Travel 2013 summer

Summer 2013 USD$5.00

Contents: Heritage Tourism Travel Industry News Travel Africa Golf Africa

page 26 page 7 page 21 page 64

Olympic Team Republic of Cameroon

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In This Issue…

Features 5 From the Publisher 7 Travel Industry News 14 Tune Hotels Ready to Invest in Africa 16 Africa’s Top Lodging 18 FastJet cleared for Flights 21 Travel Africa Where to go, What to do

26 Heritage Tourism (cover story) We Are The World Tracing Our Ancestry My Roots Discovery “Cameroon” Tracing Our Roots Why Travel to Cameroon Invest In Your Roots “I Am An African”

42 UNTWO Meets in Zambia 45 Private Jets for Hire

50 TSA Offers Hands Off Screening Option 51 Fire Damages Kenyatte Airport but JKIA Rebounds 56 I’m Black and I Travel “Africa-Keeping it Real”

62 Travel to Africa in 10 Easy Steps 64 Golf Africa

Culture 70 African Cuisine Foods of Cameroon

73 Book Reviews Bogolan; by V.L. Rovine

74 Music Reviews Music of Mali: Kouyaté and Diabaté

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Connecting the USA to West Africa and Beyond

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Summer 2013 USD$5.00 Earl “Skip” Cooper, II - Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Black Business News Group Sarah Harris - Associate Editor Dean L. Jones - Associate Editor Narishima Osei - Production Manager Sarah Harris, Phallu Morgan - 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 1-323-298-5064 - Fax info@blackbusinessnews.net www.blackbusinessnews.net View the publication at: www.bbala.org (Black Business News)

Cameroonian artist, Issa Nyaphaga, exhibits body painting techniques

From the Publisher...

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Black Business News Group

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he Black Business News Group’s Travel Africa is focused on the concept of tourism travel and economic investment based on DNA heritage knowledge. You may not need a special reason to travel to the African continent but if there is some indecision on where to go in Africa your DNA heritage knowledge may provide some direction.

Our cover story is focused on the Republic of Cameroon because some of our friends and supporters were identified as being of Cameroon ancestry after taking the African Ancestry DNA test (page 28). In support of that outcome we have all become more attuned to Cameroon culture, economics, tourism and current events. Africa has become more personal, more than “where our ancesters were from”.

We invite you to try the recipes on page 70. Visit the site “Countries and Their Culture” (www. everyculture.com) to read about the nation(s) and people of your specific DNA linkage. And, if you do not know your personal link to Africa, visit the African Ancestry website (www.africanancestry.com) to order your test - knowing is good.

We hope Black Business News Travel Africa is contributing to your interest in Africa as a travel destination. Write us, ask us questions, or suggest topics for future issues.

Thanks for reading our publication. 

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Travel Industry News Ritz-Carlton Rabat

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he 120-room Ritz-Carlton, Rabat, will open in the capital city of Morocco in late 2014. The resort will be about 10 minutes from the city center, within the grounds of The Royal Golf of Dar Es Salam, designed by Robert Trent Jones. The property also will have 15 guest villas.

WATG designed a business hotel along the edge of the existing golf course without imposing its presence on the golf experience. The two and threestory guestrooms are carefully shielded from the golf course but provide framed picturesque views. The architectural design

seeks to create a harmony between the contemporary and traditional Moroccan architecture.

Immaculate courtyards and walled gardens provide tranquil pockets for reflection and privacy.  www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ ektid54714.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek 

38th Annual ATA Congress in Cameroon

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he Africa Travel Association (ATA) has announced that the Republic of Cameroon will host the 38th Annual ATA World Congress, October 16-21, 2013.

The congress will bring together

hundreds of tourism leaders and professionals from government, business and nonprofit sectors to promote tourism development to and across Africa from around the world.

For detailed information visit the Africa Travel Association website at: www.africatravelassociation. org.  http://travelworldnews. com/2012/07/30/republic-ofcameroon-to-host-africa-travelassociations-annual-congress 

Le Méridien to Open New Hotel in Egypt see Travel Industry News on page 8

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Travel Industry News from page 7

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n 2013, Starwood’s expansion plan for Le Méridien includes opening a new site in Egypt, Le Méridien Cairo Airport. Scheduled to open on September 1st, the hotel will offer direct airport access, we detailed amenities, like a coffee bar, lounge, and pool, and modern meeting spaces.  www.meetings-conventions. com/articles_ektid54314. aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek&page=2 

TSA Pre-Check Now Available to International Travelers

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ood news – for air travelers in the last few years has been TSA Pre-Check, which allows passengers to speed through security at dozens of U.S. airports without removing shoes, laptop bags and light outerwear.

Domestic travelers love it, but

international travelers were stuck in the slow lane. Thankfully, that’s changed.

“Passengers flying internationally from the 40 participating TSA PreCheck airports (www.tsa.gov/tsaprecheck/tsa-precheck-expeditedscreening) may be eligible to receive expedited screening,” reads a statement from the TSA early in May. “May be” because TSA doesn’t guarantee quick screening to any traveler. “TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures

Le Méridien Cairo Airport throughout the airport,” reads the website.

When it works, it’s like magic.

Scan your boarding pass to enter security at a designated PreCheck lane, listen for the happy three-beep chime that says you’ve been approved, and the screening of your baggage and person takes a mere fraction of the time it takes those poor souls in the other lanes; that’s largely because the lines are so short since so few fliers have registered for Pre-Check. In the dozen or more times I’ve used it, I don’t think it’s ever taken me more than about 90 seconds to get through security. I only wished it was available for international flights, and now it is.

Pre-Check is so popular that airlines have started printing the logo on boarding passes of qualified fliers. The TSA debuted Pre-Check “based on the premise that most passengers do not pose a risk to security,” according to its blog. Since then, it says, over 9 million passengers have used PreCheck.

It’s handled through airlines, who invite their frequent fliers – implication: their most trusted travelers – to apply. Travelers in other “trusted traveler” programs, such as NEXUS, SENTRI and Global Entry, are also eligible for Pre-Check. Read the details 8 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

at www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/tsaprecheck-participation.

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways currently offer TSA Pre-Check to their frequent fliers.

Southwest Airlines is working on a pilot program to try out Pre-Check, Virgin America has announced that it will also register its frequent fliers for Pre-Check this summer, and JetBlue says that it is “exploring the program.”  Andrew Bender for www.forbes.com/sites/ andrewbender/2013/05/21/ tsa-pre-check-now-speedsinternational-travelers-throughairport-security Photo credit: Andrew Bender

Lusaka and Lilongwe Flights Initiated

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n June 4, 2013 PROFLIGHT Zambia (http://proflight-zambia. com) will commence flights between Lusaka and Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital city.

Trade and tourism ties between Zambia and Malawi will be given a boost following the commencement of a three-times-a-week service between Lusaka and Lilongwe, see Travel Industry News on page 10

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Travel Industry News

from page 8

according to a statement issued by the airline.

The new route on Proflight’s network will be the first international destination for the airline, which already flies to nine domestic points in Zambia, including Lusaka, Livingstone, Ndola and Mfuwe.

“Proflight Zambia has grown from a solid base and is now looking forward to expanding its services to link with our neighbours in Malawi,” said the airline’s director of government and industry affairs Captain Philip Lemba. “We expect that the new three-times a week service will boost trade and tourism ties between the two countries, with all the economic benefits that brings.”

Flights to the Malawian capital will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, departing from Lusaka at 15:30 and arriving in Lilongwe at 17:10. The return flights leave Lilongwe on the same days at 17:55, arriving back in Lusaka at 19:35, the airline stated.

“The service also provides seamless connections to and from Emirates flights, which arrive in Lusaka from Dubai at 14:25 and depart from Lusaka for Dubai at 21:25 daily. Return fares from Lusaka to Lilongwe start from around KR2,000 and will operate initially with Proflight’s 29-seater Jetstream 41 aircraft,” stated Proflight.  www.ukzambians.co.uk/home/2013/05/23/ proflight-zambia-launches-flights-tolilongwe

Oneworld Alliance Launches Events Discounts

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he global airline alliance Oneworld introduced Oneworld Events recently, a new service designed for event and convention organizers. Planners may submit a request form online for the opportunity to centralize terms and discounts across any member airlines for an event.

Attendees of that event could then purchase discounted flights using an online booking tool, while the planners can earn and redeem

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travel credits.

Planners also gain access to realtime management reporting.

The program is for events of at least 500 attendees who are traveling from at least two regions. Planners can submit requests from three months to five years in advance of the event.

With the launch, Oneworld has joined competitors Star Alliance and SkyTeam in offering an events program across member airlines.  www.meetings-conventions. com/article_ektid54842. aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

International Tourism & Travel Show

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he International Tourism and Travel Show is an event all travel lovers simply must experience. More than 100 countries are represented either by their tourism offices, by tour operators or by travel agents.

The show offers all travel-related services, and also hosts numerous conferences in four different rooms. Last but not least, you can book your destination on site at the show, because a number of professionals are there to advise you.

The show will be held in Montreal, Canada at the Place Bonaventure, October 25, 26 & 27, 2013. To exhibit visit http:// salontourismevoyages.com/en/ devenez-exposant. To learn more about the show visit the website at http://salontourismevoyages.com/ see Travel Industry News on page 10

Travel Industry News from page 10

en/home.

EXPO MEDIA owns and produces the Montreal International Tourism and Travel Show. EXPO MEDIA, a

and BCD M&I, respectively. Former Travelocity Business president Yannis Karmis will remain with Travlocity Global as president of Travelocity Partner Network.  www.meetings-conventions. com/article_ektid55460. aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

BOB.tv Collaboration

M private company is headquartered in Montreal.  www.expomediainc.com/en/home

BCD Acquires Travelocity Business

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ravel management company BCD Travel acquired Travelocity Business, the corporate travel division of Travelocity. BCD intends to continue servicing Travelocity Business customers under the Travelocity Business brand, and will offer them access to BCD’s global network and expertise in travel consolidation, business analytics, and consulting and meetings services through Advito

eeting Professionals International (MPI) has joined five other organizations as a founding industry partner of the BtoB Events Network on BOB.tv, the eventcontent platform founded by Tony Lorenz, CMM. The platform, which will serve as an industry-specific portal for live and on-demand content from face-to-face events, was announced last year with the support of American Society of Association Executives, the Center for Exhibition Research, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, the Professional Convention Management Association and the Virtual Edge Institute. The partnering organizations’ content will reside online at the portal, potentially broadening their reach to other communities. “Our industry is setting a strong and

positive precedent for the broader global-business community,” noted Lorenz, with respect to the collaboration. The BtoB Events Network, BOB.tv’s first, will launch during the 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting & Expo, Aug. 3-6, in Atlanta.  www.meetingsconventions.com/article. aspx?id=55166&cid=eltrMidWeek

RSSC New Cruise Ship

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egent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) has ordered a 738-passenger all-suite vessel to be delivered in 2016. The new Seven Seas Explorer (www. rssc.com) features will include six open seating restaurants, a twostory theater and a large Canyon Ranch spa. RSSC destinations

include: Cape Verde, Egypt, Kenya, Madacasgar, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania.  www.meetingsconventions.com/article. aspx?id=55213&cid=eltrMidWeek see Travel Industry News on page 12

SAFARI SUPREME The Finest in Safari Travel Enjoy an adventure of a lifetime.

Bring a friend, share a memory.

Sign up with: Julien Dothard P.O. Box 1736, Hollywood, CA 90078 E-mail: dothard@sbcglobal.net Phone: 1-818-419-8639 11 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Travel Industry News from page 11

New RegOnline Launched

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eetings technology provider Active Network introduced a new version of Active RegOnline, the company’s entry-level online event-management solution. The platform is specifically designed for planners from small and midsized busnesses and associations.

The latest RegOnline has a completely redesigned interface and navigation structure, and offers access to Active’s global supplier marketplace, a simplified and updated version of StarCite’s

marketplace (StarCite is their enterprise solution). The new version also offers an electronic RFP wizard for creating and submitting requests for proposals, to as many as 12 hotesl per RFP. Free specialist support is available for those planners who require assistance.  www.meetingsconventions.com/article. aspx?id=55262&cid=eltrMidWeek

Airlines Launch CodeShare

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merican Airlines and the Brazilian-based carrier TAM Airlines launched a codeshare agreement, through which each company will be able

to sell, on a single ticket, certain flights on the other carrier. Soon, frequent flyers of either airlines will be able to earn miles or points when traveling with the other. American Airlines cutomers can now reach eight new Brazilian destinations, while TAM travelers gain access to 25 US cities. in 2014, TAM is slated to join the Oneworld Alliance, of which American is already a member.  www.meetingsconventions.com/article. aspx?id=55481&cid=eltrMidWeek

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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“The earlier people book online, the cheaper the price,” he said.

The Melbourne property will include a restaurant, cafe and courtyard, but true to the Tune model there will be no

By Robert Upe swimming pools, gyms or meeting rooms.

“It is a quirky and contemporary he low-cost Tune Hotel “When we opened in London in chain (www.tunehotels.com/ 2010 we had rooms for one penny,” design, with the principal colours my/en) is on schedule to he said. “As you can imagine, that of red, black and white,” Mr. open its first Australian property went ballistic. I’m not sure we can Lankester said.

Tune has 29 hotels around the in November 2013 and is likely repeat such a low introductory price to start online selling in July in a in Melbourne but the prices (for a world, in the UK, India, Malaysia, pre-opening sale with some of the limited number of rooms) will be Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. It is also opening in lowest room-rates in years. very, very affordable indeed.” the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Austria, Nigeria and Kenya, among other countries.

In the African region, Tune Hotel is keen to enter Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, he said, adding that the value hotel chain had already signed a deal in Nigeria.

“There is oil money in Nigeria.

The economy is growing fast.

There is huge demand amid a population 160 million people but there is no supply and the fact that there are no big international brands in the country it is a great time for us to gain a foothold there.

“We love countries that offer high room rates,” said Mark.

Going forward, Mark said TUNE HOTEL LONDON there was potential for Tune Hotel to go into full-fledged Tune’s Kuala Lumpur-based The Tune hotel low-cost model chief executive Mark Lankester is based on a similar concept to hotel services.

At some stage it would make was in Melbourne this week cheap airlines. You start with the sense to offer a four-star hotel looking over the Swanston Street basics and can add extras. site where the first 235-room hotel The basics include a “five-star” facility. “By then, we would have will open, followed by another in bed, hot high-pressure power built up certain amount of expertise.

Sydney in 2015. showers, a central location and 24- Just like how after AirAsia, AirAsia Tune is also looking at opening hour security. The extras include X came about,” he added.  in Perth and Adelaide, from where towels, air-conditioning, wi-fi and www.theadvocate.com.au/ sister company AirAsia X is TV. story/1519165/the-budgetconsidering commencing flights to Mr. Lankester said regular room airline-of-hotels-set-to-open-inKuala Lumpur. rates at the Melbourne hotel australia/?cs=34 Mr. Lankester wasn’t giving away could be between $60 and $100, www.mysinchew.com/ much about prices, but said room depending on the extras and how node/83207?tid=4 rates would be “very affordable”. far in advance a booking is made.

The “Budget Airline of Hotels” will Open in Africa

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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.

Travelogue

Africa’s Lodging…

Travel+Leisure Readers Suggest an Interesting Array of Places to Visit in Africa

L’Iglesia is set in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, once a Portugese fortified city that is so well preserved that you can wander through and explore its rich history. If ancient cities aren’t your thing, we hear that surfing the crashing waves on this particular part of the coast, is pretty thrilling.

Uganda Bwindi Lodge

www.volcanoessafaris.com Bwindi Lodge overlooks the primeval Bwindi forest, home to gorillas, monkeys, chimpanzees and birds.

If you are lucky the gorillas will come and welcome you at the finest property in Bwindi!

Baignoire sur le toit (bath tub on The lodge the roof) - Hotel L’Iglesia, Morocco has recently been completely refurbished and now offers unequalled comfort and style.

Eight bandas overlook the forest canopy, each with a private terrace from which guests can watch birds and monkeys in the tree tops.

Each ensuite stone bathroom consists of double see page 17

Morocco L’Iglesia

www.liglesia.com L’Iglesia is the second boutique hotel built by the owners of the Beldi Country Club in Marrakech. El Jadida an old city on the shores of the Atlantic hides a new jewel, the L’Iglesia Hotel, converted from a 16th century building that was formerly the home of the US consulate. Get romantic.

It’s hard not to in surroundings this inspiring of l’amour. The heady mix of Arabian architecture, heavy chandeliers hanging from vaulted ceilings and the cool contemporary furniture juxtaposing the original features of the building, set the mood beautifully. And up on the rooftop bar, you can sink sundowners under a stellar Moroccan sky.

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Bwindi Lodge, Uganda

Africa’s Lodging… from page 16

sinks, hot running showers, low flushing toilets and the same unique, stylish décor.

The main lodge building also maximises on the beautiful views of the forest canopy, with both open and covered terraces providing optimum viewing platforms facing the forest. A cosy fireside bar and lounge area enables guests to enjoy a drink while swapping stories of their gorilla tracking experiences.

Mahali Mzuri Camp, Kenya

Kenya Mahali Mzuri Camp www.mahalimzuri.virgin.com Mahali Mzuri opened in 2013 and is Sir Richard Branson’s Kenyan Safari Camp located in the Motorogi Conservancy within the Maasai Mara ecosystem.

Mahali Mzuri has been set up in collaboration with the local Maasai communities and a limited number of other tourism partners. Our key priorities are to leave as minimal a footprint as possible on the land and to promote low density tourism which creates less pressure on the environment.

Our team has been working with the Maasai since the beginning of the project to ensure their full involvement.

We promote and hire from the local communities and most of our staff are from surrounding areas.

Mahali Mzuri is part of Virgin Limited Edition, Sir Richard Branson’s portfolio of unique retreats.

Virgin Limited Edition - the luxury portfolio of Virgin Hotels Group Limited

Seychelles

www.raffles.com/praslin Cradled at the heart of the original Garden of Eden, the island of Praslin, are eighty-six architecturally exquisite villas ringed by the sublime beauty of white powdered sands, opal-hued oceans and lush green hills. The ideal place to rediscover the luxury of spontaneity, Raffles Praslin, Seychelles is infused with Seychellois spirit and traditional Raffles service.

Swim, sunbathe, snorkel, sail, kayak, walk...or just do nothing at all. Raffles Praslin, Seychelles is the perfect place to escape the everyday, to explore your senses, and to reconnect - with yourself and those you love.

The adventurous can explore the mystic prehistoric forest of Vallée de Mai, the magical islands of Curieuse and La Digue, and the vibrant coral beds at the Curieuse National Marine Park. In fact, even the journey to the hotel is to experience glorious, abundant, surprising nature. 

Raffles Praslin, Seychelles

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Budget Airline Fastjet gets Clearance for African Routes Fastjet, the African budget airline, has been granted permission to launch international flights from its hub in Tanzania.

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he company, which is backed by Easyjet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, will fly to South Africa, Zambia and Rwanda.

It received route approvals from the relevant governments under Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs).

Fastjet also said it was putting its plans to launch a domestic service in South Africa on hold.

"This is a monumental day in Fastjet's history, and brings us closer to our goal of becoming Africa's first pan-continental lowcost airline," said Ed Winter, chief executive and chairman.

"We have expended huge effort over the past six months in obtaining these rights, and we can

only thank the government and population of Tanzania, who have lobbied hard to allow us to gain

access to the bilateral rights to operate to these countries.

"We will soon announce launch dates for flights to Johannesburg, Kigali and Lusaka from Dar es Salaam."

The company is hoping to offer early bookers flights between Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam for around $100 (£64), one-way, excluding government taxes and charges.

Cleared for Take-off

Separately, on Thursday, the company agreed to create a low-cost airline operating within Nigeria, jointly with Nigeria's Red 1 Airways.

Fastjet was created following its acquisition of the African airline Fly540, and operates from four bases in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Angola.

As such, it already has 10 aircraft serving around 25 destinations within Africa.

Fastjet also announced it had secured financing of up to £15m ($23.5m) through an equity deal with Darwin, a subsidiary of fund managers Henderson Global Investors Volantis Capital.  www.bbc.co.uk/news/ business-22902942 18 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Planning Your Next Journey

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very journey begins with a dream. TravelSmith offers some Planning Tips which we detail here and a Packing Checklist available on the website (www.travelsmith.com/packinglist)

Tip #1 - Watch Your Passport Always check the expiration date of your passport will ahead of an international departure. Increased security means long wait times for passports to be issued or renewed. Also keep in mind that many countries require a possport to be valid at least six months beyond your dates of stay. Airlines may also bar you from boarding the aircraft.

Tip #2 - Avoid Highseaon It’s no secret that high summer brings out the traveling masses and higher prices. If you have time on your side, schedule your trip for “shoulder season” the months between a destination’s high and low seasons. Besides avoiding the tourist crust, you’ll find bargins and still catch some great weather.

The key to finding deals is timing and choice of destination. Autumn travelers can save 15-20% in many areas of the world. Consult guide books, hotel websites and travel websites for hints on prices and best value seasons.

Tip #3 - After You Land Cabs and rental cars are the most obvious solutions to get from the airport to your hotel - but they’re not always the most practical or economical. Do some advance scouting to find out the options.

Shuttle Service: Check with your hotel to see if they offer airport or downtown shuttle service. It’s often free and convenient. Public Transportation: Check airport

websites. Most major airports around the world have excellent public transportation connections.

In modern, high-density cities with chaotic traffic it’s actually recommended to take public transport. Private Car: Hiring a car and driver eliminates any mystery and lets you ride in style without lining up, hailing or haggling hassles. Airport and car rental websites often provide options for limos and private cars. Ground Link (www.groundlink.com) lets you summon a private car in may parts of the world for immediate pick-up or within the hour.

Tip #4 - Choose Luggage That’s Right for the Destination If you’ll be staying in one place for your entire trip or traveling first class, a standard suitcase if fine. However, if you plan to move around, less is more. Think about where you’re headed. You don’t want to get stuck trying to navigate through dense crowds of people with a heavy bag. You may have to carry your suitcase up stairs. If you are staying at a small inn or B&B, it probably won’t have an elevator.

If you’re headed on safari or the high seas, soft bags fit best in tight spaces, car trunks, overhead racks, and train and ship luggage compartments. Rolling bags are invaluable in airports and whenever extended walking is required.

Tip #5 - Visas

require you to submit your passport as part of the application. For specific entry requirements, visit: travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/ cis/cis_4965.html..

Tip #6 - Consider a Home Swap If you own a home, consider a house exchange to save thousands in hotel bills. Organizations such as HomeExchange, HomeLink and Luxe Home Swap offer inspiring country, city and suburb properties in countries around the world.

Instead of paying for a hotel, simply trade your house and even your card with a fellow traveler and live the life of a local while have a built-in housesitter back home.

Tip #7 - Some Credit Cards Travel Better Than Others About 90% of credit cards quietly assess a foreign transaction fee (usually 2-3%) on each purchase or transaction made abroad. Debit card ATM withdrawals often incur an extra charge as well. Do your research and find no-foreigntransaction-fee debit cards and credit cards.

Tip #8 - Pack Right the First Time Pack smarter for your next trip with our handy free packing guides.

Out expert outfitters have taken the guesswork out of looking good on the go with selections of the best travel clothes, luggage and gear for men and women. From business travel to cruisewear, we’ve preselected the items you’ll need to back in your bag: www.travesmith. com/pakcing-guides. 

Many countries do not require tourists to apply for visas, but you should always check the entry requirements of your destination in advance to ensure you www.TravelSmith.Com have ample time to apply. Some countries CALL US ANYTIME: 800-770-3387 19 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

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Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do Algeria

Burundi

Tamanrasset Camel Trekking Sahara Dune Skiing The Turquoise Coast CAPITAL: Algiers

Chutes de la Kagera waterfall Lake Tanganyika Craftwares Village at Giheta CAPITAL: Bujumbura

www.algerie-tourisme.dz

www.burunditourisme.com

Angola

Cameroon

Fort Sao Miguel Slave Depot Calendula Waterfalls Palmeirinhas Beach CAPITAL: Luanda

Mandera Mountains (hiking,

www.angola.org

climbing) Bouba Ndjidah National Park Festival National des Arts et de la Culture (FENAC) in December

CAPITAL: Yaoundé www.cameroun-infotourisme.com

Cape Verde

Calendula Waterfalls, Angola

Benin Lake Village of Ganvie Nakoue Lagoon Pendjari National Park CAPITAL: Porto-Novo www.benintourisme.com

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

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

Central African Republic 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 Comore Lake Chad CAPITAL: N’Djamena

Bouba Ndjidah National Park, Cameroon Hot Sulphur Springs at Lac Salé CAPITAL: Moroni Comoros National Tourist Board Office, Tel: 269 73 3044

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Frère Gillet Botanic Gardens world-famous rare orchids Ruwenzori Range Virunga National Park CAPITAL: Kinshasa Ministère des Affaires Foncières, Environment et Tourisme, Tel: (+243) 8802093.

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

Cidade Velha, Cape Verde

Office du Tourisme, Tel: 01 45 53 36 75

The Comoros Climb Mount Karthala (active volcano) Nzwani Island 21 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

see Travel Africa on page 22

Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do from Travel Africa page 21

The Gambia

Djibouti

Deep Sea Fishing, Atlantic Ocean Exhibition of the slave trade at Albreda and Jufureh Makasutu Culture Forest CAPITAL: Banjul

Liberia

www.visitthegambia.gm

www.micat.gov.lr

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 Arena Blanca Pico Malabo Volcano (mountain climbing) Cascades of Moca

CAPITAL: Malabo www.embarege-londres.org

Eritrea 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

Gabon

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

Libya Akakus Mountains (prehistoric rock art) Ubari Lakes (dune surfing) Leptis Magna (tribute to African Roman Emperor Septimus

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

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

Kenya Mount Kenya National Park Tsavo West National Park Watamu-Malindi Marine Park CAPITAL: Nairobi www.magicalkenya.com

Libreville Lopé-Okanda Reserve National Park (gorilla) M’Bigou (gold mines/crafts)

Lesotho

www.legabon.org

Sapo National Park Kendeja National Cultural Center Firestone Rubber Plantation CAPITAL: Monrovia

www.touringghana. com

Cathedral of St Michael in

CAPITAL: Libreville

www.ltdc.org.ls

Bushmen Rock Paintings Ski Lesotho Highlands (www. afriski.co.za) Sehlabathebe National ParkCAPITAL: Maseru 22 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Lesotho

Severus) CAPITAL: Tripoli www.libyan-tourism.org

Madagascar Fianarantsoa (Capital of Wine) Montagne d’Arbre National Park Queen’s Palace CAPITAL: Antananarivo www.madagascar-tourisme.com

Malawi Lake Malawi Marine Park Nyika National Park see Travel Africa on page 23

Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do from Travel Africa page 22

Liwonde National Park CAPITAL: Lilongwe www.malawitourism.com

Morocco Todra and Dades Gorges Talassemtane National Park Essaouira CAPITAL: Rabat

Benin City CAPITAL: Lagos www.tourism.gov.ng

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 Piton des Neiges, Reunion

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

Mauritius Black River Gorges National Park Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve Rodrigues Island CAPITAL: Port Louis www.mauritius.net

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

Nigeria Cross River National Park Emir’s Palace, Kano 23 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

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

Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do from Travel Africa page 23

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

Somalia 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

www.nelsonmandela. org www.zulu.org.za www.southafrica.net

South Sudan Boma National Park Nimule National Park Nile River CAPITAL: Juba

Dakhla (surfing), Western Sahara

www.goss.org

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

Swaziland Mkhaya Game Reserve Phophomyane Nature Reserve Usutu River (white-water rafting) CAPITAL: Mbabane

Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches CAPITAL: Hargiesa www.somalilandgov.com (Ministry of Tourism & Culture 252-225-7917)

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.tourismtunisia.com

Uganda 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

Western Sahara City of El-Aaiún Dakhla (surfing) CAPITAL: El-Aaiún

www.welcometoswaziland.com

dajla47@hotmail.com

Tanzania

Zambia

Bagamoyo Slave Trail Katavi Plains National Park Ngorongoro Crater Stone Town, Zanzibar CAPITAL: Dodoma

Koutammakor, Togo

Sidi Bou Saïd CAPITAL: Tunis

Walking Safari, South Luangwa National Park Musi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls), Livingstone

Zambezi White Water Rafting CAPITAL: Lusaka

http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/

www.zambiatourism.com

Togo

Zimbabwe

Koutammakou (World Heritage Site)

Whale Watching, Gulf of Benin Fosse aux Lions (Lions’ Den) National Park CAPITAL: Lomé www.togo-tourisme.com

Tunisia Desert Trekking from Douz Matmata (Star Wars film site) 24 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

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

Heritage Travel: Beyond the Slave Castles by Editorial Staff We Are The World

W

hether you have taken the African Ancestry DNA test (www.

africanancestry.com) and can follow your bloodline in detail or know from empirical evidence that your ancestry is inextricably linked to the people of the continent of Africa, heritage-based tourism can guide your Africa and worldwide travels.

Europe Visit Rome to view the last remaining arch built by an African Ceasar of Italy. The triumphal arch was built to commemorate the victories of Emperor Septimius Severus.

A few other emperors to search out while in Rome that are referred to as possibly African are: Maximinus Daia, Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus, Lucius Septimius Bassianus (son of Septimius

The Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus

The Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza near Cairo, Egypt

Severus also called Caracalla. See the Baths of Caracalla).

Follow the trail of the exploits of “The Black Count”, General Alex Dumas, from Haiti to France to Egypt and Italy.

Visit Stone Hedge in Wilshire, England which is said to have been constructed by ancient Africans as part of their worldwide system for astronomic studies.

Africa Visit the exhibit of Lucy, the remains of the first hominid skeleton dated to be more than 3 million years old, on display in the National Museum in Addis Abba, Ethiopia.

Kenya is home of the Leaky Excavations in Olduvai Gorge and Kogelo in western Kenya is the home of U.S. President Barack H. Obama’s father.

South Africa has constructed an exhibition experience entitled “The Cradle of Humankind” in Gauteng.

See the source of the Nile River by visiting Jinja, Uganda. Take the cruise on the northern sector of the Nile River in Egypt (Kemet) to travel like the Pharoahs from Luxor to Cairo.

Of course a visit to Egypt (Kemet) is a homage to the Ancient Africans who developed and codified the basic knowledge that the world uses today to accomplish all that we do.

Agriculture, mathmatics, spiritual and philosophical reasonings and more. As the teachers of the Greeks and Romans, the ancient Egyptians provided the intelletual plateau upon see Heritage Travel on page 27

26 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Heritage Travel from page 26

which we all stand today.

Study the slave trade off the eastern coast of Africa with a visit to Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

Bagamoyo was an exit point for the trade in humans that reached into the heart of the continent including DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, etal and ended in the Middle East and India.

North America The Olmec Heads of Mexico are said to have been built in honor of the African explorers that landed in the region over 3,000 years ago bringing a wealth of knowledge to those native communities.

Asia In Japan follow the history of Sakanouye no Tamuramaro, the Black Samurai. He “was buried in the village of Kurisu, near Kyoto and it is believed that it is his tomb which is known under the name of Shogun-zuka. Tamuramaro is the founder of the famous temple Kiyomizu-dera. He is the ancestor of the Tamura daimyo of Mutsu.”

Tamuramaro “was not only the first to bear the title of Sei-i-tai-Shogun, but he was also the first of the warrior statesmen of Japan.”

Lord Shiva, her consort and the eternal lord of India is a dreadlocked black skin god of African extraction.

Melanesia Melanesia (the Black islands of the South Pacific) has been described as the eastern flank of the African world. Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises the countries of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea; besides these independent countries, Melanesia also includes New Caledonia, a special collectivity of France, and the region of West Papua which is the location of two provinces of Indonesia, Papua and West Papua.

San Lorenzo, Veracruz, Mexico

We Are The World Use history as our travel guide.

The more we seek, the more we find our history and heritage. 

Shogun-zuka near Kyoto, Japan

India When visiting the nation of India, explore the cultures of the Dravidian people of around 220 million who are found mostly in Southern India. The Dravidians are said to be related to the Africans living along the eastern coast in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.

The goddess Kali, revered by many Hindus, is also described as a black skinned mother of human-kind. She is a black Indian of the Kushitic extraction. She remains, the aboriginal tribal goddess of the sub-continent. And,

Stone Hedge, Wilshire, England 27 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Heritage Travel: Tracing Our Ancestry African Ancestry DNA Data Bank Holds the Keys

E

mbarking on the path to Heritage-based sojourns requires some amount of knowledge. For the last ten years we have been able to be in the know. Through the work of African Ancestry (www.africanancestry. com) our DNA may be tested and our ancestral lineage identified.

African Ancestry is an established genetic genealogy company, headquartered in Washington, DC. Started in 2002, co-founders, Gina Paige and Dr. Rick Kittles, have created a vehicle to enable people of African descent to trace their ancestry back to their presentday African country of origin by analyzing their DNA. The work of Ms. Paige and Dr. Kittles has been featured on several television programs such as Good Morning America, PBS’ African American Lives, VH1 Soul, and TV One, as well as a myriad of print publications including USA Today, Black Enterprise, Essence and The New York Times.

Additionally, African Ancestry has traced the DNA of many notable African Americans including Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Isaiah Washington, Forrest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise and many more.

improve the profitability of some of America’s most well-known consumer brands. The list of firms to which she has contributed her considerable talents includes Fortune 200 companies such as Sara Lee (from which she received two corporate distinctions) and Colgate-Palmolive. Ms. Paige holds a degree in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Michigan Graduate School of Business.

Dr. Rick Kittles, Scientific Director of African Ancestry, received his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from George Washington University.

Dr. Kittles went to Howard University in 1998 and helped to establish a national cooperative network to study the genetics of hereditary prostate cancer in the African American community. As Co-Director of Molecular Genetics

Management Team Ms. Gina M. Paige brings a wealth of diverse management and entrepreneurial experience to her role as president of African Ancestry. Ms. Paige was the founder and president of GPG Strategic Resources, a boutique New York consulting firm specializing in strategy development, new product development and project management. Prior to that, she helped manage and 28 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

at the National Human Genome Center at Howard University, he established large-scale, high throughput genotyping and DNA sequencing. Dr. Kittles’ research exploits gene genealogy in studies of population history and disease associations. He has had a strong see Tracing Our Ancestry! page 29

Heritage Travel: Tracing Our Ancestry from page 28

research focus on using DNA to trace ancestry of African Americans and has published articles on prostate cancer genetics of African Americans. He is an Associate Professor in The University of Chicago, Department of Medicine.

What the DNA Tests Show African Ancestry tests are designed to determine the ancestry of a direct maternal lineage and/or a direct paternal lineage, one at a time.

However, there are many lineages that make up who you are. If you would like to find out the other branches of your family tree, you can enlist other family members to take the MatriClan or PatriClan test.

African Ancestry’s exclusive African Lineage Database is the largest and most comprehensive

resource of African lineages available today. It includes lineages from 30 countries and over 200 ethnic groups.

• Paternal lineages: 16,098 samples • Maternal lineages: 14,211 samples The data is a compilation of published sources, research collaborations and primary research.

The populations sampled are based on direction from historians, anthropologists, linguists and other geneticists.

This extensive database allows us to find identical matches for approximately 85% of the people we test. For the remaining people, we find closely related lineages with greater than 95% confidence.

To find out more about the science behind genetic ancestry testing, click here.

MatriClan Test The MatriClan Test traces maternal ancestry by analyzing the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) women and men inherit exclusively from their mothers. We use the Hypervariable Segment 1 (HVS1).

We find African ancestry for approximately 92% of the maternal lineages we test. If our tests indicate that your maternal ancestry is not of African descent, we will identify your continent of origin.

And remember, your results are the same for everyone who carries that lineage! MatriClan results are the same for the following family members of the test-taker: siblings, sister’s children, mother, mother’s siblings, aunt’s children, grandmother and grandmother’s siblings. If the test-taker is female, the results are also the same for her children and her daughter’s children.

PatriClan Test The PatriClan Test traces paternal ancestry by analyzing the Y-chromosome men inherit exclusively from their fathers. We 29 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

use nine markers including the YAP. Since only men carry a Y-chromosome, women CANNOT take the PatriClan Test. But luckily, women may trace their paternal lineage by having a male relative with their father’s last name take the test for them.

We find African ancestry for approximately 65% of the paternal lineages we test. The remaining 35% of the lineages we test typically indicate European ancestry. If our tests indicate that you are not of African descent, we will identify your continent of origin.

And remember, your results are the same for everyone who carries that lineage! PatriClan results are the same for the following family members of the test-taker: children, son’s children, siblings, brother’s children, father, father’s siblings, uncle’s children and father’s father.

Take the Test for Your Family 1. Purchase your maternal and/or paternal ancestry test online, via paper order form or by phone at 202-723-0900.

2. After you receive your test kit in the mail. Simply swab the inside of your cheek and return your DNA sample via the prepaid envelope supplied.

3. Once your DNA sample is received, the laboratory extracts your DNA’s genetic sequence. Then, scientists compare your genetic sequence to our exclusive African Lineage Database to determine your present-day African country of origin.

4. In a few weeks after you submit your DNA sample, you’ll receive your results package and your journey truly begins.

Your DNA sample is kept completely CONFIDENTIAL and destroyed after your results are found. Every sample in our lab is identified by a bar code and no see Tracing Our Ancestry page 30

Heritage Travel: Tracing Our Ancestry from page 29

personal information is shared.

Create a DNA Test Constituency There is comfort in numbers. For those really interest in knowing and making the linkage to Africa, move beyond your family and organize the people in your network. Recruit friends and family to come together to be tested and to receive their results as a group. The shared quest adds a community element to the experience of getting closer to your African heritage.

One example that will be highlighted in the next article on Heritage Travel is Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Chicago, Illinois, lead by Rev. Leon Perry, III. The church is organized into Ministries in order to conduct their service to the congregation and the community-at-large. One of the ministries is Africa Mission.

A project of Africa Mission is “Discover the Roots of Your Family Tree.” Through this program, anyone interested in knowing may participate in a group DNA Education and Swabbing session followed by a Reveal program. Both events are held at the church.

Ms. Gina Paige of African Ancestry leads the Education and Swabbing event providing a lecture on the geneology information provided in this article and overseeing the DNA swabbing process.

Since it takes up to six (6) weeks to process the DNA test packs, a revelation ceremony is planned and promoted to the testers and the community.

African Ancestry provides a

The DNA Swab Gina Paige (c) reveals the DNA test results

Rev. Leon Perry, III, prepares to take the test

Dolores Elliott, Ministry Leader, Africa Mission

certificate of heritage for each participant which is presented during the revelation program.

Sharing the process of seeking and knowing as a group builds relationships, shared pride, and sparks a need to know more and do more.

Africa Mission and MCC have conducted a humanitarian tour to Ghana and are planning their next 30 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

visit to Africa to visit one or two of their heritage nations.

Knowling is Freedom Knowing is great and is liberating.

Take the test(s) and make your exploration plans. 

Heritage Travel: My Roots Discovery

“CAMEROON”

By Duane Darden Mills Ambassador and Mrs. Atangana (center), traditional chiefs and “Camericans”

H

ave you ever wondered where your roots originated?

So have I. In October of 2011 I had the opportunity to participate in a seminar sponsored by the Metropolitan Community Church’s Africa Mission Ministry on “Discover the Roots of Your Family Tree.” A company named African Ancestry, Inc. came to Chicago from Washington, DC and conducted an educational seminar on the purpose, benefits and the process for discovering the roots of a family. The process consisted of swabbing one’s cheeks to collect DNA. After testing the DNA sample African Ancestry would return with the results.

On October 30, 2011 in a reveal ceremony at the church, African Ancestry, Inc.’s President, Gina Paige came back to Chicago and reported on the results of their findings. I, along with the other participants, was anxiously awaiting the results. I sat on the edge of my seat waiting to hear my name called. The moment of revelation was finally here. It was discovered that my ancestral roots are in the Republic of Cameroon among the Masa people.

After finding out where my roots originated I started research on Cameroon. Upon researching I found out the Republic of Cameroon (French: Republique 31 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

du Cameroun), is a country in West Central Africa region. It is bordred by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south.

Cameroon is often referred to as “Africa in Miniature” for its geological and cultural diversity.

The Cameroon flag has a star and three colors; green for vegetation, red for independence; and yellow for sunshine. I also discovered that on January 1, 1960 the French Cameroun gained independence from France and that National see My Roots Discovery page 32

horizons dedicated to promoting kindness and intercultural dialogue through the unifying power of music.

The ARK stands for Acts of Random Kindness.

On Sunday, May 19, 2013 seven members of the Metropolitan Community Church (whose DNA revealed their ancestors were from Cameroon), their pastor, Rev. Leon Perry, III, myself and three additional individuals boarded a flight for Washinton, D.C. Upon arrival in Washington we had approximately 30 minutes to check into our rooms, get dressed and be ready to be picked up and escorted to a reception hosted at the private home of the Ambassador of Cameroon to the United States, H.E. Joseph Charles Foe Atangana and his wife.

We were picked up by Cameroonians and taken to the Ambassador’s mansion.

The motorcade took us right to the mansion which is located high on a hill. As we approached the driveway on either side of the driveway were Cameroonians dressed in their national attire and who greeted us one-by-one. I felt like royalty.

It’s one thing to read about and see pictures of mansions but to actually be invited into one and see the antiques and decor was just an awesome sight to behold.

Once in the mansion, the Ambassador and Mrs. Atangana stood and greeted each of us

(l) Rev. Leon Perry, III with traditional chiefs including Yvonne Zogdoube (far right)

a call asking if I would be interested in attending the National Cameroon Day celebration in Washington, D.C. Well of course I said “Yes.” Can you imagine discovering your roots are in Cameroon and then to be asked to attend an independence Ambassador day celebration of Atangana presents your country, WOW, a Certificate of how cool is that!

Attestation to The invitation to “Camerican” Gloria attend the National Stratton Cameron Day celebration on May 20, 2013 in Washington, D.C. was extended by the leadership of ARK from page 31 Jammers, Thomas Ava, Chairman, Eric Chinje, Chair of the Honorary Cameroon Day is a holiday Board, and Yvonne Zogdoube, celebrated on the 20th of May. President of the USA branch.

Celebrating National The ARK Jammers Connection Cameroon Day in is a Baltimore, Maryland based Washington, D.C. association made up of artists and music lovers from different This year in May 2013 I received

My Roots Discovery

32 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

see My Roots Discovery page 33

My Roots Discovery from page 32

individually. Mrs. Atangana was in national dress. Her dress was shades of dark and light blue and

reminded us that the ambassadorial residence in Washington belongs to the Cameroon and therefore to all of us as well and that we are welcome at all times.

After the Ambassador’s welcome we were individually escorted by

Author Duane Darden Mills dances to the beat of Master Drummer Joseph (far left) gold. With blue shoes to match.

She also wore a gorgeous black hat with a silver pin slightly tilted to the side.

After the warm greeting by the Ambassador and our new found Cameroonian family, we were asked to assemble in the Crystal Chandelier Room that was set up theater style. We were welcomed by the ARK Jammers officers and the Ambassador.

The Ambassador told us that we were from a country that is famous for producing coffee, cocoa, cotton, bananas and oil seeds. He also,

a group of traditional chiefs and fellow Cameroonians to the beat of Master Drummer Joseph. The title of master drummer is given to a drummer who is well known by other masters for his high skill and knowledge. It’s a title that is passed down from a master to his pupil, after he has learned all there is to know about the African drum.

One-by-one we danced to the beat of Master Drummer Joseph as our names were called to receive our Certificates of Attestation of Recognition presented to us by the Ambassdor. The certificate 33 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

stated that we were welcomed into the national family of the Cameroons that was started by generations past we’ve come home and that we can immerse ourselves in the culture and traditions of the motherland, and partake of the bounties of the land that we now call own.

After receiving our certificates we were served dinner. Picture it, a large room with a gorgeous crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, tables with linen table cloths, china trimmed in gold. The food was served buffet style and consisted of chicken, rice, fish, vegetables (carrots, green bean, squash), greens, plantains and bread, beverages were soft drinks, water, and wine.

All good things must come to an end but the evening could not be complete without taking pictures with the Ambassador, his wife and the chiefs.

My journey was more than just a trip to Washington to celebrate National Cameroon Day, it was like going home to see and greet old and new family members. I shall never forget the warm embrace I felt when welcomed by my new found family.

Just think I would not have had this awesome experience if I had not taken the DNA test to Discover My Roots. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to celebrate with other “Camericans” the National Holiday of my country, the Cameroon. An experience I shall remember and treasure for a very long time. 

Heritage Travel: African Americans

Trace their Roots to Cameroon From: Cameroon Embassy Headlines 2013

how it shaped him, Barack Obama wrote about his childhood and the stories he heard from his mother and her parents. But, as Barack Obama wrote in the introduction to his book, “It was only many years later, after I had sat at my father’s grave and spoken to him through

O

n December 12, 2011 over twenty journalists from both the local and international media attended a press conference in the U.S. Embassy launching the 2nd edition of the ancestry reconnection program, initiated by a nonprofit organization entitled Acts of Random Kindness “ARK Jammers.”

Avline Ava, the founder of ARK Jammers informed the media that eighty-seven African Americans traced their roots to Cameroon through DNA blood test and will be visiting from December 27 to January 5, 2012. The visit will allow African Americans to learn firsthand about their cultural heritage and return to the land of their ancestors. Their trip includes a “pilgrimage” to Bimbia, the principal transatlantic port through which slaves were sent to America, a trip to the Northern regions of the country, a healing concert in the capital city of Yaounde and a grand reception at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador.

Ambassador Jackson strongly supports the ARK Jammer’s efforts to reconnect Americans with their historical ties. Both he and his wife welcomed the first group of 50 African Americans to their home last year through the ARK Jammers program. In his remarks he stated, “U.S. President Barack Obama, also understands the importance of cultural heritage in figuring out who we are and how our past affects us. In fact, he wrote a book about it, which was first published in 1995, before he entered the

ARK Jammers founder Alvine Ava attends a press conference at the U.S. Embassy on the arrival of the second group of African Americans through the ancestry reconnection program. [USEYde Photo]

ARK Jammers founder Alvine Ava speaks to press about the ancestry reconnection program bringing African Americans with DNA blood test ties to Central Africa to Cameroon for the first time. [USEYde Photo] world of politics. Perhaps some of you have read that book, entitled “Dreams from My Father,” which has since become a #1 bestseller on the New York Times list. In his quest to understand his past and

Africa’s red soil, that I could circle back and evaluate those early stories for myself.” 

34 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

http://yaounde.usembassy.gov/ lns_12122011.html

Reason 1

The enchanting touristic sites and landscapes of Cameroon, its densed tropical rainforest, which you will not find elsewhere in Africa. with natural beaches in Kribi and Limbe and many colorful bays, which is good for sea-side tourism, are worth visiting.

Reason 2

You can also discover the Mount Cameroon, an active volcano with a flora which can be traced back to the period of the geological times.

Or register with the annual Mount Cameroon race competition. It gives you an opportunity to visit the second highest mountain in Africa.

Reason 3

Cameroon offers you true safari and enchanting landcapes. Why not book a day or two with the animals at Waza National Park or Dja Reserve. You will find all kinds of birds, zebra, lions, giraffes and many more. For you safari lovers.

Reason 4

Heritage Travel: Why Travel to Cameroon From: Africa Travel Magazine, Africa Travel Association www.africa-ata.org/cameroon_map.htm

Elephants of Cameroon

Discover the dynamic and ingenious people of Cameroon.

They are friendly people, welcoming easy to talk to. Meet a mixture of cultures in the Cameroonian people. Discover the life of the pygmies, or the Mbororos.

Reason 5

Experience peace in a country with political and social stability and freedom. Cameroon is very rich in natural resources and has fertile lands for food cultivation round the year. Besides that: fishery, timber, lifestock offer manyy opportunities, so is the telecom sector.

For you business people and investors. ď ‘

Heritage Travel: Investing in Cameroon Association of Cameroonians in Gothenburg (ASSOCABORG) www.assocaborg.org/cameroon/investing-in-cameroon

C

ameroon has an economy that is liberal and open to external markets and to investment. The government has taken measures to liberalize trade and prices, disengage itself form the production sector, Improve the legal and judicial environment, streamline custom procedures and the transport sector.

TYPES OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISES The Ministers of Justice and the 14 member states that form the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Laws in Africa (OHADA) (www. ohada.com/textes.php) adopted in April 1997, a series of text that constitute the bases of a common modernized economic legislation for the countries of the Central Economic and Customs Union and those of the Economic Community and West African States (ECOWAS) (www.ecowas. int).

These new laws have significantly overhauled the regulatory environment for doing business in these countries, and completely liberalized economic activity and provided legal guarantee for business through the following instruments: • The uniform Act for Commercial law; • The uniform Act for Corporations and Commercial interest Groupings; • The Uniform Acts for Sureties These various legislations went into force on 01/01/1998.

In addition to the OHADA texts mention above, the following

laws are equally applicable to companies in Cameroon: • The civil code or common law, • Law number 90/031 of 10th August 1990 regulating commercial activity in Cameroon.

All natural persons or corporate bodies irrespective of their nationality or place of residence wishing to undertake an Economic Activity in Cameroon can choose one of the forms of companies which best suits the activity he or she envisages to undertake amongst those that are authorized by the uniform Act for Corporations and commercial interest groupings which are: 1.Sole proprietorship 2.General partnership 3.Limited Partnership 4.Limited liability companies 5.Corporations 6.Cooperative Society

HOW TO ESTABLISH A NEW BUSINESS IN CAMEROON Procedures for setting up businesses in Cameroon have been completely overhauled and streamlined and administrative red tape has been cut down to minimum. If the administration does not reply within a period of thirty (30) days to an application to set up business, the application to set up business, the applicant is assumed to have had a de facto approval. Again the administration is required to grant approval 36 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

documents to the enterprise once it has commenced activities.

Investors wishing to set up a company in Cameroon must fulfill the following conditions: • Obtain a business license from the taxation department;

• Register in the trade Register at the court Registrar’s Office; • Obtain a tax payers card from the taxation department; • Obtain a registration number from the National Social Insurance Fund; • Obtain a professional business card; • Declare all workers of the company at the labour inspectorate of the area in which the company is located.

All natural persons or corporate bodies, irrespective of their nationality or place of residence can engage in an economic activity in Cameroon without any restrictions. No particular sectors are reserved for domestic investors.  www.assocaborg.org/cameroon/ investing-in-cameroon

Heritage Travel: “I Am An African” A Speech by The Honorable Thabo Mbeki, former President, Republic of South Africa, May 8, 1996

F

riends, on an occasion such as this, we should, perhaps, start from the beginning. So, let me begin.

I am an African!

I owe by being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land. My body has frozen in our frosts and in our latter day snows. It has thawed in the warmth of our sunshine and melted in the heat of the midday sun. The crack and the rumble of the summer thunders, lashed by startling lightening, have been a cause both of trembling and of hope… The dramatic shapes of the [landscape] have… been panels of the set on the natural stage on which we act out the foolish deeds of the theatre of our day.

actions, t h e y remain still, part of me. In my veins courses the blood of the M a l a y slaves w h o c a m e from the E a s t .

T h e i r p r o u d dignity informs m y

Lalibela (the underground churches), Ethiopia

At times, and in fear, I have wondered whether I should concede equal citizenship of our country to the leopard and the lion, the elephant and the springbok, the hyena, the black mamba and the pestilential mosquito. A human presence among all these, a feature on the face of our native land thus defined, I know that none dare challenge me when I say – I am an African! …

Today, as a country, we keep an audible silence about these ancestors of the generations that live, fearful to admit the horror of a former deed, seeking to obliterate from our memories a cruel occurrence which, in its remembering, should teach us not and never to be inhuman again. I am formed of the migrants who left Europe to find a new home on our native land. Whatever their own

Victoria Falls (Musi-O-Tunya), Zambia bearing, their culture a part of my essence. The stripes they bore on their bodies from the lash of the slave master are a reminder embossed on my consciousness of what should not be done…

37 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

My mind and my knowledge of myself is formed by the victories that are the jewels in our African crown, the victories we earned see I Am An African on page 38

A

I Am An African from page 37

from Isandhlwana to Khartoum, as Ethiopians and as the Ashanti of Ghana, as the Berbers of the

I have seen what happens when one person has superiority

African Renaissance Monument, Senegal

The Future desert‌.

I have seen our country torn asunder as ‌ my people, engaged one another in a titanic battle, the one redress a wrong that had been caused by one to another and the other, to defend the indefensible.

of force over another another, when the stronger appropriate to themselves the prerogative even to annul the injunction that God created all men and women in His image.

I know what it signifies when race and colour are used to determine 38 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

who is human and who, subhuman. I have seen the destruction of all sense of self-esteem, the consequent striving to be what one is not, simply to acquire some of the benefits which those who had improved themselves as masters see I Am An African on page 39

Abu Simbel), Nubia

I Am An African from page 38

had ensured that they enjoy. I have experience of the situation in which race and colour is used to enrich some and impoverish the rest.

I have seen the corruption of minds and souls [in] the pursuit of an ignoble effort to perpetrate a veritable crime against humanity. I have seen concrete expression

of the denial of the dignity of a human being emanating from the conscious, systemic and systematic oppressive and repressive activities of other human beings.

There the victims parade with no mask to hide the brutish reality –

the beggars, the prostitutes, the street children, those who seek solace in substance abuse, those who have to steal to assuage hunger, those who have to lose their sanity because to be sane is to invite pain. Perhaps the worst among these, who are my people, are those who have learnt to kill for a wage. To these the extent of death is directly proportional to their personal welfare…

All this I know and know to be true because I am an African!

Because of that, I am also able to state this fundamental truth that I am born of a people who are heroes and heroines.

I am born of a people who would not tolerate oppression. I am of a nation that would not allow that fear of death, torture, imprisonment, exile or persecution should result in the perpetuation of injustice. The great masses who are our mother and father will not permit that the behaviour of the few results in the description of our country and people as barbaric.

Patient because history is on their side, these masses do not despair because today the weather is bad. Nor do they turn triumphalist when, tomorrow, the sun shines.

Whatever the circumstances they have lived through and because of that experience, they are determined to define for themselves who they are and who they should be… As an African, this is an achievement of which I am proud, proud without reservation and proud without any feeling of

conceit…

But it seems to have happened that we looked at ourselves and said the time had come that we make a super-human effort to be other than human, to respond to the call to create for ourselves a glorious future, to remind ourselves of the Latin saying: Gloria est consequenda – Glory must be sought after!

Today it feels good to be an African…

I am born of the peoples of the continent of Africa. The pain of the violent conflict that the peoples of Liberia, Somalia, the Sudan, Burundi and Algeria is a pain I also bear. The dismal shame of poverty, suffering and human degradation of my continent is a blight that we share. The blight on our happiness that derives from this and from our drift to the periphery of the ordering of human affairs leaves us in a persistent shadow of despair. This is a savage road to which nobody should be condemned. This thing that we have done today, in this small corner of a great continent that has contributed so decisively to the evolution of humanity says that Africa reaffirms that she is continuing her rise from the ashes…

Whatever the difficulties, Africa shall be at peace!

However improbable it may sound to the sceptics, Africa will prosper!

Whoever we may be, whatever our immediate interest, however much we carry baggage from our past, however much we have been caught by the fashion of cynicism and loss of faith in the capacity of the people, let us err today and say – nothing can stop us now!  www.afrika.no/Detailed/18444. html www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Qpsi2vS07Bk

www.airnamibia.com.na

ATA’s 38th Annual World Congress

Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism & Leisure of Cameroon Beau, Southwest Cameroon, October 16 to October 20, 2013 The annual congress is ATA’s signature event in Africa provides a networking, learning and agendashaping platform for 300-500 travel professionals from around the world. The event addresses timely industry topics and offers professional development opportunities. Delegates also participate in roundtables for tourism ministers, an African Bazaar for buyers and sellers, networking events, host country day(s), gala dinners and pre- and post- country tours.

Official Congress Airline/ Official Media Carrier www.arikair.com/us

Official Congress Venue & Congress Accommodations http://mountainhotelcameroon.com Find more information here: www.africa-ata.org/venues.htm Find registration information here: http://africatravelassociation.org/congress_reg.html 41 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

readiness for the much awaited international event being co-hosted

by Zimbabwe and Zambia. Speaking to the Press, Managing Director Mr. Reward Kangai indicated that the mobile network has adequately provisioned network resources for the expected crowd.

“As NetOne, we were given the mandate to connect the delegates to the world through mobile

NetOne Services General Assembly

T

HE official communications partner for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly,

NetOne Limited

Cellular (Private) indicated green light

telephony via roaming services and also providing prepaid SIM 42 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

cards to the delegates attending the international conference.

“We have made sure that network resources are adequate within Victoria Falls to ensure constant connectivity with the outside world,” he said.

“NetOne has already opened a shop at the airport to greet delegates that would be coming in with NetOne SIM packs. We have also organised for the delegates’ convenience to access airtime throughout the hotels and also the

venue for the general assembly,” he added.

Mr. Kangai also indicated that mobile internet connectivity and voice will be at its prime as the mobile network operator has provisioned the network to manage the high levels of traffic that are expected within the Victoria Falls in the UNWTO week.

This effort was commended

by Honourable Engineer Walter Mzembi, who expressed delight at NetOne’s communication provisioning efforts at the recently ended UNWTO Victoria Falls Golf Invitational Tournament as NetOne contributed immensely in the attainment of cyber city status of the Victoria Falls. In liaison with the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the see NetOne at UNWTO on page 43

NetOne at UNWTO

from page 42

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, NetOne will also be sponsoring the main stage for the gala event taking place at the general assembly.

The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the World

Tourism Organization. Its ordinary ‎sessions, held every two years, are attended by delegates of the Full and Associate ‎Members, as well as representatives from the Business Council.‎ It is the most important meeting of senior tourism officials and highlevel ‎representatives of the private sector from all over the world.

The UNWTO General Assembly has more than 2,000 expected

delegates that will be moving in and around Zimbabwe and Zambia for the attendance of the various conferences that will be taking place within the two co-hosting countries.

Already the Victoria Falls occupancy for hotels has been declared full, attesting to the

growth and sustainable development. The Conference on Sustainable Development of Tourism in Islands, is organized jointly by UNWTO and the government of France.

Critical issues for island destinations, including sustainable tourism development, climate

anticipated high traffic of people in the tourist resort town as the world’s attention focuses on Zimbabwe from August 24-31, 2013 - the duration of the conference.

change, and connectivity, branding and the role of regional cooperation will be addressed at the Conference. 

Island Destinations Conference The General Assembly meeting in Zambia will be followed by a meeting in La Reunion on the role of tourism in Island Destinations as a means to promote economic 43 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

http://allafrica.com/ stories/201308230910.html?aa_ source=slideout http://media.unwto.org/en/ press-release/2013-09-11/unwtoconference-sustainable-tourismislands-opens-la-reunion

44 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Private Jet Services Available for Business and Tourist Travelers

By Marc Nkwame

F

ew people know that the largest Aircraft maintenance facility on the African Continent only exists in Tanzania.

Boasting a floor space of 62,000 square feet, with an additional 9,000 square feet used as office space, the giant hangar is located at the Kilimanjaro International Airport.

The facility is currently leased by the Tanzanite Jet Centre Limited (Tanjet) under the lease agreement from 2006 to 2016 ‘with a potential extension based on expected investment’.

At the moment, on behalf of the Government, through the Ministry of Transport, the Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO) in collaboration with Tanjet, is looking for a potential strategic partner to establish scheduled and non-scheduled aircraft maintenance services at the hangar facility at KIA. Valued at over US$ 20 million, the Kilimanjaro International Airport Hangar is said to be the largest in Africa, being capable of handling a large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 or both the ATR 42 and MD 11 aircrafts, or three ATR 42s at the same time.

Tanzanite Jet Centre Ltd. (dba VIA Aviation) is the Fixed Base Operation company founded in 2003, the first of its kind in East Africa, specializing in providing logistic support and necessities such as catering and hangar space to corporate, diplomatic and private jets in the region.

Through a number of innovations

in client services and business operations, Via Aviation has transformed the way business aviation operates in the region.

Via Aviation hangar at Kilimanjaro now provides a one stop shop for all private jets needs. VIA Aviation clients include Heads of State, monarchs, Fortune 500 executives, celebrities, and military flights.

TanJet Founder and Executive Director Susan Mashibe is a FAA certified commercial pilot and an aircraft maintenance engineer, the first female with both qualifications in Tanzania.

Susan founded TanJet in 2003 to serve private aviation needs in three countries across the African continent.

TanJet’s aircraft maintenance and repair services will measure up to international standards for general and corporate aviation.

Additionally, Susan is a CoFounder and a Director of Universal Africa Logistic Ltd dba Kilimanjaro Aviation Logistic Center, which processes clearances for private jets throughout Africa.

Ms. Mashibe is now a recognized leader in business aviation in

Africa. Ms. Mashibe was honored as a Young Global Leader of 2011 by the World Economic Forum and she is also Fortune Most Powerful Women Mentee of 2011.

Susan Mashibe She is a Tanzania Country Chair for Global Dignity and the Africa Regional Lead for the National Business Aviation Association.

Mashibe holds a degree from Western Michigan University.

Susan strives to promote math and science, paying special attention to female pupils in primary and secondary schools in Tanzania. 

45 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

http://allafrica.com/ stories/201207230720.html

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)

Africa Travel & Travel Resources African American Association of Innkeepers International

BlakGirlTravel

I’m Black and I Travel!

BlackGirlTravel.com (CST #2094347-40) is a registered Seller of Travel under the California Seller of Travel Law. www.blackgirltravel.com

Greg Gross @imblacknitravel

Blue World Travel Corporation

www.africanamericaninns.com

351 California St, #950, San Francisco, CA 94104 1-800-4662719 fas@blueworldtravel.com www.festivalatsea.com

African Diaspora Tourism

Henderson Travel Service

351 California St, #950, San Francisco, CA 94104 1-800-4662719 fas@blueworldtravel.com www.AfricanDiasporaTourism.com

7961 Eastern Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 1-301-650-5700

www.gov.rw

Safari Supreme P.O. Box 1736, Hollywood, CA 90078 1-818-419-3639 dothard@ sbcglobal.net

Soul Of America http://soulofamerica.com

BrownGirlsFly www.BrownGirlsFly.com

BTB Black Travel Bloggers & Friends https://plus.google.com/u/0/ communities/1008980999 84262147976#communiti es/100898099984262147976

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 47 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

48 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

American Express Offers More Traveller and Planner Services

By Michael J. Shapiro

T

echnology advances announced by American Express Global Business Travel during the recent Global Business Travel Association Convention focus on the next generation of business travelers

available. The integration is now live.

American Express also will be pushing corporate-card purchase alerts in near-real time to expense management mobile applications.

Concur will be the first to integrate

which travel managers and stranded travelers will be able to communicate directly. Among the apps’ features will be two-way messaging, automatic alerts based on country-specific risks, GPS location services and a click-to-call

www.americanexpress.com/us

and mobile convenience.

First, Amex is integrating data with Sabre’s TripCase mobile platform, so that itinerary information from Amex clients can be fed directly into each traveler’s TripCase account.

Itinerary changes then will be updated almost immediately. The TripCase app, which is compatible with Apple iOS and Android devices, can push flight updates, maps and directions, and allow the traveler to share critical itinerary information with others via the app. American Express Corporate cardholders also can link their cards to the TripCase app, and will receive reminders about card-related benefits such as airport lounge access and inflight Wi-Fi, when

the new functionality, which means Amex corporate cardholders who use Concur Expense and the new ExpenseIt receipt-capture application will receive immediate notifications when purchases are made, with a request for photos when the receipt in question is still in the traveler’s hand. That functionality should debut in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of this year.

By the end of this month, Amex will roll out enhancements to AX Connect, the company’s dutyof-care platform. Currently, travel managers can use the platform to pinpoint travelers in times of crisis and communicate with them via SMS texting. The new functionality will entail mobile apps, through 49 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

emergency button.

Lastly, Amex is piloting an engagement and gamification platform with Citrix, to encourage traveler adherence to company policy.

American Express partnered with “The Behavior Platform” by Badgeville to develop the travel-management version, customizable according to each company’s corporate culture and travel policy. The platform awards travelers who adhere to policy, and a company leaderboard encourages competition. American Express will develop a timeline for the platform’s rollout based on the current pilot.  www.meetings-conventions.com/ News/Business-Travel/New-AmexTechnology-Embraces-Mobile,Gamification

Hate Airport Fondling?

Pay the TSA $85 for Hands-off Screening

By Charlie Osborne

A

irport screening and security checks are a necessary evil on every trip you take out of the USA. Although this is an important process to protect passengers, the delays and process often are a cause of frustration for fliers. In some cases, this requires a patdown which some passengers find uncomfortable.

But what if you could pay a fee to avoid the long lines, full-body scan and physical search?

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is offering a new service, the PreCheck, to cut the queues and create a new revenue stream in the process. For “trusted” travelers, a payment of $85 will allow you to not only avoid taking off your belt, shoes and jacket, but also leave liquids and electronics in your carry-on luggage.

The TSA PreCheck scheme begins this fall. Once you have filled out an online

application, verified your I.D. and been fingerprinted, you need to send off the fee. Once complete, the TSA will issue you a “Known Traveler Number” that can be input when booking a flight — allowing you to skip the line for five years.

The TSA scheme can be used when traveling on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air L i n e s , Hawaiian Airlines, U n i t e d Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.

50 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Eventually, the opt-in airline list will be expanded.

Although this scheme may help cut down queue time and frustration at security, the TSA makes it clear you’re not completely exempt. The agency still holds the right to “incorporate random and unpredictable security measures” if necessary.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/ bulletin/hate-airport-fondlingpay-the-tsa-85-for-hands-offscreening/25148?tag=nl.e660&s_ cid=e660&ttag=e660&ftag=TRE4 eb29b5

arrivals area, officials said.

The blaze created a dense, black column of smoke that was visible for miles but there were no reports of injuries.

Incoming international flights were diverted or canceled and the airport is closed until further notice, Michael Kamau, the

By Alastair Jamieson, NBC News Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, told The Associated Press.

The airport is the busiest in East Africa, and its closure will affect flights throughout the region. It is also the home hub of Kenya Airways, one of Africa’s largest international carriers and a member of the Delta-led SkyTeam airline group. Shares in Kenya Airways fell 2% after news of the blaze, Reuters reported.

The fire at Nairobi’s airport left thousands of travelers stranded.

Pictures posted on social media showed the extent of the damage Black smoke billows from Jomo to the immigration hall.

Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya pledged to reopen its Nairobi, Kenya. Segeni Ngethe / AP main airport to all international flights on Thursday night in a bid to reassure travelers that east Africa’s transport hub could recover quickly from a fire that left the arrivals terminal a smoldering, blackened shell.

On Thursday morning, the airport was only being used for domestic flights at a different terminal and limited international flights by Kenya Airways.

Emirates, British Airways, Etihad, South African Airways, Ethiopian airlines and Firefighters inspect debris Rwanda Air were all forced to following fire at Nairobi’s airport. cancel their flights for a second NOOR KHAMIS / Reuters day, tour operators said.

“The airport will be open for all other flights as from midnight on massive fire ripped through the blaze, which raged for hours Thursday,” said Michael Kamau, a terminal at an airport at Jomo Kenyatta International cabinet secretary for transport. in Kenya’s capital early Airport in Nairobi.

He said a makeshift terminal Wednesday, forcing the indefinite The fire began at 5 a.m. local time would be built within days that could closure of one of Africa’s biggest (midnight ET) in the immigration handle 1.5 million passengers. travel and trade gateways. section of the departure lounge Firefighters struggled to contain and spread to the international see Kenyatta Airport on page 52

Blaze Ravages Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Kenya’s Capital

A

51 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Kenyatta Airport

from page 51

White tents erected outside the domestic flights terminal were trying to cope with international travelers in the meantime.

South African Airways said it would resume its daily flights to Nairobi as of Friday.

One Kenya Airports Authority official told Reuters the fire had put pressure on builders to complete construction of a new international arrivals terminal.

“We might just have to fast-track the new terminal. But there’s still a lot to be done internally. The new

unit won’t be ready for another year,” The airport, which is already operating at more than twice its 2.5 million passenger capacity, is expected to handle around 15 million passengers once the new terminal opens, he said.

Although the fire came on the 15th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy bombings in Nairobi and neighboring Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, there were no immediate signs of terrorism, the BBC reported.

Kenya’s anti-terror police boss, Boniface Mwaniki, told The Associated Press that he was

waiting for the fire to be put out so that he could inspect the scene before ruling out terrorism.

Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper quoted Stephen Gichui, managing director of the Kenya Airports Authority, saying a committee had been formed, chaired by transportation minister Kamau, to evaluate when the airport could resume operations.  www.nbcnews.com/travel/blazeravages-airport-terminal-kenyascapital-6C10865410#travel/ blaze-rips-through-terminal-nairobisinternational-airport-6C10865410 http://news.yahoo.com/kenyas-mainairport-battles-reopen-devastatingblaze-183342077.html

New JKIA International Arrivals Terminal Opens

By Photos by @Kenya_Airports and @RobertAlai

A

lot has been done at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport since the big fire on August 8, 2013. It has now emerged that the international arrivals terminal, which was burnt, will have to be demolished as the structure is too weak.

Today (September 13, 2013), a section of tents are set to come down, as a new international arrivals terminal is opened. It was initially planned to be a parking garage, but will now temporary serve a different, more important purpose. see Kenyatta Airport on page 53

52 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Kenyatta Airport

from page 52

The terminal yesterday handled 8 test run flights successfully.

It comes with a bank, forex bureau, restaurant and other airport offices. ď ‘ http://www.nairobiwire. com/2013/09/photos-of-newjkia-international.html#sthash.

JBEZZtsx.dpuf

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

away feeling disillusioned because they didn’t see today’s Parisians walking around in hoop skirts or white powdered wigs, or Japanese men dressed as samurai.

If you’re looking to Africa as some sort of cultural theme park, just go down to Disneyworld or come out to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and be done with it. You’re neither ready for nor interested in the real thing, which is infinitely more fascinating.

Much of the Mother Continent is in a state of transition, from the ancient to the modern, the traditional to the innovative, the old to the new. It’s not all happening in the same way nor at the same pace, but it is happening.

A n d depending on where you are, you might find both sides of that transition very much in play in everyday life.

So the sight of traditionally d r e s s e d Maasai Warrior Africans using CULTURAL THEME PARK 21st century technology is actually But are the roughly 1 billion about as “real” as it gets. people who comprise the 54 Once you’ve dispensed with that, nations and approximately 3,000 things get complicated. ethnic groups of Africa supposed AFRICA’S CHANGING to hold themselves in some sort of TOURISM 19th century time warp for the sake Many African nations are eager, of foreign tourists?

No American tourist comes see page 57

Greg Gross @imblacknitravel

“AFRICA — Keeping it “Real?”

This is a blog entry from I’m Black and I Travel! Enjoy.

Travel industry experts worry about the “authenticity” of African cultural travel. They should, and so should we.

In an article published last August

by Travel Weekly, writer Dorine Reinstein noted that “More and more tourists are requesting to meet ethnic groups during their Africa experience in order to get a glimpse of the ‘real Africa.’ But how authentic are these experiences in an increasingly modern Africa?”

She then quoted a spokesman for a safari company, who told of tourists being taken aback at the sight of a Maasai tribesman in traditional dress…talking on his cellphone.

“They had the expectation to see the Maasai culturally ‘freeze dried’ in time and space. The Maasai are not a cultural museum, nor do they want to be confined to being a photo opportunity for a tourist.”

This issue is a tricky one, on several levels. With that in mind, let’s get the easy part out of the way first: There’s nothing wrong with celebrating Africa’s cultural heritage, even if it’s only for the sake of tourism. European and Asian nations do it daily, and so do we in a hundred different venues.

Williamsburg, anyone?

56 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

I’m Black and I Travel!

from page 56

even desperate, to increase their tourism. It brings in cash, keeps locals employed, their families fed and their kids in school. It builds infrastructure and draws foreign investment.

But for travelers, especially American travelers, Africa is neither easy nor cheap. For most of us, an Africa trip means paying a thousand dollars or more for a flight lasting at least seven hours — and that’s if you’re lucky enough to live on the East Coast. If not, add an extra day and another flight.

Bottom line: If we’re going to make that long, expensive journey, it better be worth our while when we get there, right?

For most of Africa’s history, safari travel was its major tourist draw — and in many places, the only such draw. That is now changing.

History, music, food, art, fashion…off the top of my head, I could probably find a dozen compelling reasons to spend some vacation time in Africa, none of which would involve wearing khaki, leaving paved roads or sleeping in a tent on top of a 4×4.

With the growth of black consciousness since the 1960s, black Americans have their own cultural niche when it comes to Africa — heritage travel, exploring the history of the African Diaspora and the trans-Atlantic slave trade, learning about some of those 3,000-plus different ethnic groups that originated in Africa, perhaps even tracing their own African ancestries.

More than a few sharp-eyed African observers have caught on to this, and are trying to come up with heritage travel attractions to pull those black American visitors — and their much-appreciated dollars. The Gorée Island Slave House, with its infamous Door of

President Barack Obama standing in the “Door of No Return” Goree Island 2013 No Return, in the West African nation of Senegal would be one prime example.

CULTURAL CLICHÉS But which of those attractions, events and activities are authentic, genuine, and respectful of the cultures they seek to project — and which are little more than commercialized hype in cultural dressing? And how do you tell them apart?

Historians now say that while the slave trade on Gorée Island was very real, the celebrated house and its equally celebrated door are more symbolic than actual examples of it.

For all the growing clamor from would-be foreign visitors for an “authentic” cultural experience in Africa, what often results are what Ms. Reinstein described as “polished and staged cultural performances and encounters (that) rarely represent a truly authentic experience.”

Such performances, she says, are usually designed more to entertain than to inform. In so doing, they also may be reinforcing the cultural clichés the tourists brought with them.

57 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

If the only thing a traveler comes away with from a cultural encounter in Africa is some photographs of dancers in traditional dress and a few pieces of souvenir kente cloth, both sides may have missed the point — and a great opportunity for mutual understanding.

Tour operators in Africa, travel agents abroad and their clients all face the same challenge, sorting through the cultural chaff to find what is real. And once you’ve found it, how do you connect foreign visitors to it in a way that is meaningful and truly benefits the people on both sides of the exchange?

Whoever finds the answers to those questions will unlock a chest of cultural treasures the size of… well, a continent.  http://imblacknitravel.com/africakeeping-it-real This entry was posted in African Travel, Heritage Travel, Independent Travel, See the World and tagged African diaspora, African travel, Disneyworld, Goree Island, Maasai, Mother Continent, real Africa, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Senegal, transAtlantic slave trade, Travel Weekly on 09/18/2013 by imblacknitravel.

Made For Walking - CH Zambia Safari Boots The Vintage Shoe Company http://blog.vintageshoecompany.com/index.php/2012/08/cool-hunting-vintage-shoe-company-safari-boot

http://soulofamerica.com/international-guides.phtml 58 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

59 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Welcome to the

Djibouti Palace Kempinski Experience the extraordinary... www.kempinski.com/en/djibouti

60 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Celebrate the Holidays in Africa www.africaguide.com

A

frica is a popular destination for Christmas and New Year getaways and many places get booked up early on, to avoid disappointment we recommend that if you are planning a holiday in Africa during December and January, then you consider booking really soon.

Our Top Picks for Christmas and New Year Getaways. Prices shown in USD, EURO, GBP, SA RAND in our Tours and Safaris section. ď ‘

cruise in the local sailing dhow, snorkeling/beach picnic/ sunset cruise, Prison Island visit and Spice tours. www. africaguide.com/travel/index. php?cmd=5&pid=1949

the wonderful sea and will have a closer contact with the hospitable Malagasy people. www.africaguide.com/travel/index. php?cmd=5&pid=361

Family Beach Holiday Mozambique

Victoria Falls New Years 2013 Carnival

www.africaguide.com

Seychelles Beach Holiday on Mahe Island 8 Days

8 days of pure relaxation on Mahe Islands staying Coco D’Or Hotel.

Includes a nature trail of the island. Can be customised to suit you. www.africaguide.com/travel/ index.php?cmd=5&pid=1467

Zanzibar - Tumbatu Island

Holiday in Zanzibar, with sunset

This exciting 8 day tour will take you on a round trip from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and back again for a fun filled adventure. Each year locals and travellers from all over the globe gather for a once in a lifetime New Years carnival. This tour, that begins in South Africa, cannot be customized. www. africaguide.com/travel/index. php?cmd=5&pid=2439

Mozambique a country of sun, beautiful beaches & lots of history. If you are looking for a quiet beach holiday, out of the way with very few people, then this is the package for you.

Bird watching, walks on quiet beaches, shell collecting. www. africaguide.com/travel/index. php?cmd=5&pid=2426

Volunteer in an Orphanage in Cape Town

Beach Holiday on the paradisiac island of Sainte-Marie

After having discovered Madagascar your trip will bring you to the green Island of Sainte-Marie, where you enjoy

Assist with childcare and educational activities in a township orphanage while exploring South Africa. www.africaguide.com/ travel/index.php?cmd=5&pid=2119

61 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Travel to Africa in 10 Easy Steps

By Anouk Zijlma, About.com Guide

P

lanning to travel to Africa, but don’t know where to start?

Plan your travels to Africa by following these 10 easy steps. This checklist will walk you through the whole trip planning process, from deciding where to go in Africa, what to pack, when to book your flights and much more. If this is a trip of a lifetime, it’s probably wise to start at Step 1 about a year before you plan to go.

Africa and a Family Travel Guide to Africa, that should give you some good ideas. A quick browse through my “Best of Africa” will also inspire you to perhaps choose a destination you previously knew little about.

Step 2: Decide When to Go Once you’ve pinned down your destination and have an idea about what you’d like to do in Africa, then it’s time to look at the best time of

htm); and

Africa’s Major Festivals Events (http://goafrica.about.

com/od/africafestivalsandevents/African_ Festivals_and_Events.htm).

Step 3: Book Your Tour, Safari and/or Lodging Once you’ve decided when and where to go, it’s time to book your safari, tour or at least the first night in a hotel. Consider staying at locally owned hotels and ask your tour/safari company if they use locally based operators, so the money you spend on your vacation stays in Africa.

Step 4: Book Your Flights

Step 1: Decide Where You Want to Go in Africa With more than 50 countries to choose from, deciding where to go in Africa is quite daunting.

First, you should find out what type of vacation you’re looking for.

Do you want a beach vacation, a safari, a trek through the desert, or a bit of everything? Check out my Africa Vacation Planner (http:// goafrica.about.com/od/africatraveltips/ss/ africaplanner.htm), it’s arranged with

different interests in mind. I also have a Romantic Travel Guide to

year to go. If you want to go on safari, you may want to avoid the rainy season because some parks can all but shut down. On the other hand, if you’re a keen birder, it may be the best time to visit. If you want to visit the desert, Namibia is best in June/July, but the Sahara is unbearable during that time.

There are some very interesting festivals or treks you may want to plan your trip around. Here are some resources to help you plan when to go to Africa: When to go on Safari (http://goafrica.about. com/od/africasafariguide/a/whensafari.

62 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Finding a cheap flight to Africa isn’t easy. From Europe you can take advantage of low-cost airlines flying to Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and some resort destinations like The Gambia. But in general, there’s little competition for many routes to Africa. Flights fill up quickly and prices are high.

Purchase your flights as soon as your tour, safari or lodging is booked. Use your tour operators advice and check out booking engines like Cheaptickets.com or web sites like Bootsnall, to get an idea of the fare. Use your miles, if you don’t have enough to get you to your African destination, use them to fly to Paris or London and buy a separate ticket from there.

Step 5: Get Travel Insurance Now you’ve invested a significant amount of money on your flights and trip, it’s time to buy some insurance (www.insuremytrip.com).

It will usually cost about 5% - 7% of the value of your trip. Most tour operators will have some coverage built in to the cost of your trip, so check before you double cover yourself. Trip cancellation see 10 Easy Steps on page 63

10 Easy Steps

from page 62

insurance is highly recommended because trips are costly and you’re generally booking far in advance, and life happens. Personally I’ve not had the misfortune to cancel a trip, nor have I been hospitalized, so I’ve purchased but never had to test travel insurance services.

Step 6: Get Vaccinations and Malaria Pills At least two months before you depart for Africa, you need to visit a travel clinic and find out what vaccinations are recommended for your destination, as well as getting the right malaria pills (if needed).

Years ago, many African countries required visitors to get certain vaccinations in order to enter.

This is not the case anymore, but policies do change regularly especially regarding yellow fever vaccinations. The golden rule is to check with your local travel clinic and do a little research yourself.

It will cost you several hundred US dollars to get all the vaccines recommended and your malaria pills (if needed).

Step 7: Get a Visa and Update Your Passport First, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the start of your trip. If your passport is about to expire, renew it before you apply for a tourist visa. Visa regulations are arbitrary and change depending on the whims of politicians. At least two months before your trip, you should contact the embassy of the country you are visiting and check on the visa regulations that apply to your nationality (not where you happen to live). Many African countries offer visas at the port of entry, where you will pay a fee and get a stamp in your passport.

Others require you to get a visa in advance. You will have to fill out a form, get a money order and send

this along with your passport to the embassy.

C h e c k out these documents for help: How to get a tourist visa (http:// goafrica. about.com/od/ africatraveltips/ ht/How-To-Get-A-Tourist-Visa-If-You-ArePlanning-A-Trip-To-Africa.htm); African Embassies in the US (http:// goafrica.about.com/od/africatraveltips/a/ embassiesus.htm).

Step 8: Buy Cool Travel Gear My favorite part of planning a trip to Africa -- buying lots of things. But, before you spend a small fortune on a safari jacket, travel water filter and garlic pills; think about what you could buy locally. It’s not only fun to check out local supermarkets and markets, but you’ll be helping out the local economy as well.

Bring an extra bag along to take home plenty of souvenirs. A basic packing list includes: • Camera (with extra memory card), camcorder • Flashlight • Spare Batteries • Suntan lotion and insect repellent • Spare glasses (better than contact lenses) • Sunglasses • Money belt • Personal medications • First Aid Kit • Lightweight clothing, shoes, hat • Sweater for early morning and evening • Swimsuit • A good guide book

Step 9: Money, Money, Money Look into the best way to carry your travel cash to Africa about 2 weeks before you go. Many countries do not have ATM’s (cash points) on 63 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Mfuwe Lodge, Zambia every street corner. Credit cards are generally only accepted at high end businesses. Not all currencies are readily exchanged for services.

In general, the US Dollar is the most commonly recognized and accepted form of foreign currency.

If you would like to bring Traveler Cheques, get them in either Euros or US Dollars. And get them a few weeks in advance, my local bank didn’t have any in stock since they’re rarely used anymore. If you plan on using your credit card or debit card, make sure it has a Visa or MasterCard logo on it. American Express is also accepted in most hotels, restaurants and major businesses of Africa.

Step 10: Reading Up Buy some good guidebooks, Rough Guides, Bradt Guides and Lonely Planet are the best on the market. Read up on the history and culture of your destination. Learn a few local phrases. Buy some fiction set in the country you’re traveling to, browse through my personal top 10 to see if any match your destination. It’s nice to be able to actually live in the atmosphere of the book you’re reading. You can also watch movies set in Africa to whet your appetite. You’ll find lots more planning advice and destination information on About.com’s Africa Travel (http:// goafrica.about.com) site as well as an interesting blog. 

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

10 of the Best Golf Courses in Africa

Franklyn Stephenson at Legend Golf and Safari Resort South Africa

By Tony Smart, for CNN www.cnn.com/2013/07/21/travel/best-golfcourses-africa/index.html

F

or a reputedly impoverished continent, Africa has a remarkable number of golf courses -- 828 courses in 50 countries with a little more than half of those, 450, located in South Africa.

Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe are all gaining reputations as good destinations for a golf holiday.

There are 43 other countries in Africa with multiple courses (Nigeria has 50 and Zambia has 21) and it won’t be much longer before some of them join that list.

If you’re contemplating a golf holiday in Africa, review my list of the 10 best golf courses in Africa, in alphabetical order by country (see the link above).

All are great courses and, with the exception of the Seychelles, there are plenty of other excellent courses in each country if you like variety. 

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

Club, Nairobi

Golf City, Cairo Katemeya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo

www.windsorgolfresort.com

www.katameyaheights.com

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

Mena House Oberoi Golf Course, Cairo www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_menahouse/index.asp

Mirage City Golf Club, Cairo 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 Ile aux Cherfs, Le Touessrok www.letouessrokresort.com/-TheGolf-Course,97-?lang=en

Le Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Le Morne Peninsula 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

Shandrani Golf Club, Blue Bay www.shandrani-hotel.com

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

Heritage Golf Club, Bel Ombre

www.nyaligolf.co.ke

www.heritageresorts.mu/en

Railway Golf Club, Nairobi Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi The Golf Park at the Jockey Club of Kenya, Nairobi Windsor Golf Hotel & Country

Morocco Anfa Royal Golf Club, Casablanca

64 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

see Golf Africa on page 65

Golf Africa www.golfworldmap.com/africa/#9.622414142924805,17.05078125,3 from Golf Africa page 64

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

Tsumeb Golf Club, Tsumeb Walvis Bay Golf Course, Walvis Bay Windhoek Golf & Country Club, Windhoek www.wccgolf.com.na/index.html

Nigeria

Club Med les Dunes, Agadir El Jadida Royal Golf Club, El Jadida Fes Royal Golf Club, Fes Marrakech Royal Golf Club, Marrakech Mazagan Golf Club, El Jadida

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

Reunion

www.mazaganbeachresort.com/activities/golf.aspx

Meknes Royal Golf Club, Meknes Mohammedia Royal Golf Club, Mohammedia Settat University Royal Golf Club, Settat

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

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

Seychelles Lemuria Golf Course, Praslin Island

http://lemuriaresort.constancehotels. com/golf-holidays-lemuria.html

Sierra Leone Freetown Golf Club, Freetown

South Africa Akasia Golf Clue, Pretoria www.akasiacountryclub.co.za

Atlantic Beach Golf Club, Cape Town www.atlanticbeachgolfclub.co.za/ capetown/index.asp

Bellville Golf Club, Cape Town www.bellvillegolf.co.za

South Africa Golf Safaris

Senegal

Tangier Royal Golf Club, Tangier

Golf de Saly, Mbour

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

Orandjemund Golf Club, Oranjemund

www.golfsaly.com/intro/presentation_fr.htm

Golf International du Technopôle, Dakar Le Méridien President Resort & Golf Club, Dakar www.starwoodhotels.com/

65 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Benoni Country Club, Johannesburg

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

Blair Atholl, Fourways www.blairatholl.co.za

Blue Valley Golf & Country Essee Golf Africa on page 66

from Golf Africa page 65

tate, Olifantsfontein www.bluevalley.co.za

Bryanston Country Club, Bryanston www.bryanstoncc.co.za

Centurion Country Club, Centurion www.centurioncountryclub.co.za

Champagne Sports Resort, Winterton www.champagnesportsresort.com

Clovelly Country Club, Cape Town www.clovelly.za.net

Crown Mines Golf Club, Johannesburg www.g-i.co.za/clubs/?c=274

Darling Golf Club, Darling

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

De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, Stellenbosch www.golfdezalze.com

Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate, Stellenbosch

www.devonvale.co.za

www.hgc.co.za

Durban Country Club, Durban

Houghton Golf Club, Houghton

www.dcclub.co.za

www.houghton.co.za

Durbanville Golf Club, Durbanville

Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth

www.durbanvillegolfclub.co.za

www.humewoodgolf.co.za

East London Golf Course, East London

The Country Club Johannesburg, Rivonia

www.elgc.co.za

www.ccj.co.za

Emfuleni Golf Estate, Vanderbijlpark

Killarney Country Club, Johannesburg

www.emfulenigolfestate.com

www.killarneycountryclub.co.za

Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate, George

Kingswood Golf Estate, George

www.fancourt.co.za

Kleinmond Golf Club, Kleinmond

Gary Player Country Club Golf Course, Sun City

www.kingswood.co.za

www.kleinmondgolfclub.co.za

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

Kloof Country Club, Kloof

George Golf Club, George

Knysna Golf Club, Knysna

www.georgegolfclub.co.za

www.knysnagolfclub.com

Germiston Golf Club, Germiston

Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate, Nylstroom

www.germistongolf.com

Glendower Golf Course, Johannesburg www.glendower.co.za

Hermanus Golf Club, Hermanus 66 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

www.kloofcountryclub.co.za

www.korocreek.com

Langebaan County Estate Golf & Leisure, Langebaan see Golf Africa on page 67

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

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.mowbraygolfclub.co.za

Paarl Golf Course, Paarl www.paarlgolfclub.co.za

Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate and Spa, Cape Winelands www.pearlvalley.co.za

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

Plettenberg Bay Country Club, Plettenberg Bay www.plettgolf.co.za

Pretoria Country Club, Pretoria www.ptacc.co.za

Randpark Golf Club, Randburg www.randpark.co.za

Reading Country Club, Alberton from Golf Africa page 66

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 67 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

www.readingcc.co.za

River Club Golf & Conference Center, Cape Town http://riverclub.co.za

Riviera on Vaal Country Club, Vereenigning see Golf Africa on page 68

Golf Africa www.golfworldmap.com/africa/#9.622414142924805,17.05078125,3 from Golf Africa page 67

www.rovcountryclub.co.za

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

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

www.stfrancislinks.com

Steenberg Golf Club, Cape Town

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

Stellenbosch Golf Club, Stellenbosch

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

San Lameer Country Club, Margate

Umdoni Golf Course, Pennington

www.sanlameer.co.za

Umhlali Country Club, Umhlali

Scottburgh Golf Club, Scottburgh

www.umhlalicountryclub.co.za

www.scottburghgolf.co.za

www.westlakegolfclub.co.za

Selbourne Golf Estate, Pennington www.selborne.com

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

www.umdonipark.com

Westlake Golf Club, Cape Town

Wingate Park Country Club, Pretoria www.wingateparkcountryclub.co.za

Swaziland Royal Swazi Spa Country Club

www.somersetwestgolfclub.co.za

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

St Francis Bay Golf Club, St Francis Bay

The Gambia

www.stfrancisgolf.co.za

Fajara Club, Fajara www.smiles.gm/fajara.htm

Somerset West Golf Club, Somerset West

St Francis Links, St Francis Bay

68 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Tunisia Djerba Golf Club, Midoun 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

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

Zimbabwe Leopard Rock Golf Resort, Mutare www.leopardrockhotel.info 

Four Points by Sheraton Lagos Plot 9/10 Block 2, Oniru Chieftaincy Estate Victoria-Island T: +234 1 448 9444

Please join Queen Ahneva Ahneva Classic FM 97.3 on air personality

Good music. Good times. Good friends. Great fun Every Thursday for 9ja music on the roof top Every Friday for Jazz on the roof top Every Saturday for High life on the roof top All happening from 7pm- 10.30pm @ The Office Bar, 2nd floor Four Points by Sheraton Lagos Oniru Estate, Victoria Island Fine dining and full service bar available For more information contact QAA on Queen@classic97.net

or call the Hotel on 01- 448 9444

African Cuisine!

Celtnet Recipes: Recipes from the Central African Country of Cameroon www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/cameroon.php Beef Cameroon

T

he Celtnet site has been funded by the operators for several years but now they need to raise money to keep the service going. Visit the site to review all of the recipies from around the world that are available. Should you decide, you may donate via PayPal or you may purchase one of the site’s Kindle eBooks.

The Celtnet site offers over 70 recipies from the Republic of Cameroon alone and recipes from all sections of the African Continent. The measurements are metric so some conversion is required.

A Few of the Celnet Recipes Beef Cameroon Ingredients 200g yellow onions, coarsely chopped 2 tbsp curry powder 2 tbsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 120ml vegetable oil 1.8kg chuck steak cut into 5cm cubes 1/2 fresh pineapple cut into 1.5cm chunks 100g raisins Water from 1 coconut Flesh from 1/2 coconut cut into 2cm cubes 1 mango, peeled and cut into long strips Directions Add the oil to a pan and fry the onions along with the salt and black pepper until the onions are soft. Then add the meat and cover the pan immediately. Allow to simmer slowly for 1 hour before adding the pineapple, raisins and the coconut water made up to 500ml with water. Allow the mixture to simmer for about an hour then add the mango and coconut flesh.

Cook for 10 more minutes and adjust the seasoning.

Serve on a bed of rice accompanied by chopped peanuts, chopped hardboiled eggs, chopped cucumber, pineapple chutney and Piri-Piri sauce.

Serves 4.

Cameroonian Pepper Soup A classic spicy stew of fish in a tomato base with hot chillies and native spices.

Ingredients 3 medium-sized fish (catfish, snapper, tilapia, carp or Nile perch) 2 large, fresh, tomatoes 20 grains of njasang* 4 pèbè (calabash nutmeg seeds*) 1 onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated 10g mbongo (Alligator Pepper*) seeds 10g powdered bobimbi bark (this is calcined hiomi bark), optional 1 Maggi shrimp cube 500ml water 1 hot chilli (Scotch bonnet or habanero) 1/2 lime Salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste Directions Clean and de-scale the fish, soak in a bowl of warm water then pat dry and rub with lime.

Cut the fish into steaks a n d place in a bowl

of salted water.

Dry-fry the njasang until lightly browned and aromatic. If the calabash nutmeg is whole, toast the fruit then remove the shells to extract the seeds. However, the seeds only can be bought in many African markets. Combine the njasang and calabash nutmeg seeds in a mortar with the alligator pepper. Pound to a powder.

Combine the tomato, onion, ginger and half the hot chilli (finely minced) in a mortar and pound to a paste. Mix in the ground spices (along with the calcined bark, if using).

Drain the fish and pat dry then combine in a bowl with the spice and tomato mix.

Turn the fish and spice mix into a large, heavy-based saucepan. Place over low heat, cover and simmer gently for a few minutes then stir in the 500ml water. Stir to mix, bring back to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

Crumble in the Maggi cube, add the re-

70 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

see African Cuisine page 71

Sweet Potatoe Cake

African Cuisine from African Cuisine page 70

mainder of he hot chilli (chopped) and adjust the seasonings to taste. Cook for 5 minutes more, adding a little more water, if needed.

Serve hot with boiled and mashed cocoyams, boiled and mashed yams or rice. *Njasang: www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/ spice-entry.php?term=Njangsa *Calabash Nutmeg Seeds: www. celtnet.org.uk/recipes/spice-entry. php?term=Calabash%20Nutmeg *Alligator Pepper: www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/spice-entry. php?term=Cardamom#alligator_pepper

Sweet Potatoe Cake Traditional Cameroonian recipe for a classic cake made from a sweet potato, egg, butterp flour, sugar and milk batter flavoured with rum and ginger.

Ingredients 1kg sweet potatoes 2 whole eggs 2 egg whites 1 tsp powdered ginger 100g butter 20g plain flour 100g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 250ml milk 2 tbsp rum

Pinch of salt Directions Scrub the sweet potatoes, bring a pan of salted water to a boil, add the unpeeled sweet potatoes and boil for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain the sweet potatoes, allow to cool then peel and pass them through a potato ricer.

Turn the mashed sweet potatoes into a bowl and mix in the ginger, 2 of the eggs, butter, flour, sugar , vanilla extract, milk and rum. Beat together thoroughly.

Add the egg whites to a clean and dry bowl and beat until stiff and glossy. Fold into the sweet potato batter then turn into a springform cake tin that’s been greased and floured. Transfer the cake to an oven pre-heated to 180°C and bake for about 30 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown (a skewer inserted into the centre should emerge cleanly).

Chicken N’Dolé Classic stew of chicken, bitterleaves and chillies in a tomato and coconut milk stock thickened with peanuts.

Ingredients 1 chicken, cut into serving pieces 2 bunches of n’dolé (bitterleaf) [or substitute kale] 4 medium onions, finely sliced 3 tomatoes, chopped 250g ground peanuts 100g smoked and dried fish, flaked 7 tbsp groundnut oil 1 Maggi (or chicken stock) cube

4 tbsp dried and ground crayfish (prawns) Salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste Directions Season the chicken pieces liberally, place in a pot, pour over 500ml water, bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Drain the

Chicken N’Dolé

chicken and set aside (reserve the cooking liquid).

Whisk together the chicken cooking liquid and the ground peanuts until smooth then set aside.

Heat the oil in a pan, add the chicken pieces and fry until well browned. Take out of the pan and set aside. Add the onions to the oil remaining in the pan then add the tomatoes, peanut mixture, and the Maggi cube.

Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes then add the chicken pieces, dried crayfish, bitterleaves and smoked fish. Return to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Serve hot, accompanied by rice and deep fried plantain chips. 

http://wildafricacream.blogspot.com

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Good Reads Bogolan: Shaping Culture Through Craft in Contemporary Mali

by Victoria L. Rovine Focusing on a single Malian textile identified variously as bogolanfini, bogolan, or mudcloth, Victoria L. Rovine traces the dramatic technical and stylistic innovations that have transformed the cloth from its village origins into a symbol of new internationalism.

Rovine shows how the biography of this uniquely African textile reveals much about contemporary culture in urban Africa and about the global markets in which African art circulates.

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The many beers, wines and liquors of Africa.

On the continent and in the U.S.A. 73 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

Good Music

J

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

ama Ko is the third studio album from Malian musician Bassekou Kouyate and his band Ngoni Ba. It was released in April 2013 by Out Here Records.

Bassekou Kouyate is celebrating the release of his album ‘Jama ko’ with the launch of his brandnew video ‘Jama ko’. The video is a cry for tollerance and peace. Bassekou invited the Christian community, Muslims, Touareg friends like Manny Ansar (head of the Festival au Desert), the tailor from next door and many other people to celebrate the open spirit of Mali.

Bassekou launched the video on TV in Bamako on Africable and

ORTM to spread the message.

View the video at www.youtube. com/watch?v=t2vQAmySTfw  www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ ASIN/0520063252/theafricaguide

Taj Mahal & Toumani Diabaté

K

ulanjan is a 1999 album by blues artist Taj Mahal and Malian kora-player Toumani Diabaté.

Mahal had first visited Mali in 1979, and the title of the album comes from the track “Kulanjan” from the 1970 album of kora music, Ancient Strings, by Toumani Diabaté’s father Sidiki Diabaté.

Mahal and Toumani Diabaté had first met in 1990, and in 1999, Toumani Diabeté selected six

74 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

virtuoso Malian musicians and took them to record the album with Mahal in Athens, Georgia.

The album was described by New Statesman as “a rousing set of eclectic grooves, calling on ragtime, barrelhouse blues and even rock’n’roll”.

Kulanjan was named album of the year by Folk Roots magazine, and President Barack Obama recommended the album in a survey for the Borders book chain.

Taj Mahal followed the album with a tour accompanied by West African musicians, linking his American blues sound to traditional West African rhythms and tracing the origins of blues to West Africa, Mahal also convinced that Mali’s Mande griot (musician) clan were his ancestors.

Listen to ‘Queen Bee’ from the album Kulanjan at www.youtube. com/watch?v=UnDYs9iZJ54.  www.amazon.com/Kulanjan-Mahal/dp/B00000JRLX

Black Business News International Edition www.blackbusinessnews.net World Business & Philanthropy International Edit

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The presenters in the videos all do customerfacing work for their Department of Commerce agencies and, thus, are intimately familiar with the subject matter of each video.

The 12 export training videos are available on the Web at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/ exporttraining/videos. Each video runs about three or four minutes and can be viewed online or downloaded for off-line viewing.

For additional sources of export counseling, contact the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723); www. export.gov.

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ASSIST THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN Sudan Sunrise

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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)

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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.  76 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013

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78 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2013