safari Countries

By Landia Davies

D

iscover Africa’s Best National Parks in its Top 7 Safari Countries to help you decide where to go on your wildlife safari and why. Each of these African safari countries and its leading national park offers something unique but they are all known for their superb wildlife sightings.

These seven top safari countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) are rated as the best and most-visited safari destinations in Africa. Their top national parks are the most established, classical wildlife safari destinations of East and Southern Africa.

These are the best national parks and national reserves by country. This list does not include private game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries (explanation of the different types of protected areas).

• Namibia - Etosha Park • Zambia - South Luangwa Park • Zimbabwe - Hwange Park  www.africanbudgetsafaris.com/blog/africas-bestnational-parks-by-country/#Kenya - Masai Mara National Reserve

Africa’s Top 7 Safari Countries & Best National Parks • • • •

Kenya - Masai Mara Reserve Tanzania - Serengeti Park Botswana - Chobe Park South Africa - Kruger Park

Chobe elephant game drive -

Masai warriors

Etosha wildlife at waterhole 30 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

One of the World’s Most Beautiful Lakes: Lake Nakuru, Kenya

By Caitlin Morton

L

ocated in Kenya’s Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru is known for attracting lions, leopards, and swarms of feeding flamingos.

Although rising water levels over the past few years have caused the number of pink birds to drop, the protected area is still a sight to behold, due to the diversity of wildlife it attracts. 

world?mbid=nl_120818_Daily&CNDID=38890654&weekend=0&u tm_source=nl&utm_medium=email&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=tvl_ traveler_news_newdb_ACTIVE_2018_1208%20(1)%20remainder&bxid= MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&hasha=4a21b9167bf658408191e7c49140a9a a&hashb=fd7238b4e9af267dd0a7ac937dfffd5d0aa056fc&spMailingID=14 758839&spUserID=MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&spJobID=1540673501&sp ReportId=MTU0MDY3MzUwMQS2

www.cntraveler.com/gallery/most-beautiful-lakes-in-the-

Image credit: Getty

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The Best Hotels in the World: 2018 Readers Choice

By Betsy Blumenthal and CNT Editors

Seven of the Choice hotels are in Africa 30. One&Only Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town’s only urban resort, One&Only has a prime Waterfront location next door to the Two Oceans Aquarium and is within strolling distance of the Water Shed, an indoor market filled with must-have local designer brands. Much more of a resort than a hotel, the overall impression is one of generous space and dramatic scale.

One&Only Cape Town

20. Ellerman House, Cape Town, South Africa From the road, Ellerman House looks like a grand private residence (of which there are plenty in upscale Bantry Bay)—though you could very well call this an art gallery with a hotel attached, as every room and all available wall space is hung with original and rare art from the Harris family’s private collection. Over the years, owner Paul Harris has restored the old lady extensively, transforming the one-and-a-half acre garden into an indigenous showpiece—like a little slice of Kirstenbosch botanical gardens by the sea.

You’ll experience the very best of everything South Africa has to offer, from food and wine to art, to the staggering natural beauty of mountain and ocean.

19. Gibb’s Farm, Ngorongoro, Tanzania There are certainly more luxe options scattered around the Ngorongoro crater area. But Gibb’s Farm, with its colonial farmhouse on the wooded slopes of the crater, built by German farmers as a coffee plantation in 1929, wins hands down on history and character. (It’s so beloved that old African hands use it for their personal family holidays.) Its cozy cottages and lush, tropical gardens make the perfect antidote to Gibb;s Farm days spent on a dusty game drive.

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Ellerman House

17. Birkenhead House, Hermanus, South Africa This sprawling cream-colored villa is perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, and the stunning vantage point is one of the hotel’s finest features: Hermanus is known for its rugged natural beauty, and Birkenhead House maximizes that in all directions.

Hermanus is a lovely add-on to any South Africa trip, and this is the best hotel in the area by far. If you’re a serious whale watcher, it’s a no brainer: You can’t beat these views.

Bruce Horak/Courtesy Birkenhead House

16. La Residence, Franschhoek, South Africa This wine country hotel was constructed on a grand scale: triple-height ceilings, black-and-white marble floors, enormous chandeliers, wide verandas, and mountain views. The 16 extravagant suites are no less impressive: Layered with French and Asian antiques, fantastic local art, and Persian carpets, each has its own personality, from a girly boudoir in pink and lime green, to a palatial honeymoon suite in white marble.

Guests dine alfresco during the day, while dinner is a theatrical event with candlelight, high-backed ruby banquettes, and local wines paired to the simple but well-executed menu.

Courtesy The Royal Portfolio

7. The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Cape Town, South Africa The coastal road between Camps Bay and Llandudno is a conservation area, so it’s undeveloped—just fynbos-covered mountains to one side, and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean to the other. Until you round a curve in the road and catch your first glimpse of the Twelve Apostles, named after the Twelve Apostles mountain range that runs parallel to the coast, that is: Built into the contours of the mountainside, there’s a lot of hotel packed into its relatively small footprint.

The rooms are flamboyant, old-school glamour, either facing the sea or the mountains. 

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Courtesysunshine.co.uk

5. Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco The coastal road between Camps Bay and Llandudno is a conservation area, so it’s undeveloped—just fynbos-covered mountains to one side, and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean to the other. Until you round a curve in the road and catch your first glimpse of the Twelve Apostles, named after the Twelve Apostles mountain range that runs parallel to the coast, that is: Built into the contours of the mountainside, there’s a lot of hotel packed into its relatively small footprint.

The rooms are flamboyant, old-school glamour, either facing the sea or the mountains. www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-best-hotels-in-theworld?mbid=nl_112318_Daily&CNDID=38890654&we ekend=0&utm_source=nl&utm_medium=email&utm_ brand=cnt&utm_mailing=tvl_traveler_news_newdb_ ACTIVE_2018_1123_pm%20(1)%20

View all of the Issues of the Black Business News Group at: h ps://issuu.com/blackbusinessnews 34 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Mombo Camp and Little Mombo, Botswana “What gives one superluxe safari lodge a leg up on another? How about spotting a hyena feasting on an impala while walking back to your tent after dinner? That was precisely the scenario on our last visit to Mombo, Wilderness Safaris’ Botswana flagship. The property reopened in April after a year long reno, and while they punched up the tents with some Art Deco touches (light fixtures, armchairs) and added a gin bar, they didn’t mess with its most prized asset: the location, on a clearing rich with nutrients thanks to the annual floods, where zebra, giraffe, and elephant tend to graze all day.”—Erin Florio Image credit: Dana Allen

www.facebook.com/groups/womenwhotraveltheworld 35 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Africa’s Top Resorts

The 50 Best Resorts in the World: 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards

By CNT Editors

As we reviewed the results of the Condé Nast 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards, tabulating the best resorts in the world, one thing became apparent: our readers’ distinct sense of adventure. What’s most notable this year has been your drive to go that extra bit further in your travels— Kangaroo Island off the southern coast of Australia, Brazil’s Bahian beach town of Trancoso, and one of India’s top tiger sanctuaries in Rajasthan. All told, you’ve chosen the most varied group of resorts we’ve ever seen. Africa garnered 11 of the top 50 choces. So what are you waiting for? Counting down...

5. Angama Mara, Great Rift Valley, Kenya

5. Angama Mara, Great Rift Valley, Kenya Angama Mara, which opened in 2016 and sits on top of the Oloololo escarpment overlooking the Mara Triangle, comprises two camps. Each one contains 15 suites with canvas sides and tented roofs, but they also have glass fronts, giving you gobsmacking, 180-views of the savanna, whether you’re lying in bed or taking a shower. This is no traditional safari setup: the sleek, Italian-inflected design gives the place a bit of cosmopolitan flair, as does a pavilion with a library, shop, fitness room, and infinity pool—all while embracing the wild surroundings.All of this went on, the dogs circling our Land Cruiser, the hyenas fighting, the chasing, the noise, for hours. It wasn’t pretty, no.

Or so I assume. But I can say I listened, as did Alan and Tracy, Dharmesh and Robert. We listened and we knew, given the dogs’ near-extinct status, that we were experiencing one of the rarest sounds in the world. In fact, their fight may have been the only sound of its kind made on earth that day. And I can still hear it. https://angama.com

7. Marataba Safari Lodge, Marakele Concession, So

6. Singita Sabi Sand, South Africa In 2013 Luke Bailes, founder of the renowned Singita safari lodges and camps, transformed his ancestral home, which is set on a private game reserve, into this

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6. Singita Sabi Sand, South Africa

outh Africa

9. Royal Chundu Luxury Lodges, Zambezi River, Zambia

retreat. The Cape Dutch charm, mullioned windows, antiques, expert safari guides, and longtime family sta remain—but the wine cellar, state-of-the-art kitchen, and full gym are all new. https://singita.com/region/singita-sabi-sand

7. Marataba Safari Lodge, Marakele Concession, South Africa Options to relax outside of your tent here include a

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Africa’s Top Resorts from page 37

communal pool with loungers, hammocks amongst the trees and a library with plush brown leather sofas; alternatively, book an in-room spa treatment on your deck and zone out to sounds of the birds and the breeze. For those wanting alternatives for Big Five excursions beyond vehicle drives, Marataba offers a walking safari and a must-do water safari. www.marataba.co.za

9. Royal Chundu Luxury Lodges, Zambezi River, Zambia The Royal Chundu commands a private stretch of the Zambezi River, located less than 20 miles upstream from the thunderous Victoria Falls, but expect pindrop tranquility save the occasional cry of a native African Fish Eagle or frothy bubble of nearby rapids.

Choose your hub: River Lodge, with its 10 Zambezifacing suites suspended on stilts with an open deck, or rooms on Katombora Island’s Island Lodge flanked with baobabs and 2,000-year-old Jackalberry trees.

Four-day yoga retreats on the riverbank, nature walks, and helicopter flights over Victoria Falls are just some of the activities on offer. Return after exploring the Zambezi to a dinner around the boma with Makishi dancers and traditional Zambian drums. www.royalchundu.com/en

11. Chindeni Bushcamp, South Luangwa National Pa

11. Chindeni Bushcamp, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia Chindeni’s strength is its simplicity. Don’t get us wrong—the camp’s four large canvas tents, rustic with their stripped wooden floors, solar power, and assemblage of rattan chairs in the sitting areas are supremely comfortable, yet manage to channel the frontier days of safari travel, eons before the high design era spread across the savannas. You won’t get short changed on game drive viewings across the plains, either (we guarantee you’ll lose count of the number of elephants you spot 10 minutes in) and walking safaris are especially poignant for the birders out there. But for our buck, it’s the views from the evening sundowners, taken on your terrace, overlooking the lagoon where herds of hippo wallow, that will stay with you long after you return home. www.bushcampcompany.com/bushcamps/ chindeni.php

13. Royal Malewane, Kruger National

13. Royal Malewane, Kruger National Park, South Afr

Park, South Africa It can be hard to make the Greater Kruger National Park—a popular destination for safaris that cover an area the size of Wales—feel exclusive, private,

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ark, Zambia

16. Makanyi Private Game Lodge, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, South Africa

19. Singita Lebombo Lodge, Kruger National Park, South Africa

rica and intimate. But Royal Malewane, in Thornybush Private Game Reserve, manages to achieve that (and then some) with just six Luxury Suites, two Royal Suites, and the palatial six-bedroom, private

chef-included Africa House. Twice daily game drives led by expert rangers far from Kruger’s crowds, means you’re almost guaranteed to be able to check off the

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Africa’s Top Resorts from page 39

Big Five before you leave. www.theroyalportfolio.com/royal-malewane/ overview

16. Makanyi Private Game Lodge, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, South Africa The seven-room Makanyi Private Game Lodge is full-on luxury with the feel of a family home—which makes sense, given its provenance. British owner Jessica Gold bought the private property and turned it into a safari camp last June, conforming to a classic aesthetic of thatched-roof villas in terra cotta tones, but avoiding the more formal, Out of Africa–style nod to colonial bush experiences. This place is relaxed, void of stodginess, and perfect for people looking for a more intimate experience. http://makanyilodge.com

19. Singita Lebombo Lodge, Kruger National Park, South Africa

23. Vumbura Plains, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Kruger National Park is the crown jewel of South Africa’s parklands and game reserve, and the 33,000acre private concession belonging to Singita is the crown jewel of Kruger. This area is the best of the best—in part because of the wildlife sightings but also because of the lack of vehicles (the land is exclusively crossed by guests of Singita Lebombo and Singita Sweni). The concession extends through four different eco-zones and happens to be prime rhino and big cat real estate. https://singita.com/lodge/singita-lebombo-lodge

23. Vumbura Plains, Okavango Delta, Botswana Here among wild fig and sausage trees, Vumburu Plains’ two sections both have elevated dining areas and views of a wildlife-frequented watering hole—so if you’re trying to get in on the action, you can’t do much better. The design, which Traveler readers have noted appreciatively in past years, includes openplan thatched-roof villas with kiaat-wood vanities and plunge pools. And get ready: the hotel guides help guests to see every animal imaginable. www.theluxurysafaricompany.com/botswana/ okavango-safaris/vumbura-plains

Reserve, South Africa

24. Morukuru Family, Madikwe Game

The Big Five is the big draw across the continent, but at this family-friendly lodge on South Africa’s fifth largest game reserve, you’ll spot the Magnificent

26. Ol Jogi Home, Laikipia, Kenya

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24. Morukuru Family, Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

35. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa Seven. Yes, that means cheetah and African wild dog (an insider favorite for their strategic hunting abilities) are guaranteed to appear between sightings of hippo, rhino, and prides of lion. It’s a fittingly spectacular

viewing lined up alongside the camp’s equally spectacular accommodations: three free-standing luxury villas, each uniquely designed. (Think lots of

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Africa’s Top Resorts from page 41

raw blond woods in the Farm House; stone fireplaces and sink-into-’em couches over at the River House; and a staff of eight, plus an infinity pool and African artwork at the Owner’s Home). And unlike many of the lodges across the region, Wi-Fi is fast and available

stemmed goblets. http://oljogihome.com/#/home

35. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa 46. Richard’s River Camp, Mara North Conservancy, Kenya

You’ll spot giraffes, wildebeests, and lions during threehour game drives at this remote game reserve with four luxury lodges. Selati Camp has a colonial feel, while Earth Lodge’s furniture is made from uprooted trees.

Dinners tend to be African barbecue dishes, but alternatives such as arugula with pine nuts and roasted peppers are also on offer. www.sabisabi.com

everywhere, meaning your 13-year-old won’t have to wait until she’s back in Johannesburg airport to upload her shot of leopard cubs to Instagram. https://morukuru.com/

26. Ol Jogi Home, Laikipia, Kenya The maximalist decor—animal prints, crystal, and ubiquitous statuary—may be over the top for some, but what Ol Jogi lacks in restraint it compensates for in its wholehearted commitment to conservation. The home of the Wildenstein family sits on 60,000 acres of wildlife conservancy in Northern Kenya, which you’ll have entirely to yourself. It harbors black and white rhino, giraffe, and zebra, which you can see on safari or ambling in front of the house’s wide terrace (there’s also a rescue center for rehabbing animals—baby ellie, anyone?). It’s the perfect spot for a group takeover or big birthday party, with plenty to do between game drives from horseback riding and fishing on Mount Kenya to a hammam-style spa and extensive cellar of wines that are served, fittingly, out of huge animal-

46. Richard’s River Camp, Mara North Conservancy, Kenya This casually luxurious eight-tent getaway is great for gatherings of up to 16 (and slightly larger groups upon request), replete with rounds of sundowners and festive bush dinners under the stars. A nearby spring attracts a resident lion pride also looking for a cool drink. The family of owners Richard Roberts and Liz Fusco have been in Kenya for decades (Richard is a third-generation safari expert and conservationist); the couple built Richard’s Camp as a home away from home in 2006, which gives it the feeling of a private getaway. www.richardscamp.com  www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-resorts-in-theworld?mbid=nl_101018_Daily&CNDID=38890654&weekend= 0&utm_source=nl&utm_medium=email&utm_brand=cnt&utm_ mailing=tvl_traveler_news_newdb_ACTIVE_2018_1010%20 (1)%20remainder&spMailingID=14410362&spUserID=MTQ5NTc 0OTAyMDYxS0&spJobID=1500819787&spReportId=MTUwMDg xOTc4NwS2

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Sankara Nairobi, New Marriott Hotel www.sankara.com/en

A

utograph Collection Hotels (www.AutographHotels.com), Marriott International’s (www.Marriott.com) distinctive collection of passionately independent hotels, announced that it will soon debut the brand into Kenya with Sankara Nairobi (www.

Sankara.com) slated to join the brand’s diverse and distinguished portfolio of over 150 independent hotels around the world. Owned by Westlands Hotels Limited, the hotel is expected to be rebranded in early 2019.  Image Credit: tripadvisor.com, nairobiwire.com/2018/10/lm-networklaunched-in-kenya.html, breakingtravelnews.com, orbitz.com

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PHGMEETINGS.COM

PLANNING RESOURCES FOR THE WORLD’S MOST EXCEPTIONAL MEETINGS HOTELS. Preferred Hotel Group brings together over 700 individual meeting places. From breathtaking resort retreats to smart, city center hotels and boutique incentive experiences, find a unique solution to match every need. Explore the entire collection, find essential resources, access offers, and submit your RFP at PHGMeetings.com. Visit PHGMeetings.com to view properties in Cape Town, South Africa and Marrakech, Morocco.

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The Best Islands in the “Rest of the W 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards

By CNT Editors As we reviewed the results of the Condé Nast 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards, tabulating the best Islands in the world, the world was separted into regions with 5 islands each. Africa is assigned to the “Rest of the World” region. The three winners are shown here.

2. Mauritius Instagram and Pinterest have created renewed interest in this island in the Indian Ocean, thanks to its “underwater waterfall”—a visually stunning runoff of sand and silt best viewed from above. Roughly 550 miles east of Madagascar, Mauritius may also be

home to a lost continent hiding beneath the waves.

Pro tip: Don’t trust the scales on Mauritius, as the island has a stronger gravitational field, causing things (and people) to weigh more.

Getting there: The island’s Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport seems a mouthful, but this international airport is your link for flights to other cities in Africa, as well as to major cities in Europe, Asia, and Australia. https://angama.com

4. Seychelles Our readers aren’t alone in loving the remote beauty of this African nation—”Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Victoria and David Beckham, spent their honeymoons on the North Island, and some

4. Seychelles

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World:”

2. Mauritius stretches are so on-a-desert-island bare that even parts of Castaway were filmed here, on Cousin Island,” says Traveler contributor Derek Blasberg. What’s the ultimate draw? The Seychelles’ natural wonders, he adds. “A bright blue sky, crisp white beaches, and natural ecosystem that very nearly felt like a religious experience.”

Pro tip, per Blasberg: “In the UNESCO World Heritage site Vallée de Mai, which locals believe is the true site of the Garden of Eden, I became obsessed with the curiously shaped coco de mer nut, which can only be found in the Seychelles. The nut can weigh up to 33 pounds and produces the largest seed in the world.”

Getting there: Air France, Air Seychelles, and Turkish Airlines have regular flights that connect to Seychelles International Airport (SEZ), just south of the capital of Victoria.

5. Zanzibar, Tanzania “The very word ‘Zanzibar’ is steeped in exoticism and mystery,” says Traveler contributor Kelly Phillips Badal. “This magical place—or rather places —is the name given to a group of 50 tropical islands off the coast of Tanzania. It’s a word associated with white sand beaches, spices, and fresh seafood, with a tangled past of traders, slaves, and treasure.

Pro tip, per Badal: Start on one of the two main islands: Unguja (colloquially known as Zanzibar Island), and home to Stone Town, a UNESCO site and former Swahili coastal trading town; or Pemba, its wilder northern sister, 31 miles away. “A small plane from Dar Es Salaam, bumpy transfer to the southwestern edge of the island, and a 20-minute speedboat ride brought us to the dock of Fundu Lagoon. It’s an exclusive 18-bungalow escape reachable only by boat and one of just a handful of lodgings on [Pemba].”

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5. Zanzibar Getting there: The aforementioned small plane and bumpy transfer from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar Island or Pemba.  www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-10-20/top-30-islands-inthe-world-readers-choice-awards-2014?mbid=nl_101118_Da

ily&CNDID=38890654&weekend=0&utm_source=nl&utm_ medium=email&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=tvl_traveler_news_ newdb_ACTIVE_2018_1011%20(1)%20remainder&spMailingID= 14418533&spUserID=MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&spJobID=15009 09187&spReportId=MTUwMDkwOTE4NwS2

W

hile you are visiting the Zanzibar and Pemba islands check out this underwater hotel.

The Underwater Room, Manta Resort, Zanzibar

I

n 2013, the Manta Resort on Pemba Island, Zanzibar opened a three-level hotel room submerged four meters under the sea. Guests who stay in the floating room get a 360-degree view of the surrounding ocean, coral, and sea life. The views get even more incredible at night, when more species like squid and octopus make rare apperances.  www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-12-18/10-incredibleunderwater-sites-around-the-world-bali-tulummaldives?mbid=nl_010219_daily&CNDID=38890654&utm_ source=nl&utm_medium=email&utm_ brand=cnt&utm_mailing=tvl_traveler_news_newdb_ ACTIVE_2018_010219%20(1)&bxid=MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYx S0&hasha=4a21b9167bf658408191e7c49140a9aa&hashb=f d7238b4e9af267dd0a7ac937dfffd5d0aa056fc&spMailingID= 14889304&spUserID=MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&spJobID=1 560131382&spReportId=MTU2MDEzMTM4MgS2 48 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Image credits: Getty,

Cultural Tourism

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

pulse.com.gh

T

Mbanza Kongo, Angola

he town of Mbanza Kongo, located in extreme northern Angola, about 40 km from the international border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, was the political and spiritual capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, one of the largest constituted states of Southern Africa, which was active from the 14th to the 19th century. Located on a plateau at an altitude of 570 metres, it was

prosperous when the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century. To the large existing urban conurbation built in local materials, the Portuguese added and substituted stone buildings constructed in accordance with European construction methods, including several churches. The town then experienced the expansion of Christianity with the Westernisation of the local elites, without however renouncing its culture. In its built structure and archaeological vestiges, the town retains the traces of its customary, colonial and religious past, of which it is an eminent place of remembrance. The Kingdom of Kongo was at the centre of the most important route for the trade in enslaved persons, who were deported to the Americas and the Caribbean.

No material vestige attesting to the slave trade has been found up to now. ď ‘

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http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1511

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Slaves waiting to be shipped out of the port of Bagamoyo. Bagamoyo Catholic Museum www.flickr.com/photos/egui/249875500

B

Bagamoyo, Tanzania

agamoyo was the major slave trading post in East Africa. Bagamoyo, which means ‘lay down your heart’ in Swahili, was probably given this name because Bagamoyo was the last place the slaves would stay in Tanzania before being shipped off to foreign lands.

Although the slave trade officially ended in 1873,

slaves continued to be sold and traded in Bagamoyo through the end of the nineteenth century.

During the slave trade, it was not uncommon to see hundreds of slaves walking through the streets of Bagamoyo chained together by the neck. Slaves were collected from the interior by capture, purchase or trade and then shipped to Zanzibar or Arab countries.

The Catholic museum of Bagamoyo is a historic landmark of the town. Bagamoyo was recently designated as Tanzania’s seventh world heritage site and is the oldest town in Tanzania.  http://tanserve.com/towns/index_files/Bagamoyo.htm https://africantourer.com/museum/catholic(bagamoyo)

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The Best Hotels and Resorts in the World: The 2019 Gold List This year’s Gold List of our editors’ favorite hotels, resorts, and cruise ships in the world is the first transatlantic list for Traveler, created by teams in New York and London. It spans six continents and 36 countries. They’re gold as in exceptional.

Gold as in classic. Gold as in brilliant. Gold as in you’d do it all tomorrow. View the full list here: www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-12-16/view-the-full-gold-list-2015the-worlds-best-hotels.

AFRICA BOTSWANA Jack’s Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans

KENYA andBeyond Bateleur Camp, Masai Mara

MAURITIUS One&Only Le Saint Géran

MOROCCO L’Hôtel Marrakech La Mamounia, Marrakech Six Senses Zil Pasyon

SEYCHELLES Six Senses Zil Pasyon

SOUTH AFRICA Ellerman House, Cape Town

TANZANIA Singita Grumeti - Sasaskwa Lodge, Grumeti Game Reserve

CRUISE SHIPS Crystal Esprit, Crystal Cruises Insignia, Oceania Cruises Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Cruise Line Seven Seas Explorer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises Silver Cloud, Silversea Viking Orion, Viking Ocean Cruises Wind Surf, Windstar  www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-12-16/view-the-fullgold-list-2015-the-worlds-best-hotels

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andBeyond Bateleur Camp, Masai Mara

One of Africa’s Luxury Hotels That Gives Back: Singita Pamushana Lodge

By Andrew Sessa, CNT Editors In the last decade, a hand full of properties have begun earmarking profits of luxury travel to fund major philanthropic projects. The original article features 9 such properties. You may read the full list at: www.cntraveler. com/galleries/2015-11-20/5-luxury-travel-hotels-that-give-back?mbid=nl_010919_daily&CNDID=38890654&utm_ source=nl&utm_medium=email&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=tvl_traveler_news_newdb_ACTIVE_2018_010919%20 (1)%20remainder&bxid=MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&hasha=4a21b9167bf658408191e7c49140a9aa&hashb=fd7238b4e9af 267dd0a7ac937dfffd5d0aa056fc&spMailingID=14929085&spUserID=MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&spJobID=1560740362&s pReportId=MTU2MDc0MDM2MgS2. We highlight one of the hotels here.

Singita Pamushana Lodge: https://singita.com/lodge/singita-pamushana-lodge/ The Hotel: A seven-suite ultra-luxe property in southeast Zimbabwe’s private Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve.

The Mission: To revitalize the 130,000-acre reserve’s hugely vulnerable ecology and biodiversity, the Singita Lodge - since 2006, the ecotourism arm of the Malilangwe Trust - funnels all profts to initiatives like the reintroduction of threathened species, including rare white and black rhinos.

blixentours.dk

aardvarksafaris.co.uk

aardvarksafaris.co.uk

Mall of Africa

I

ntroducing the modern shopping experience, Mall of Africa encapsulates Life’s delights in an open and natural environment, inspired by Africa.

Mall of Africa, South Africa’s largest shopping mall ever built in a single phase with 130,000m2

of retail space, is home to over 250 shops with four anchor tenants. In addition to a vast array of both local and international brands, the Centre also boasts uniquely identified court areas made for easy shopping navigation as well as exceptional access, location and visibility.  Lone Creek Cresent and Magwa Crescent, Waterfall City Johannesburg, Gauteng 1686 www.facebook.com/pg/TheMallofAfrica

Namibia Desert Safari Time

Why Your Next Safari Should Be in Namibia

By Mary Holland

D

espite this inhospitable landscape, Namibia is seeing rapid tourism growth, with four new lodgings opening in 2018 and several more on the way. This is partly due to the country’s embrace of sustainable tourism, which encourages development.

“Namibia is one of the few countries that gives people rights to the land and natural resources,” says van Smeerdijk. Like many lodges in Namibia, Hoanib Valley Camp was developed on a conservancy in partnership with the local community, who lease concessions to the private sector. “Tourism has now been taken to the people and provided them with income and development opportunities in their region.

It has enabled the country to extend the development of tourism to remote areas,” says Gitta Paetzold, CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia.

Also affecting Namibia’s tourism boomlet is the fact that the country is more accessible than ever.

The last few years have seen a proliferation of flights into Namibia through hubs like Johannesburg on South African Airways, Amsterdam on KLM, Doha on Qatar Airways, and Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines. And with some of Africa’s most navigable roads, self-drive travel has exploded, especially among

millennials eager for Instagram fodder. (The so-called “dead tree” near Vlei is one of the most Instagrammed spots in Africa.)

But Hoanib Valley Camp is hardly catering to crowds of tourists. There are only six neat tents dressed with creamy carpets and natural fabrics overlooking the otherworldly landscape, whose silence is almost deafening. It’s not all barren, though. Visitors come here to track animals like black rhino and desertadapted elephant and to learn more about giraffe conservation; Natural Selection works in partnership with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation to monitor and collect data. “People don’t realize that these giraffes are also endangered. We want to help give them a higher profile,” says Jennifer Lalley, co-founder and Director of Conservation at the company. Although threatened (there are an estimated 100,000 remaining in the world), giraffes are a reasonably common sight in Kaokoland. Every time we see one, Bupilo photographs and records its location, and the data is then sent to the GCF. But we encounter very little else.

In the desert, you’ve got to work to see wildlife.  www.cntraveler.com/story/why-your-next-safari-should-be-in-namibia

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Going Off-Grid in Namibia

By Stanley Stewart

F

or a long time, no one knew much about Kaokoland, other than the scattered people who lived there. Explorers generally gave it a wide berth.

Boer trekkers from the Transvaal passed through but barely lingered.

Tourists looking for high-end safaris and migrating herds trailed by slavering lions were not drawn to its arid expanses. Kaokoland, in the remote northwest of Namibia, slept undisturbed, a place few people could point to on a map. But as travelers are now beginning to discover, Namibia is one of Africa’s most fascinating destinations, with smart new lodges and camps opening every year. And Kaokoland—its spectacular outback—is for those who want to savor remotest Africa, far from safari circuits and game parks.

At home, in a pool of light on my desk, I had opened a large-scale map of Namibia. There weren’t many towns, or a lot of roads.

With only two million people, the country rivals Outer Mongolia for sheer emptiness. In the absence of habitation, the mapmaker had turned to topographical features to fill up the empty cartographic space.

A week later, as I was flying north in a small six-seater plane from the capital, Windhoek, to Sesfontein, on the border of Kaokoland, I gazed down on an alien world. The veld looked like the giant desiccated hide of some ancient creature, skinned and scarred and skeletal.

Riverbeds, dry as old bones, were etched across its boulder-strewn surfaces.

Mountains flushed with mineral color reared around apparently boundless horizons.

Archipelagoes of escarpments and flat-topped mesas and isolated buttes rose from stony plains. Here and there sand dunes intruded, softly sensuous in a wilderness of rock.

It was dark by the time we arrived at Hoanib Valley Camp. Set in an amphitheater of stone, the six

After breakfast our ride arrived.

For the next four days we would be traveling deep into Kaokoland with a mobile safari outfit. The only roads would be gravel trails and desert tracks. The man who knew them was Hans, our guide and driver, a South African who has lived in Namibia for 20 years.

Transport was a sand-scoured four-wheel drive towing a trailer from which our camp of tents and tables, chairs and kitchens, food and blissfully cold drinks magically unfolded each evening. Equipped with an encyclopedic knowledge

Dunes overlooking the Atlantic on the Skeleton Coast. Alistair Taylor-Young tents were a place of unexpected sophistication in the desert. Lamps glowed on the raised platforms, the central tent was a place of sofas and coffee-table books, a table was laid for dinner, and drinks were served around a fire spitting sparks into the dark. Later, cocooned under canvas, I dreamed of elephants on an ocean shore wading into the surf like children.

In the early morning, the hills that flanked the dry riverbed were swaddled in mists that had drifted inland from the Skeleton Coast.

I walked out across a desert plain dusted with sun-colored grasses as delicate as baby hair. The songs of larks tumbled through the air.

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of flora and fauna and—most important in Namibia—geology, Hans also proved to be a man who could both winch a Land Cruiser out of a sandpit and produce an inventive salad.

From Hoanib we cut north through defiles of rock, their flanks veined with feldspar, veering away from the riverbed where a matriarchal herd of elephants were throwing dust on their backs. Hans was explaining the separation of Gondwanaland, and the transformation of the escarpments about us, and for the first time, perhaps, I saw mountains not as see page 58

Namibia Desert Safari Time a static backdrop but as creatures with a past, with an evolving life.

In their old, convoluted faces, you could read their story.

Ahead of us, the plain was an ocean of silver grasses fluttering toward a distant horizon. Lumps of quartz glittered in the sun.

Black-faced impala cantered up pale slopes. Scattered across the grasslands were mysterious fairy circles, r o u n d patches of bare ground, that science has yet to explain.

Possibilities seem to veer from UFOs to termites to, well, fairies.

Namibia has been called “the land God made in anger.” It is rugged and elemental and savage. There are woods, shrubs, greenery—the touches that soften landscapes—but here their appearance has the sweetness you find in oases, those rare moments of shadow and birdsong.

Namibia comes with surprises. The first is how ravishingly beautiful it is. Harsh, dramatic, untamed, this is the beauty of space, of sheer scale, as the eye stretches into limitless distances. The second surprise is the persistence of life here, both human and wild. You could be forgiven for thinking that nothing lived in these dry reaches but lizards and beetles.

But Namibia is home to many of the African mammals we long to see. Desert-adapted elephants and giraffes patrol the arid riverbeds where the roots of

trees and scrub search out water beneath the sands. Herds of zebra and impala and kudu, springbok and steenbok and oryx graze on carpets of desert grasses. Predators such as lions and leopards and hyena stalk them. Black rhino— some mammalian reflection of the Jurassic, thick-skinned toughness of this landscape—lumber through the ravines, lunching on the weird

into these buried reservoirs. Desert giraffes get all the moisture they need from leaves and succulents.

Desert elephants, their memories a map of rare springs and water holes, will sometimes dig up to three feet to find water they know to be there.

Kaokoland is also home to desert-adapted people, nomads who move with their livestock in

The so-called Clay Castle mountains look deceptively like they are covered in snow. Alistair Taylor-Young

euphorbia plants that are toxic to most other creatures.

The secret to life in this barren place are the sand rivers. They look like the sylvan streams of childhood, winding between high banks with wide shade trees. You can imagine canoeing on them, paddling serenely downstream, camping among the thickets of tamarisk. There is only one thing missing: water. Most of Namibia’s rivers flow only a few days a year. In many of them, these sudden floods expire long before they reach the sea, the water disappearing into the sand beds. And it is in this understory that the water really exists, a hidden world of secret pools and trickling currents. This is what feeds the plants and animals.

Acacia trees sink taproots deep 58 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

search of pasture. The women smear their bodies with paint, the men count their wealth in cattle, and the tribe communicate with the souls of ancestors through the smoke of holy fires. Miraculously, they make this most challenging of landscapes habitable. They are the Himba.

On the banks of the dry Hoarusib river, we camped among huge camel thorn trees. As the tents were erected, the campfire lit, the evening drinks served, the marinated steaks se t sizzling on the grill, I watched boys herding goats across the empty riverbed toward the night enclosures. A man on a donkey trotted upriver trailing an elongated shadow. On the far bank a bull elephant appeared, a big male tusker, a famous figure in

these parts. Apparently, every few months he walked to the Hoanib River, a round trip of almost 100 miles, just to keep a couple of young bulls in check by mating with their females.

The next day we drove north through white grasses whose seedlings spiraled away in the winds. Ostriches flounced back and forth like petulant ballerinas.

Here and there were islands of stunted trees and bushes: acacia and mustard bush and mopani.

Herds of springbok, drifting across far slopes, lifted their heads as one, poised for flight. Zebra appeared, climbing steep slopes in dogged single file. Ahead of us, the horizon looked like the edge of the world, marked by vast reaches of sky. But when we arrived at the ridgeline of these plains, we tipped downward into another valley— the Khumib—where mesas rode the skyline and herds of oryx were galloping like horses.

It was on a tributary of the Khumib that we came upon the Himba

encampments. Their beehive tents were scattered across a stony valley. Children ran after flocks of goats, throwing stones to keep them in line. We pitched our camp in a riverbed, and I set off to visit our new neighbors.

The Himba response to the aridity of Kaokoland is nomadic pastoralism. They leave their home villages for months at a time to move with their goats and cattle in search of adequate forage.

Like the elephants of this region, seeking out water, they rely on long collective memories to know in which distant plains or valleys they will find grasses and shrubs for their livestock. The families here at Khumib were living in temporary tents, rickety frameworks of sticks covered in patchwork rags, that would be packed away onto the back of a donkey in a morning.

Next to each tent was a protective kraal of thorn brush for the animals at night.

Farther down the riverbed, where a spring ebbed into a mud pool, I

met a group of a dozen women seated together on a bank. A mass of embellished femininity, Himba women have no concerns about turning up in the same outfit.

Dressed identically in short calfskin skirts, they were as uniform as a regiment, their hair braided and covered in thick mud paste, their babies nursing, their torsos covered in a chaos of beads and ornaments.

Himba women never wash in this dry land. Instead they take smoke baths every morning, squatting over coals and herbs. The smoke opens the pores and cleanses and perfumes their bodies. After the smoke bath, they apply another layer of paint mixed with butter and fat, which gives their skin its red sheen. They say it is about cleansing and softening the skin, that it is a protection against insects and the sun. But it is also about appearance. They believe the red paste makes them beautiful. Every see page 60

The rocky landscape of northern Namibia, a region defined by its geology and reshaped by the wind.

Alistair Taylor-Young

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Namibia Desert Safari Time A colony of hundreds of seals in Skeleton Coast National Park. Alistair Taylor-Young

year they will make long journeys to a place north of Sesfontein where ocher is mined from deep within the ground. The pigment is central to their identity.

The women were a jolly bunch, laughing and joking together. They found my questions, with the guide as a translator, unaccountably hilarious. While the herds drifted across the slopes behind us, nosing among the stones, we chatted about the great issues: life, love, and goats. It felt like I had stepped into an older, more sensible world, before the modern age ran away with us, a world where people could linger at wells to gossip and laugh.

Seabirds howl like banshees, and seal colonies, numbering in the thousands, bubble and blip among the waves.

The rhythms of those days became hypnotic. It began with the chatter of birds through the tent flaps, then the fire, the smell of coffee, the long shadows of the trees across the riverbed, and Hans’s colossal breakfasts. Every morning felt newborn. And then we were off again, heading out into the vast spaces of Kaokoland, an unfolding panorama where

fissured and colored escarpments framed the horizons, where stark mountains shadowed our progress and the round huts of the Himba gave some sense of scale to the distances.

At one point, we reached the sea where Kaokoland meets the Atlantic on an eerie and empty shore.

Barnacled with legends, haunted by ghosts, veiled with sea mists, the Skeleton Coast is littered with the bones of whales and the ribs of wrecked ships. Dry river mouths gape among dunes the height of cathedrals. Winds batter ridges where seabirds howl like banshees, and jackals stalk baroque canyons of soft crumbling rock. I didn’t find elephants cavorting in the surf but seal colonies, numbering in the thousands, bubbling and blipping among the waves.

The days ended as they began, camped in another riverbed surrounded by big shade trees that seemed to make no sense in this dried-out place. As darkness came, the expansive distances of Kaokoland were reduced to the intimate circle of firelight.

On the last night, when everybody else had retired to their tents, I sat up late by the embers of the fire, 60 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

surrounded by fathomless dark. I sat and listened to Africa. An owl was hooting. A bird I did not know offered a rising series of notes ending in a screech. Somewhere out there, camouflaged in the darkness, I could hear zebra snorting, and then the sound of galloping, their hooves pounding.

And somewhere far off, an elephant trumpeted. Across the blackness the stars were thick as grapes. I watched an entire constellation rise above the ridge opposite, climbing slowly to join the others in their transit from east to west.

Alone here, it was easy to see the night sky as a canvas of stories and images and visions, to interpret the sounds of animals and birds as voices, to search the embers for patterns. On this riverbank, the natural world became something more than just fascinating. It became significant, as if its elements had meanings to be discovered. This, I realized, is how early man must have thought, sitting by his fire, reading omens in the night sky, portents in the sound of an elephant’s rumble. Perhaps this was how the Himba still think, sitting by their fires at night beneath that dense array of stars, investing

afktravel.com pinterest.com the natural world with meanings.

Namibia has many gifts. On that night, this sense of connection was one of its sweetest.

How to Book the Trip Journeys by Design offers a six-night itinerary in Namibia from

about $8,000 per person on a fully inclusive basis, including two nights at Hoanib Valley Camp, four nights on a private mobile safari, domestic flights, and transfers. journeysbydesign.com.  www.cntraveler.com/story/going-offgrid-in-namibia?mbid=nl_011719_

daily&CNDID=38890654&utm_source=nl&utm_ medium=email&utm_brand=cnt&utm_ mailing=tvl_traveler_news_newdb_ ACTIVE_2019_0117%20(1)%20remainder&bxi d=MTQ5NTc0OTAyMDYxS0&hasha=4a21b916 7bf658408191e7c49140a9aa&hashb=fd7238b 4e9af267dd0a7ac937dfffd5d0aa056fc&spMaili ngID=14975741&spUserID=MTQ5NTc0OTAyM DYxS0&spJobID=1561430869&spReportId=M TU2MTQzMDg2OQS2

A desert elephant, one of several animals that have adapted to the dry conditions, throws dust over itself in the 98 midday sun at Hoarusib River. Alistair Taylor-Young

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I’m Black and I Travel! …on the radar!

Greg Gross @imblacknitravel

“African Slavery: The Dutch Connection”

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade creates some unexpected links between West Africa and Europe. One of those joins Ghana and the Netherlands.

I

f someone mentions the Netherlands to you today, what comes to your mind? Amsterdam, a great European capital, laced with canals and full of traditional charm? Friendly people with a reputation for progressive politics toward things like marijuana and prostitution? If so, few would argue.

It wasn’t always that way, however. Especially f you were an African.

When it comes to the trans-Atlantic slave trade, other European countries — principally England, France, Spain and Portugal — may rank higher in your consciousness than the Netherlands. Indeed, if we talk

strictly in terms of numbers, the Dutch never sent more than 5 or 6 percent of roughly 11 million Africans who survived the crossing into bondage.

But make no mistake. When it comes to the Middle Passage and all the horrors that went with it, the Dutch were major players. And between the 17th and 19th cent uries, it made the Dutch among the richest of nations.

Their focus on the sugar industry in the Americas — and its labor-intensive plantations — all but guaranteed the continuation of chattel slavery in the Americas for centuries to come, long after they had ceded their largest colonial territory, northern Brazil, back to the Portuguese.

Something else they were known for — their relative indifference to the care of their African captives. While they shipped fewer Africans to the Americas than the

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gg.ca British or French, they lost more of them to disease and privation — two per 1,000 compared with 1 per 1,000 for the British and 1.5 per 1,000 for the French (SOURCE: Dutch Review).

The first of the “slave forts” built along the west African coast, Ghana’s Elmina Castle, may have been built by the Portuguese, but the Dutch made a point of taking it from them by force and then making it the hub of their slave operations for the next 177 years.

Indeed, the Dutch eventually ran a string of slave forts — warehouses of human misery and degradation — from Ghana to Nigeria, a region that became known as the Dutch Slave Coast. But Elmina Castle remained their preferred “market” for trading in human beings.

Today, you can see for yourself the fruits of that forced, captive labor in the historic merchants’ homes along Amsterdam’s many canals, lovingly preserved and still occupied. You also can see how the Dutch “acquired” the slave labor that generated the wealth to erect those impressive homes, in places like Elmina and Cape Coast castles in Ghana.

In fact, you can do both on a single trip.

Flight connections between Accra and Amsterdam,

Accra, Gahanbuzzghana.com the respective capitals of Ghana and the Netherlands, are easy and relatively cheap. A one-way non-stop flight can be had for less than $900 for a flight lasting a bearable six and a half hours. Longer flights involving one or more stops can be had for even less.

And informative tours, led by expert guides, are available in both countries.

If that idea stirs your imagination, send me an email at greg@tripsbygreg.com.  https://imblacknitravel.com/african-slavery-the-dutchconnection/

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Welcome to Henderson Travel Service...

“We take you to Africa and the World!”

With nearly six decades of expertise in the travel and tour industry, our experienced professionals are dedicated to creating exciting tours to destinations throughout Africa, the Orient and beyond. We also offer cruises, Caribbean holidays, and meeting planning/events for all types of travelers.

By reducing overhead and seeking the best value in the current travel environment, Henderson Travel Service delivers quality service at competitive prices. Our team fosters a work ethic that caters to families, organizations, groups, couples, and solo travelers who require a diverse spectrum of travel services.  Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey, Ph.D., President & CEO Henderson Travel Service / Henderson Associates 7961 Eastern Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 TEL: 301-650-5700 E-mail: gaynelle@hend.com

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Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do Algeria Tamanrasset Camel Trekking Sahara Dune Skiing The Turquoise Coast CAPITAL: Algiers www.algerie-tourisme.dz

Angola Fort Sao Miguel Slave Depot Calandula Waterfalls Palmeirinhas Beach CAPITAL: Luanda www.angola.org

Benin

Mandera Mountains (hiking, climbing) Bouba Ndjidah National Park Festival National des Arts et de la Culture (FENAC) in December CAPITAL: Yaoundé www.cameroun-infotourisme.com

Cape Verde

Comore Lake Chad CAPITAL: N’Djamena Office du Tourisme, Tel: 01 45 53 36 75

The Comoros Climb Mount Karthala (active volcano) Nzwani Island Hot Sulphur Springs at Lac Salé CAPITAL: Moroni Comoros National Tourist Board Office, Tel: 269 73 3044

Baia das Gatas Festival Scuba Diving and Snorkelling at Boa Vista UNESCO world heritage old fort site at Cidade Velha CAPITAL: Praia Ministry of Tourism, Praia, Santiago: +238 615 697

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Central African Republic

Ministère des Affaires Foncières, Environment et Tourisme, Tel: (+243) 8802093.

Lake Village of Ganvie Nakoue Lagoon Pendjari National Park CAPITAL: PortoNovo Fort Sao Miguel Slave Depot, www.benintourisme.

Angola wonderquests.wordpress.com com

Frère Gillet Botanic Gardens world-famous rare orchids Ruwenzori Range Virunga National Park CAPITAL: Kinshasa

Botswana

Okavango Delta Central Kalahari Game Reserve Transfrontier Park (Kgalafadi National Park) CAPITAL: Gaborone www. botswanatourism. co.bw

Burkina Faso International Arts and Crafts Fair, Oct-Nov Ranch de Nazinga game reserve Mare aux Hippopotames CAPITAL: Ouagadougou www.ontb.bf

Burundi Chutes de la Kagera Waterfall Lake Tanganyika Craftwares Village at Giheta CAPITAL: Bujumbura www.burunditourisme.com

Cameroon

Boali Waterfalls Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park Lobaye Region CAPITAL: Bangui ministere_tourisme@yahoo.fr

Chad Camel racing in the Tibesti Mountains Galawa Beach on Grande 66 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Côte D‛Ivoire (Ivory Coast) The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro Mount Tonkoui (mountain climb) Comoë National Park CAPITAL: Yamoussoukro

www.tourisme.gouv.ci

Djibouti Gulf of Tadjoura (snorkling/ diving) Lake Abbé Lake Assal (windsurf on wheels) CAPITAL: Djibouti www.office-tourisme.dj

Egypt (Kemet) Nile River Cruise, Aswan Temple of Ranses II, Abu Simbel Alexandria CAPITAL: Cairo www.tourism.misrnet.gov.eg

Equatorial Guinea

Atlantic Ocean Exhibition of the slave trade at Albreda and Jufureh Makasutu Culture Forest CAPITAL: Banjul www.visitthegambia.gm

Ghana Cape Coast Castle Slave Fortress Mount Afadjato and Togbo Falls (Volta Region) Kakum Nature Reserve (treetop walkway and stay in a tree house) CAPITAL: Accra www.touringghana.com

Guinea

Arena Blanca Pico Malabo Volcano (mountain climbing) Cascades of Moca CAPITAL: Malabo www.embarege-londres.org

Kindia (cloth market) Kinkon Falls Îles de Los CAPITAL: Conakry www.ontguinee.com

Eritrea

Bijagos Archipelago Cantanhez Natural Park Museum of African Artefacts CAPITAL: Bissau www.guineabissautourism.com

Dahlak Archipelago Tour of Eritrea (bicycle race) Akordat CAPITAL: Asmara eritreantourism@tse.com.er

Ethiopia Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela (New Jerusalem) Home of the Queen of Sheba, Axum African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa TOTAL Great Ethiopian Race CAPITAL: Addis Ababa www.tourismethiopia.org

Guinea-Bissau

Kenya Mount Kenya National Park Tsavo West National Park

Watamu-Malindi Marine Park CAPITAL: Nairobi www.magicalkenya.com

Lesotho Bushmen Rock Paintings Ski Lesotho Highlands (www. afriski.co.za) Sehlabathebe National Park CAPITAL: Maseru www.ltdc.org.ls

Liberia Sapo National Park Kendeja National Cultural Center Firestone Rubber Plantation CAPITAL: Monrovia www.micat.gov.lr

Libya Akakus Mountains (prehistoric rock art) Ubari Lakes (dune surfing) Leptis Magna (tribute to African Roman Emperor Septimus Severus) CAPITAL: Tripoli www.libyan-tourism.org

Madagascar Fianarantsoa (Capital of Wine) Montagne d’Arbre National Park Queen’s Palace Frère Gillet Botanic Gardens , DRC ecocongo.cd

Gabon Cathedral of St Michael in Libreville Lopé-Okanda Reserve National Park (gorilla) M’Bigou (gold mines/ crafts) CAPITAL: Libreville www.legabon.org

The Gambia Deep Sea Fishing, 67 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do CAPITAL: Antananarivo www.madagascar-tourisme.com

Malawi Lake Malawi Marine Park Nyika National Park Liwonde National Park CAPITAL: Lilongwe www.malawitourism.com

Mali Festival in the Desert Timbuctou La Boucle de Baoule National Park CAPITAL: Bamako www.le-mali.com/omatho/index. htm

Mauritania Parc National du Banc d’Arguin Chinguetti, a holy city of Islam Oualata CAPITAL: Nouakchott www.tourisme.mr

www.mauritius.net

Morocco Todra and Dades Gorges Talassemtane National Park Essaouira CAPITAL: Rabat www.visitmorocco.com

Mozambique Maputo Elephant Park Gorongosa National Park Bazaruto Archipelago CAPITAL: Maputo www.futur.org.mz/index-en.html

Namibia Mahongo Game Reserve Etosha National Park Skeleton Coast CAPITAL: Windhoek www.namibiatourism.com.na

Niger

Mauritius

Agadez ‘W’ National Park Igouloulef CAPITAL: Algiers www.niger-tourisme.com

Black River Gorges National Park Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve Rodrigues Island CAPITAL: Port Louis

Cross River National Park Emir’s Palace, Kano Benin City CAPITAL: Lagos www.tourism.gov.ng

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo Loufoulakari Falls Loango (main embarkation port for slaves) Congo Rapids CAPITAL: Brazzaville Direction Generale du Tourisme et des Loisirs, Tel: 830 953

Reunion Piton des Neiges Plaine d’Affouches Le Voile de la Mariée (The Bride’s Veil) CAPITAL: Saint-Denis ot.saint-pierre@wanadoo.fr

Rwanda Cards From Africa, Kigali Parc National des Volcans Gorilla Trek Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk CAPITAL: Kigali www.rwandatourism.com/

São Tomé & Principe Bom Bom Island Deep Sea Fishing Humpback Whale Watching Agua Izé Plantation CAPITAL: São Tomé www.saotome.st

Senegal African Renaissance Monument Retba (Pink) Lake Maison des Enclaves (House of Slaves), Goree Island CAPITAL: Dakar sentouroffice@aol.com

Seychelles Marlin Fishing in Denis St Anne Marine National Park Aldabra CAPITAL: Victoria www.seychelles.travel

Sierra Leone Outamba-Kilimi National Park Freetown Peninsula Bunce Island, Slave Trading Station CAPITAL: Freetown www.welcometosierraleone.org

Somalia

Aldabra Atoll Island , Seychelles tripfreakz.com 68 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Hargeisa National Park Neolithic Paintings Las Geel Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches CAPITAL: Mogadishu www.somali-gov.info/Tourism/ index.html

Somaliland Hargeisa National Park Neolithic Paintings Las Geel Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches CAPITAL: Hargiesa www.somalilandgov.com (Ministry of Tourism & Culture 252-2257917)

South Africa Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory & Dialogue, Johannesburg Great White Shark Festival, Cape Town/Gansbaai The Elephant Coast, Zulu Kingdom CAPITAL: Johannesburg www.whitesharkfestival.org www.nelsonmandela.org www.zulu.org.za www.southafrica.net

South Sudan Boma National Park

Nimule National Park Nile River CAPITAL: Juba www.goss.org

Fosse aux Lions (Lions’ Den) National Park CAPITAL: Lomé www.togo-tourisme.com

Sudan

Tunisia

Port Sudan, The Red Sea Gemmeiza Tourist Village Pyramids of Meroe CAPITAL: Khartoum www.sudan-tourism.gov.sd/ english/index.php

Desert Trekking from Douz Matmata (Star Wars film site) Sidi Bou Saïd CAPITAL: Tunis www.tourismtunisia.com

Swaziland

Uganda

Mkhaya Game Reserve Phophomyane Nature Reserve Usutu River (white-water rafting) CAPITAL: Mbabane www.welcometoswaziland.com

Mountains of the Moon (Mount Rwenzori National Park) Bwindi National Park (view gorilla) Source of the Nile,Owen Falls Dam, Jinja CAPITAL: Kampala http://visituganda.com/index.php

Tanzania

Western Sahara

Bagamoyo Slave Trail Katavi Plains National Park Ngorongoro Crater Stone Town, Zanzibar CAPITAL: Dodoma http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/

City of El-Aaiún Dakhla (surfing) CAPITAL: El-Aaiún dajla47@hotmail.com

Togo

Koutammakou (World Heritage Site) Whale Watching, Gulf of Benin

Zambia Walking Safari, South Luangwa National Park Musi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls), Livingstone Zambezi White Water Rafting CAPITAL: Lusaka www.zambiatourism.com

Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe Lake Kariba Chizarira National Park CAPITAL: Harare www.zimbabwetourism.co.zw Sources: www.worldtravelguide.net/ africa www. internationaltouristboards. com www.worldtourismdirectory. com/directory/africa/index. html 

White Water Rafting, Usutu River, Swaziland swazitrails.co.sz 69 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

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Ski Africa Overview: Skiing in Africa

T

here are currently 10 indoor and outdoor ski resorts set in the nations of Kingdom of Morocco, Republic of Egypt, Republic of Algeria, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa.

There are 4 unconfirmed ski resorts. The following facts provide an overview of the ski regions of Africa: Elevation of the Ski Resorts 70 m - 3268 m Elevation Difference max. 658 m in one ski resort Slopes 21 km (max. 10 km in one ski resort) Ski Lifts 23 (max. 7 in one ski resort) Ski Passes € 14.40 to € 30.74

Oukaimeden

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ oukaimeden The ski resort Oukaïmeden is located in the Marrakesh-TensiftEl Haouz Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 10 km of slopes available. 7 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 2,610 and 3,268 m.

Chréa

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ chrea/ The ski resort Chréa is located in the Province of Blida (Algeria).

For skiing and snowboarding, there are 0.5 km of slopes available. 3

lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,460 and 1,550 m.

Afriski Mountain Resort

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ afriski-mountain-resort The ski resort Afriski Mountain Resort is located in the ButhaButhe District (Lesotho). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1.8 km of slopes available. 2 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 3,030 and 3,222 m.

AfriSki, the only skiing resort in the Kingdom of Lesotho, is located 3222 m above sea-level in the Maluti Mountains. It offers a main Ski slope, a beginners slope and operates during the winter months.

72 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Tiffindell

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ tiffindell The ski resort Tiffindell is located in the Province of Eastern Cape (South Africa). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 2.4 km of slopes available. 5 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 2,700 and 2,930 m.

Tiffindell is the highest resort in South Africa. It is nestling snugly on the slope of Ben McDhui (3001m), the highest pass in South Africa and the highest peak in the Cape. Within 15 acres of terrain, there are pistes suitable for all abilities. In an average season, Tiffindell is open for skiing and snowboarding in June, July and August. It has slope-side accommodation available for 150 guests and many more day visitors

michlifen The ski resort Michlifen is located in the Meknès-Tafilalet Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,880 and 2,060 m.

Ski Egypt

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ ski-egypt/

ses-ski.com in the surrounding valleys. There is a restaurant, coffee lounge, 2 bars, ski clothing shop and ski school.

Non aspiring skiers join in to enjoy a unique experience, making snowmen, throwing snow balls or tobogganing, making it the perfect family holiday for young and old.

Matroosberg

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ matroosberg/ The ski resort Matroosberg is located in the Province of Western Cape (South Africa). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 2 km of slopes available. 2 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,794 and 2,132 m.

Michlifen

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/

The indoor ski resort Ski Egypt is located in the Mall of Egypt, 6th October City, Cairo (Egypt). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 0.6 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 150 and 180 m.

With over 7,000 tons of snow, Ski Egypt is launching the first ski resort in Africa with the world’s largest indoor snow park, offering everything from skiing, slope snowboarding, sledging and a Polar Express Train to a jolly kids area and a professional Ski School, all in a one stop, breathtaking experience for family and friends.

Jbel Hebri

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ jbel-hebri The ski resort Jbel Hebri is located in the Meknès-Tafilalet Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,950 and 2,090 m.

Azrou

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ azrou The ski resort Azrou is located in the Ifrane Province of the FèsMeknès region (Morocco). For 73 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,800 and 2,000 m.

Ski Namibia

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ ski-namibia Options for Dune Skiing in the Namib Desert, Namibia (high dunes, breathtaking landscapes, long dune belt) are manifold.

Not only the fast ski runs on the dunes bring the kick, but also the landscape and nature aspect are simply one-of-a-kind amidst the world’s oldest desert. For information and arrangements: www.ski-namibia.com, henrik@ ski-namibia.com, P.O. Box 8140, Swakopmund, Namibia.

Unconfirmed Ski Resorts Cape Town, South Africa (In development, possibly) www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ snowfun-cape-town-planned Kingdom of Morocco (mountain climbing resorts that may include skiing opportunities) www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ djebel-bou-iblane www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ hoher-atlas www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ rif-gebirge  www.skiresort.info/ski-resorts/ africa

Be in touch Be in tune Be independent

Nesting international standards with African hospitality.

Kuramo Waters, Victoria Island, Lagos | Nigeria Phone: +234 1 277 2700 | Fax: +234 1 270 4071 E-mail: reservation@ekohotels.com | info@ekohotels.com Website: www.ekohotels.com 74 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

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Cruise Africa Highlights of Africa Viking Ocean Cruises

O

utside Africa’s safari circuit lies spellbinding coasts and lush islands where tribal ways, intriguing cultures, modern cities and breathtaking wilderness live side by side. Amid this multihued mosaic, Viking reveals enduring ways of life and unspoiled landscapes, calling on the island nations of Mauritius and Madagascar, immersing you in South Africa’s Victorian-flavored ports and bringing you around the famed Cape of Good Hope to the sandstrewn coast of Namibia and beyond. Here are a few sample highlights from Viking Africa cruises: • The diverse cultural tapestry of Mauritius • French-flavored Madagascar • Jacaranda- and acacia-lined avenues of Maputo, Mozambique • Durban’s blend of British, Indian and Zulu influences • Victorian flavors of East London, South Africa’s only river port • Cape Town’s sophisticated Victoria & Albert waterfront • Stark beauty and colorful buildings of German-influenced Lüderitz • Walvis Bay’s towering sand dunes • Senegal’s bustling capital of Dakar • Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque, the largest outside Mecca  www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/ africa/index.html?cid=SEM%7cBNG%7c999% 7cc_328437976_kwd-76897191482380:aud807671474:loc-4095_76897170554635&utm_ id=sem:NB-Search-Oceans-Africa&msclkid=d3ae 2688bfac181d69897acdadd45c02&gclid=COGhha nP_d8CFUKlZQodAZsJLg&gclsrc=ds

www.vikingcruises.com

Viking Star

76 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Viking Orion

Viking Escape 77 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

West Africa Airways Inc. is a low-cost airfare Passenger airline offering air charter airline services along with our Partners in Aviation and the fleet of B767-300 Extended Range aircraft.

The company was formed in 2004 when it reached an agreement with some of the countries in West Africa, to begin flight operations from Thurgood Marshall BaltimoreWashington International Airport, (BWI) USA.Fax: (775) 882-6818 E-mail: info@westafricaairways.com Website: www.westafricaairways.com Destinations: Roberts Field International Airport, Liberia (ROB); Dekar Yoff International Airport, Senegal (DKR); Kotoka International Airport, Ghana (ACC)

www.gov.rw

Black Cultural Travel Made Easy http://soulofamerica.com/international-guides.phtml 79 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Golf Africa www.golfworldmap.com/africa/#9.622414142924805,17.05078125,3

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa during Presidential Golf Challenge iol.co.za

Botswana

Gaborone Golf Club at the Gaborone Sun Hotel Phakalane Golf Estate Hotel Resort www.phakalane.com

Egypt

Alexandria Sporting Club, Alexandria Cascades at Soma Bay Golf and Country Club www.residencedescascades.com

Dreamland Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo www.dreamlandgolf.com

Golf City, Cairo Katemeya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo www.katameyaheights.com

Madinat Makadi Golf Course, Madinat Makadi www.madinatmakadigolf.com

Mena House Oberoi Golf Course, Cairo

Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, Nairobi

www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_ menahouse/index.asp

www.windsorgolfresort.com

Mirage City Golf Club, Cairo

Ile aux Cherfs, Trou d’Eau Douce Le Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Le Morne Peninsula

www.golf.jwmarriottcairo.com/golf

Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel, Hurghada www.steigenbergeraldaubeach.com

Kenya

Karen Country Club, Nairobi Kiambu Golf Club, Kiambu Leisure Lodge Beach & Golf Resort, Mombasa Muthaiga Golf Club, Nairobi Nyali Golf & Country Club, Mombasa

Mauritius

www.paradis-hotel.com

Legend Golf Course, Poste de Flacq www.bellemareplagehotel.com

Links Golf Course, Poste de Flacq www.princemaurice.com

One&Only Le Saint Géran Golf Course, Poste de Flacq http://lesaintgeran.oneandonlyresorts. com

www.nyaligolf.co.ke

Shandrani Golf Club, Blue Bay

Railway Golf Club, Nairobi Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi The Golf Park at the Jockey Club of Kenya, Nairobi

www.shandrani-hotel.com

80 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Troux aux Biches Golf Club, Troux aux Biches www.trouauxbiches-hotel.com

Golf Africa www.golfworldmap.com/africa/#9.622414142924805,17.05078125,3 Morocco

Anfa Royal Golf Club, Casablanca Cabo Negro Royal Golf Club, Tetouan Royal Golf of Dar es Salam, Rabat www.royalgolfdaressalam.com/ english/index.cfm

Club Med les Dunes, Agadir El Jadida Royal Golf Club, El Jadida Fes Royal Golf Club, Fes Marrakech Royal Golf Club, Marrakech Meknes Royal Golf Club, Meknes Mohammedia Royal Golf Club, Mohammedia Settat University Royal Golf Club, Settat Tangier Royal Golf Club, Tangier

Nambia

Keetmanshoop Golf Course, Keetmanshoop Okahandja Golf Club, Okahandja www.okahandja.net/sport/default.html

Orandjemund Golf Club, Oranjemund Rossmund Golf Course, Swakopmund Tsumeb Golf Club, Tsumeb Walvis Bay Golf Course, Walvis Bay Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek www.windhoek.co.za

Nigeria

IBB Golf Course, Abuja IITA Golf Club, Ibadan Ikeja Golf Club, Lagos www.ikejagolfclub.org

Reunion

Golf du Bassin Blue, St Gilles les Hauts Golf Club de Bourbon, Etang Sale les Bains www.golf-bourbon.com/spip/spip. php?lang=en

Club du Colorado, La Montagne

Senegal

Golf de Saly, Mbour

www.golfsaly.com/intro/presentation_ fr.htm

Stellenbosch

Golf International du Technopôle, Dakar Le Méridien President Resort & Golf Club, Dakar

Durban Country Club, Durban

www.starwoodhotels.com/ lemeridien/property/overview/index. html?propertyID=1821&EM=VTY_ MD_1821_DAKAR_OVERVIEW

Sierra Leone

Freetown Golf Club, Freetown

South Africa

www.devonvale.co.za www.dcclub.co.za

Durbanville Golf Club, Durbanville www.durbanvillegolfclub.co.za

East London Golf Course, East London www.elgc.co.za

Emfuleni Golf Estate, Vanderbijlpark www.emfulenigolfestate.com

Akasia Golf Clue, Pretoria

Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate, George

www.akasiacountryclub.co.za

www.fancourt.co.za

Atlantic Beach Golf Club, Cape Town

Gary Player Country Club Golf Course, Sun City

www.atlanticbeachgolfclub.co.za/ capetown/index.asp

Bellville Golf Club, Cape Town

www.suninternational.com/ Destinations/Resorts/Golf/Pages/Golf. aspx

www.bellvillegolf.co.za

George Golf Club, George

Benoni Country Club, Johannesburg

Germiston Golf Club, Germiston

www.benonicountryclub.co.za/pro/ Default.aspx

www.georgegolfclub.co.za www.germistongolf.com

Blair Atholl, Fourways

Glendower Golf Course, Johannesburg

www.blairatholl.co.za

www.glendower.co.za

Blue Valley Golf & Country Estate, Olifantsfontein

Hermanus Golf Club, Hermanus

www.bluevalley.co.za

Houghton Golf Club, Houghton

Bryanston Country Club, Bryanston

www.houghton.co.za

www.hgc.co.za

www.bryanstoncc.co.za

Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth

Centurion Country Club, Centurion

www.humewoodgolf.co.za

www.centurioncountryclub.co.za

The Country Club Johannesburg, Rivonia

Champagne Sports Resort, Winterton

www.ccj.co.za

ktpress.rw

Clovelly Country Club, Cape Town

Killarney Country Club, Johannesburg

www.clovelly.za.net

www.killarneycountryclub.co.za

Crown Mines Golf Club, Johannesburg

Kingswood Golf Estate, George

www.g-i.co.za/clubs/?c=274

Kleinmond Golf Club, Kleinmond

Darling Golf Club, Darling

www.kleinmondgolfclub.co.za

www.darlingtourism.co.za/sportdetail. htm#golfclub

Kloof Country Club, Kloof

De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, Stellenbosch

Knysna Golf Club, Knysna

www.champagnesportsresort.com

www.kingswood.co.za

www.kloofcountryclub.co.za www.knysnagolfclub.com

www.golfdezalze.com

Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate, 81 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

see Golf Africa on page 82

Tiger Woods

from Golf Africa page 81

Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate, Nylstroom www.korocreek.com

Langebaan County Estate Golf & Leisure, Langebaan www.langebaanestate.co.za

Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane www.leopardcreek.co.za

Lost City, Sun City www.suninternational.com/ Destinations/Resorts/Golf/Pages/Golf. aspx

Malmesbury Golf Club, Malmesbury www.malmesburygolfclub.co.za

Metropolitan Golf Course, Cape Town www.metropolitangolfclub.co.za

Milnerton Golf Club, Cape Town www.milnertongolfclub.co.za

Modderfontein Golf Club, Modderfontein www.mgclub.co.za

Monks Cowl Coutry Club & Lodge, Winterton www.monkscowl.co.za

Mossel Bay Golf Club, Mossel Bay www.mosselbaygolfclub.co.za

Mowbray Golf Club, Cape Town

www.sanlameer.co.za

www.mowbraygolfclub.co.za

Scottburgh Golf Club, Scottburgh

Paarl Golf Course, Paarl

www.scottburghgolf.co.za

www.paarlgolfclub.co.za

Selbourne Golf Estate, Pennington

Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate and Spa, Cape Winelands

www.selborne.com

www.pearlvalley.co.za

Pecanwood Golf & Country Club, Hartbeesportt www.pecanwoodgolf.co.za

Plettenberg Bay Country Club, Plettenberg Bay

Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club, Pretoria www.silverlakes.co.za

Somerset West Golf Club, Somerset West www.somersetwestgolfclub.co.za

www.plettgolf.co.za

St Francis Bay Golf Club, St Francis Bay

Pretoria Country Club, Pretoria

www.stfrancisgolf.co.za

www.ptacc.co.za

St Francis Links, St Francis Bay

Randpark Golf Club, Randburg

www.stfrancislinks.com

www.randpark.co.za

Steenberg Golf Club, Cape Town

Reading Country Club, Alberton www.readingcc.co.za

www.steenberggolfclub.co.za/ Framework/index.asp

River Club Golf & Conference Center, Cape Town

Stellenbosch Golf Club, Stellenbosch

http://riverclub.co.za

Riviera on Vaal Country Club, Vereenigning www.rovcountryclub.co.za

Royal Cape Golf Club, Cape Town www.royalcapegolf.co.za

Royal Durban Golf Club, Durban www.royaldurban.co.za

San Lameer Country Club, Margate 82 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

www.steenberggolfclub.co.za/ Framework/index.asp

Umdoni Golf Course, Pennington www.umdonipark.com

Umhlali Country Club, Umhlali www.umhlalicountryclub.co.za

Westlake Golf Club, Cape Town www.westlakegolfclub.co.za

Wingate Park Country Club, Pretoria

Golf Africa www.golfworldmap.com/africa/#9.622414142924805,17.05078125,3

www.djerbagolf.com

El Kantaoui Golf Course, Port El Kantaoui www.portelkantaoui.com.tn/ golf

Flamingo Golf Course, Monastir www.golfflamingo.com/ english/flamingo.htm

Golf Citrus, Hammamet www.golfcitrus.com www.wingateparkcountryclub.co.za

FacilitiesActivities/Pages/Golf.aspx

Swaziland Royal Swazi Spa Country Club

The Gambia

www.suninternational. com/Destinations/Resorts/ RoyalSwaziSpaValley/

www.smiles.gm/fajara.htm

Fajara Club, Fajara

Tunisia

Djerba Golf Club, Midoun 83 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Palm Links Golf Course, Monastir www.golf-palmlinks.com/english/ presentation.htm

Tabarka Golf Course, Tabarka www.tabarkagolf.com/en/index.htm

Yasmine Golf Course, Mannamet www.golfyasmine.com/en/index.php 

African Cuisine!

Namibia

Namibian Cuisine Is influenced by two primary cultural strands: Cookery practised by indigenous people of Namibia such as the Himba, Herero and San groups. Settler cookery introduced during the colonial period by people of German, Afrikaner and British descent..

Namibian Black-Eyed Pas

Ingredients: 4 cups fresh black-eyed peas 1 teaspoon salt 1 chili peppers, crushed or 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper Directions: 1. Soak fresh peas (used canned peas if you cannot find fresh) in cold water for about five minutes to soften.

2. Using both hands, rub and gently squeeze the peas as they

continue to soak.

3. This process will gradually loosen the skins, which will float to the top.

4. Skim and discard the skins.

5. Drain and rinse the peas, add salt and hot pepper and cover with clean water.

6. Boil until tender.

7. Serve, along with the cooking water over oshifima or another stiff porridge.

8. If you like, you can cook greens, such as spinach and perhaps serve some sliced bananas with peanuts to have a complete meal.

hour or until the meat is nearly done.

2. Add the saffron, bay leaves and chicken stock cubes to the boiling water and set aside.

3. Place the fish and prawns on top of the meat, followed by the rice and peas. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the saffron water little by little as the rice boils dry. Simmer the potjie gently until the rice and peas are done and all the liquid has nearly boiled away. Paella should be loose and the rice should not be soggy.

4. Add the lemon juice just before serving and stir well.

Paella Potjie

Crocodile or Chicken Skewers With Cashew Nut Satay

Ingredients: 1⁄4 cup cooking oil 3 red sweet peppers (seeded and cut in strips) 1 large onion, chopped 1 lb pork, cubed 5 chicken thighs, halved 4 cups boiling water 1 teaspoon saffron 4 bay leaves 2 chicken stock cubes 2 lbs kingklip or white perch fillets, cut in strips 12 ounces prawns, frozen 1 lb rice, uncooked salt and pepper Directions: 1. Heat the oil in the pot.

Lightly brown the pepper, onion, pork and chicken. Cover and simmer slowly for an 84 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Ingredients: Crocodile filets or 2 large chicken breasts, cut into thin strips Salt, to taste Fresh ground pepper, to taste MARINADE 1⁄2 lemon, juice of 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 -2 tablespoon soy sauce

Paella Potjie

SATAY SAUCE 2 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter 4 ounces unsalted cashews, crushed (110 g) 1 limes, juice of or 1 lemon, juice of 0.5 (12 ounce) can coconut milk fresh green chile, chopped (to taste) splash soy sauce, to season palm sugar (optional) or light muscovado sugar, to taste (optional) EQUIPMENT 8 -12 bamboo skewers or 8 -12 cocktail sticks, for assembling Directions: 1. Soak the bamboo skewers or cocktail sticks in cold water for 10 minutes to prevent them from burning.

2. Season the crocodile or chicken generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cut into strips about 1cm x 2cm (0.5in x 1in).

pan until very hot.

7. Thread two or three strips of marinated crocodile or chicken meat onto each skewer and place on the barbecue or griddle pan or under the grill.

8. Cook for a few minutes on each side until cooked through and golden, being careful not to overcook.

9. Serve the skewers with the hot satay sauce for dipping.

• Mix together ingredients for the meat and form into meatballs.

Place meatballs in nonstick skillet and cook until done, about 20 minutes.

• Mix together ingredients for dip and chill until needed.

Namibian Lamb Lollies with Garlic Cream Cheese Dip

Ingredients: For the meat 2 lbs ground lamb 1⁄4 cup chopped of fresh mint 1 large onion, chopped 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 hot peri-peri or 1 Thai red chili pepper, minced 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1⁄2 teaspoon ground allspice 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Crocodile or Chicken Skewers With Cashew Nut Satay 2 teaspoons ground cumin 3. Mix together the marinade ingre1⁄2 teaspoon ground coriander dients and marinate the crocodile 1 teaspoon paprika or chicken strips for half an hour or 3 eggs longer if possible.

3 tablespoons cornstarch 4. To make the satay sauce, combine 1⁄4 cup grated mozzarella all the satay sauce ingredients cheese together in a small pan, adding just For the dip enough soy sauce to season. Add 1⁄2 cup cream cheese, softened a little palm sugar or light brown 4 tablespoons mayonnaise muscovado sugar to sweeten, if 8 garlic cloves, minced necessary.

4 tablespoons of fresh mint, 5. Simmer very gently for five minfinely chopped utes.

1 teaspoon ground cumin 6. Preheat a barbecue, grill or griddle Directions: 85 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Velvet Coffee Creamer Tart

Velvet Coffee Creamer Tart Ingredients: 200 g coconut biscuits 380 g condensed milk 125 ml lemon juice 250 ml powdered coffee creamer 125 ml milk Directions: • Crush eight biscuits finely set aside.

• Layer the other biscuits on the bottom and side of a square dish.

• Mix condense milk and coffee creamer together.

• Add lemon juice slowly, mix until the mixture thickens.

• Pour over the layer of biscuits.

• Sprinkle crushed biscuits on top, put into the refrigerator.

• Serve the following day.  www.geniuskitchen.com/search/namibian

Lamb Lolliepops

Pan-African

ASSIST THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN

CHILDREN’S FUND

people-to-people, church-to-church initiative to contribute to a better future for the children of Africa Please send your contribution to:

Pan-African Children’s Fund P.O. Box 8386 Los Angeles, CA 90008

323-733-1048 pacf@westa.org

Sudan Sunrise

S

outh Sudan is the most underdeveloped region of the world today. 85% of the population in South Sudan is illiterate. Only about 7% of teachers in the south have any professional training, and it is not uncommon to visit a school where the teachers themselves have not been educated beyond fourth grade. Some 1.5 million children who should be in school are not, due to lack of schools. The majority of schools that do exist consist of a chalkboard under a tree. Read about the camapign and contribute to the program to build over 41 schools at www.sudansunrise.org.

Southern Sudan Literacy Project (SSLP)

T

https://aatconline.com

Help Build Schools in the South Sundan www.sudansunrise.org

Build a Primary School • www.thehopealliance.org/?q=node/77

he Southern Sudan Literacy Project (SSLP) is designed to build a Primary school in Dongchak Payam, Duk County, Southern Sudan. Solomon Awan, who was one of the “Lost Boys from Sudan,” now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. He desires to help the village he is from, Duk Padiet.

Villagers are just now returning after so many years of war and genocide. During the Spring of 2008, Solomon traveled back to his home village where he was reunited with his mother and sister.

He met with the village community and agreed that the education of their children is the most critical need. We hope to finish building the school before the 2011 rainy season. To further this goal, SSLP has partnered with Hope Alliance, allowing our donors the benefit of a tax deduction. Please help SSLP accomplish this worthwhile project: send donations to The Hope Alliance (www.thehopealliance.org) For further information please contact: solomonawan@yahoo.com. 

ENJOY!!

The many beers, wines and liquors of Africa.

On the continent and in the U.S.A. 86 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019

Sailing July 20 - 27, 2019 from Ft. Lauderdale onboard the Celebrity Equinox to: San Juan PR - Tortola BVI - Punta Cana DR Key West FL. FESTIVAL AT SEA is the ORIGINAL African American themed cruise. Entering our 28th year of Cruising with an African-American Twist, we’ve set the bar high. 2019 reaches that mark as we set sail on the beautiful Celebrity Equinox.

The Equinox captures the very essence of premium cruising and luxury. With new amenities not available on any other Celebrity ship, prepare to have your expectations exceeded as soon as you step on board. This is “Modern Luxury” and in 2019, you will be the Celebrity!

On Festival at Sea we bring top-name entertainment to perform for you in our venues. DJ’s spin music in our onboard clubs and our White Night and Costume Theme Nights are off the hook. The days are filled with dozens of activities, shows and classes that will keep you moving throughout the week. That’s why so many people make it their annual Family Reunion at Sea. Some of our exclusive events include: Speed Dating  Gospel Brunch  Worship Service and Bible Study  Bid Whist  Dominoes  Aqua Zumba  Steppin’ Classes  Urban Line Dancing  UNCF Bachelor Auction  Boot Camp Workout  African-American Idol  Urban Ballroom Dancing  Family Feud  Jewelry Raffle Giveaway  Stomp The Deck Frat and Sorority Step Competition  2 on 2 Basketball Tournament  Gospelcise  African Attire Evening & Fashion Show  Renewal of Wedding Vows  Beach Parties ... plus much much more!

All of this is wrapped up in 7 days of excitement and celebration ... plus 4 ports and two days at sea!

Festival at Sea… Once You Go… Then You Know!

Blue World Travel Corporation 351 California Street, Suite 950, San Francisco, CA 94104 Telephone: 1-800-466-2719 Facsimile: 1-415-882-9985 E-mail : fas@blueworldtravel .com Website: www.festivalatsea.com 88 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2019