Travel Africa by Africa Business Association

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#1 Mahali Mzuri, Kenya

page: 47

Africa Business Association Publications October-November 2021

In This Issue… November 2021

From the Publisher…

Industry News 6 7 8 8 9 10 13 14 15

You’ll Soon be Able to Use Your iPhone for Your ID at Airport Security Zimbabwe Floods Victoria Falls With Vaccines to Help Tourism TSA to Double Minimum Fines for Travelers who Refuse to Wear Masks to $500 United Integrates with Apple Health for Vaccine Verification South African Airways Operates First Flight Since Resurrection Radisson Hotel Group set to Double its West and Central Africa Portfolio by 2025 United Airlines Expands Routes to 40 Destinations in Southern Africa British Airways Announces Codeshare with Kenya Airways Black-Owned App ‘Melanin On The Map’ Now Has a ‘Travel Bae and Bestie’ Feature

Feature Stories 16

‘Living Abroad in Tanzania, I Felt Peace,

Mahali Mzuri

19 20 22 24 26 28 31 34 36 38

Belonging, and Freedom’ l Never Forget’ Ghana’s “City of Baskets” Goings-on in Ghana Kenya Has a Beautiful Geothermal Spa and it Should be on Your Bucket List National African Museum Reframes History of Slavery in Angola Rob and Melani Walton Foundation Commits $100m to Wildlife Conservation 5 Things to Look for in a Sustainable Hotel Amazing Ancient Forests Around the World: Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar From a Hotel Housekeeper in the US to Owning a Luxury Hotel in Dakar, Senegal Osun Osogbo Festival: The Annual Nigerian Event That Honors the Osun Goddess Twin Capital Igbo-Ora, Nigeria Celebrates

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44 46 50 60 62

World Twins Festival For the First Time, a Team of All-Black Women Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and They’re all Over 40 Africa’s Iconic Architecture in 12 Buildings 2021 Travel + Leisure Annual World’s Best Awards - Focus on Africa Ghanaian Artist Creates Haunting Sculptures of Slaves in Accra Lake Into the Wild

Travel Resources 43 52 56

Going It Alone, Together New Book: Safari Style, Exceptional African Camps and Lodges Meet Mark Essien: Nigerian Entrepreneur Transforming the Travel Industry Across Africa

65 66

This Black Tech Company Invented Wireless Headphones that Translate Any Language South Africa Spotlight

Columns 66 68 70 76 78 83 86

Cruise Africa WORLD HERITAGE SITES Travel Africa Ski Africa Golf Africa African Cuisine! Republic of Zambia Events Around the African Continent and the World

Image credit: traveldiscoverkenya.com, zekkeicollection.com, privileges-voyages.com, portfoliojourneys.com

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From the Publisher…

Publisher’s Message Happy Holidays To All Of Our Readers.

I Ricky Muloweni

Publisher

n this edition we have featured great articles highlighting a geothermal spa in Kenya to a few great recipes from Zambia. In last month’s edition we encouraged entrepreneurs in Africa to open businesses in the tourism sector. So, we are happy to see countries opening for travel, even under very tight restrictions. It will take time to get used to the process and the masks. But the more we all follow the protocols the faster the world will reach a comfortable level of safety and interaction. The travel sector will be booming again. Travel Africa would like to hear your experiences in your travels across Africa. Please email us your stories and videos so that we can share with our readers. At Travel Africa and the Africa Business Association, we are saddened by the untimely death of Mr. Virgil Abloh. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children during this very diﬃcult time. www.africabusinessassociation.com

Mahali Mzuri Cocktail buﬀet 4 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

About the

Africa Business Association The Africa Business Association is an independent international business development organization. We oﬀer access to the latest resources, information, and best practices in advocacy and communications for the African Diaspora and the African entrepreneurs in Africa.

Africa Business Association

"Travel Africa" PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT Ricky Muloweni

ADVISORY BOARD

Earl 'Skip' Cooper, II, CEO, Black Business Association H.E. Sheila Siwela, Ambassador H.E. Kone L. Tanou, Ambassador

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

We work to help you have access to news and events as starting points for constructive conversations and calls to action. We seek to cut through the froth of the political spin cycle to underlying truths and values. We want to be so focused on progress that together we can provide a credible and constructive generation of Africans that take seriously our previous generations and act upon all their wishes, our hopes and aspirations to make lasting change for all future generations.

Ricky Muloweni

LAYOUT/TYPESETTING Lion Communications

AFRICA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION NEWS 6564 LOISDALE COURT, SUITE 600 Springﬁeld, VA 22150 USA 1-240-467-6811 aba@africabisinessassociation.org dawn@africabusinessassociation.org www.africabusinessassociation.org

Copyright © 2021 by Africa Business Association News All Rights Reserved. The posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein.

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Industry News

You’ll Soon be Able to Use Your iPhone for Your ID at Airport Security By Parker Diakite

pple has announced a new feature that will give iPhone users the option to show a digital version of their state identification or driver’s license in Apple Wallet to get through airport security. Travelers in Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah will join Arizona and Georgia, the first states to be able to use the app. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will enable select airport security checkpoints and lanes in participating airports for iPhone users. “The addition of driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet is an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet,” Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, released in a statement. “We are excited that the TSA and so many states are already on board to help bring this to life for travelers across the country using only their iPhone and Apple Watch, and we are already in discussions with many more states as we’re working to oﬀer this nationwide in the future.”

Adding An ID To Apple Wallet Similar to how Apple customers add new credit cards and other transit passes to their Wallet, adding a driver’s license and state ID will be the same. iPhone users will simply open up the Wallet feature and tap the + button at the top of the screen, where they will be prompted to scan their ID and take a selfie, according to Apple. The ID will then be securely routed to the issuing state for verification. Once added to the Wallet, customers will then be able to present their driver’s license or state ID to TSA by tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch at the identify reader. Customers will then see a prompt on their device displaying the specific

information being requested by the TSA. Once Apple users give the TSA the okay by either Face ID or Touch ID will the information be released from their device, which ensures that just the required information is shared and only the person who added the driver’s license or state ID to the device can present it. “This new and innovative mobile driver’s license and state ID initiative with Apple and states around the country will enable a more seamless airport security screening experience for travelers,” said David Pekoske, TSA Administrator. “This initiative marks a major milestone by TSA to provide an additional level of convenience for the traveler by enabling more opportunities for touchless TSA airport security screening.” https://travelnoire.com/iphone-for-your-id-airportsecurity

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Image credit: Apple

Zimbabwe Floods Victoria Falls With Vaccines to Help Tourism By Zimbabwe Floods Victoria Falls With Vaccines to Help Tourism

imbabwe’s Victoria Falls usually teems with tourists who come to marvel at the roaring Zambezi River as it tumbles down more than 350 feet to the gorge below, sending up a mist that is visible from miles away. “The Smoke That Thunders”—the English translation of what the waterfall is called in the Sotho language—is still mighty, but the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced visitors to a trickle. Ordinarily, Victoria Falls attracts 350,000 tourists a year, but numbers have dropped to almost none as a result of travel restrictions. Hotel occupancy rates fell into the single digits during 2020 and the first half of 2021, and some hotels were forced to close, according to the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe. To promote Victoria Falls as a safe destination, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has made vaccines available to all 35,000 residents of the town that shares a name with the waterfall. An estimated 60% of the people there have been vaccinated with either the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines, both from China. Although tourists have not returned in large numbers, Victoria Falls mostly has been spared the current wave of COVID-19 that has swept across the rest of Zimbabwe and southern Africa, which health oﬃcials attribute to the town’s relatively high level of vaccinations. Nationwide, over 1.8 million people, slightly more than 12 percent of Zimbabwe’s population, have received a first dose, while more than 900,000 people are fully vaccinated with two doses. On the strength of the vaccination rate in Victoria Falls, the government last week reopened two land borders that link the town to the neighboring countries of Zambia, Namibia, and Botswana.

Travelers with proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test will be permitted entry. Victoria Falls was where Zimbabwe recorded its first COVID-19 case in March 2020, likely because of its high number of international visitors. A year later, at a time when only medical workers and other essential workers were eligible for vaccines, shots were made available for all of the town’s residents age 18 and older. All adult Zimbabweans are now eligible, but because of widespread supply shortages, the lines for jabs are long and many people are disappointed. Restaurants in Victoria Falls are allowed to serve sit-in customers—something that is forbidden in the rest of Zimbabwe, which still has tight restrictions as a result of the current surge driven by the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Close to 90% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in the current surge are of unvaccinated people, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Health. Although planeloads of tourists have not yet returned, the reopening of Victoria Falls was a relief for a town that survives on tourism, Anald Musonza, the regional chairman of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, told the Associated Press. “We had been waiting for this for a long time,” Musonza said. “This will help us retain some jobs that were lost due to the pandemic.” Tourism, together with mining and agriculture, is a key anchor of Zimbabwe’s fragile economy. www.afar.com/magazine/zimbabwe-floods-victoria-fallswith-vaccines-to-help-tourism Image credit: FCG/Shutterstock

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Industry News

TSA to Double Minimum Fines for Travelers who Refuse to Wear Masks to $500 By Leslie Josephs, Rich Mendez

ravelers who refuse to wear masks could soon face fines of up to $3,000. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced it is doubling fines for travelers who won’t follow a federal mask mandate for air, bus and other forms of transportation. Minimum fines will double, starting at $500, and go up to $3,000 for repeat oﬀenders. The Biden administration last month extended the federal mask mandate for air, bus and train travel through Jan. 18 in an eﬀort to slow the spread of Covid-19 as infections surged around the country. It had been set to expire in midSeptember. Airline crews have been tasked with enforcing the federal mask policy on planes and have repeatedly complained about a surge in unruly passenger behavior, many of those cases tied to violations of the mandate. Disputes over following the federal mask rules on planes were cited in nearly 75% of the close

to 4,200 cases of unruly passengers the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received this year. “If you break the rules, be prepared to pay,” President Joe Biden said September 16th, unveiling sweeping measures aimed at stamping out Covid, including plans for vaccine mandates that would apply to millions of U.S. workers. “And by the way, show some respect,” Biden said, following a surge of cases of unruly and sometimes violent behavior toward flight attendants. “It’s wrong. It’s ugly.” www.cnbc.com/2021/09/09/tsa-to-doubleminimum-fines-for-air-travelers-who-refuse-towear-masks-to-500.html Image credit: tsa.gov

United Integrates with Apple Health for Vaccine Veriﬁcation

nited’s Travel Ready Center now joins with Apple Health to allow travelers to upload their COVID-19 vaccination records for instant review and approval for travelers United flights. www.businesstravelnews.com/Transportation/Air/ United-Integrates-with-Apple-Health-for-VaccineVerification Image credit: techregister.co.uk 8 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Industry News

South African Airways Operates First Flight Since Resurrection By Tom Boon

outh African Airways is back. The airline operated the first flight of its return on September 23rd, operating from Johannesburg to Cape Town with an Airbus A320. The airline was placed into business rescue in December 2019 and was even set to be shut down completely at the height of the world health crisis last summer. A year ago, it didn’t look very likely that South African Airways would ever return to the skies. Recently Etihad CEO Tony Douglas told Simple Flying never to say never about the Airbus A380’s return. It seems that we also should’ve never said never to SAA’s return.

Back in the blue skies This morning was one of celebration for South African Airways. Since the airline was grounded over a year ago, a flight carrying passengers took to the skies for the first time. This was flight SA317 from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

leased by SAA, who took delivery of the aircraft new.

What does the new SAA look like? So what should we expect from the rebirth of SAA? ch-aviation’s data reveals that the airline has just eight aircraft left in its fleet. This includes, 3x Airbus A319 2x Airbus A320 1x Airbus A330-300 2x Airbus A340-600 Information from aviation data experts Cirium shows that the airline has just over 200 round trips planned for each month moving forward. For the time being, the airline is focusing on intra-African flights. All flights are scheduled for the A320 family aircraft, except for Accra in Ghana, which has the sole A330 assigned. https://simpleflying.com/saa-first-flight-sinceresurrection/

Airbus A320 reporting for duty A six and a half-year-old Airbus A320 was given the honor of operating the airline’s reinaugural flight. According to chaviation.com, ZS-SZJ is 6.62, having first flown on February 10th, 2015. The jet is owned by Goshawk and is

SAA’s first passenger flight of 2021 departs Johannesburg Airport. Photo: Getty Images 9 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Industry News

Radisson Hotel Group set to Double its West and Central Africa Portfolio by 2025 By Tatiana Rokou

adisson Hotel Group has identified West & Central Africa as key markets in its African development strategy, growing its portfolio from one hotel in 2008 to the current portfolio of 25 hotels in operation and under development. With its robust expansion strategy, the Group is on track to cement its leadership and double its portfolio to 50 hotels by 2025. Radisson Collection Hotel, Bamako, www.radissonhotels.com/ Despite the pandemic, West & Central Bamako/Mali Africa remains a strategic territory for Radisson Hotel Group’s expansion. In 2020, the their properties, allowing the Group to expand Group was able to increase its West & Central even faster. African portfolio with three new hotel signings, Erwan Garnier, Senior Director, Development, adding over 625 rooms, further reinforcing its Africa at Radisson Hotel Group said, “We have presence in key markets such as Nigeria and identified six countries for growth in West & Mali while entering a new West African market, Central Africa, with a clear strategy to have city Ghana. With conversions at the forefront of scaled growth in the key African capital cities, the growth strategy for the Group, Radisson financial hubs and resort destinations. We have Hotel Group was able to open within the same also identified eight pro-active cities in West & year, further demonstrating the strength and Central Africa in which we are focusing our eﬀorts ability of the company to accelerate rebranding for scaled expansion. The focus destinations are and repositioning of existing hotels.. Another Abuja, Lagos, Accra, Abidjan, Dakar, Yaoundé, milestone, was the debut of Radisson Collection Douala, and Kinshasa. Our development brand in Africa, with the opening of Radisson Collection Hotel, Bamako in December. In April this year, the Group launched its first Radisson Individuals property in Africa, with the signing of Earl Heights Suites Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals, in Accra, Ghana, due to open during the first quarter of 2022. Radisson Individuals is a conversion brand that oﬀers independent hotels and local, regional chains the opportunity to be part of the global Radisson Hotel Group platform, benefit from the Group’s international awareness and experience, with the freedom to maintain their own uniqueness and identity. The pandemic has set a trend of consolidation in the lodging industry, giving individual hotels the opportunity to rebrand Radisson Blu Hotel Abuja City Centre, blogs 10 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

strategy for West and Central Africa, focuses on business hotels, resorts, serviced apartments and mixed-use developments. What sets us apart is our owner-centric approach with dedicated teams and relevant brands with the lowest development cost and access to development solutions, plus our adaptive solutions to meet local needs from compact oﬀering, midscale to luxury, serviced apartments, lean operational model and clustering eﬃciencies.”

Nigeria As the largest economy of the African continent, Nigeria remains a key market for Radisson Hotel Earl Heights Suites Hotel, Accra, http://earl-heightsGroup as it expands its reach across apartments.allhotelsaccra.com/en/ West Africa. The Group currently has nine properties open and under development in the international luxury market with Radisson Nigeria, five which are operating in Lagos and Collection, develop their flagship Radisson Blu Abeokuta and spread across our award-winning portfolio, the upscale segment with their Radisson upper upscale brand, Radisson Blu, the upscale brand, the upscale lifestyle segment with Radisson Radisson brand and the upper midscale brand, RED and the midscale segment with Park Inn by Radisson. Park Inn by Radisson. The focus of expansion is the capital city, Accra, Four properties are currently under development in Abuja and Lagos: Radisson Collection Hotel the Gulf of Guinea as well as Kumasi, one of the Ikoyi Lagos, Radisson Collection Hotel Emerald largest cities of the country. Grand Hotel & Spa, Radisson Blu Hotel Abuja Ivory Coast City Centre and Radisson Hotel Abuja Gudu. Ivory Coast is one of the fastest economies in “Our objective in Nigeria is to increase our French Speaking Africa and is a key market for portfolio by 50%, by 2025. The prime focus of Radisson Hotel Group. expansion is the capital city of Abuja, followed Garnier said, “Abidjan is our focus city and we by Lagos and Port Harcourt. We aim to further expand and meet the needs of the foresee developing each of our six market by having each of our six brands present brands in Nigeria which includes by the end of 2025. Currently in operation is the our newest Radisson Individuals Radisson Blu Hotel, Abidjan Airport and one brand to support potential hotel under development, the Radisson Hotel & conversions,” said Garnier. Apartments, Abidjan Plateau, which will oﬀer

spot.com

Ghana

Claiming the title as the fastest growing economy in West Africa, Ghana has been identified as a focus market for the Group. Following the announcement of Earl Heights Suites Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals, in Accra, Ghana earlier this year, the Group aims to enter

the largest conference center in the city center, stylish accommodation and the city’s first roof top bar and restaurant.” “We’ve identified the market requirement for international luxury in Abidjan and plan to meet this with our entry luxury brand, Radisson Collection. We also aim to expand our growing Radisson Blu portfolio and the upscale segment and upscale lifestyle segments with Radisson

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to page 12

Industry News Hotel Expansion - from page 11 and Radisson RED in Plateau and Cocody. In terms of the international midscale segment, we aim to develop in Plateau, Cocody, Marcory and Treichville with our popular Park Inn by Radisson brand. Other cities we’re aiming to establish a presence in are San Pedro and the capital city of Yamoussoukro with our international upscale and midscale hotels. In the leisure market of Grand Bassam and Assinie, the ideal debut would be with Radisson Blu and Radisson brands.”

Senegal Known as an example of political and economic stability in French speaking Africa, Senegal remains as a steadfast priority country of expansion for the Group. Dakar, a key focus city for Radisson Hotel Group, indicates strong potential in various market segments. The Group currently operates two hotels, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar Sea Plaza and Radisson Hotel Dakar Diamniadio and aims to establish a presence for each of their six brands by 2025. Garnier added, “We plan to enter the international luxury market with Radisson Collection, expand upon our flagship Radisson Blu portfolio, and establish a presence in the upscale segment and upscale lifestyle segment with Radisson and Radisson RED as well as the midscale segment with Park Inn by Radisson. We are focusing our expansion in the center of Dakar with Plateau, Corniche, Ngor and Point E as well as Diamniadio and Saly. Other cities we’ve identified for expansion are Touba and Saint Louis with our Radisson and Park Inn by Radisson brands. In Cap Skirring, we aim to introduce our upscale and upper upscale brands to this leisure market alongside the Atlantic Ocean Coast.”

Cameroon Radisson Hotel Group plans to further expand its portfolio of brands across the country with a focus in Douala and Yaoundé. In Douala, the economic hub in Central Africa, the Radisson Blu Hotel & Apartments Douala is currently underdevelopment with the opening scheduled for Q1 2023. The property will lead the five star segment in the city with 180 rooms and apartments, a range of food and beverage facilities, including a skybar with a view of the entire city, as well a cutting edge

Radisson Blu Hotel & Apartments Douala, estateintel.com wellness spa and gym. “In the capital city of Yaounde and the financial hub of Douala, our ambition is to establish a presence for each of our six brands. Our priority now is to enter Yaoundé in order to have presence in both key cities of the country. We are also aiming to expand our resort oﬀering in Kribi with our Radisson and Park Inn by Radisson brands.”

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Radisson Hotel Group has identified the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the second largest country of the continent by area, as a focus of expansion, placing a priority to enter this strategic market in 2022, focusing on Kinshasa city followed by Kolwezi and Lubumbashi. Kinshasa has the potential to house each of the six Radisson Hotel Group brands especially Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu and Radisson. www.traveldailynews.com/post/radisson-hotelgroup-set-to-double-its-west-and-central-africaportfolio-by-2025 Image credit: earl-heights-apartments. allhotelsaccra.com

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Industry News

United Airlines Expands Routes to 40 Destinations in Southern Africa By Brunno Braga

lying to southern African countries will be easier through a newly announced United Airlines codeshare agreement with South African regional carrier Airlink. The new agreement, which is subject to government approval, will oﬀer one stop connections from the U.S. to more than 40 destinations in Southern Africa. The list includes cities in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, among others countries in the region. United will be the first airline to connect its loyalty program with Airlink, allowing MileagePlus members to earn and redeem miles when they travel on Airlink flights. This new partnership will be in addition to United’s existing partnership with Star Alliance member South African Airways. Airlink formerly operated flights as an SAA franchise operator, but has been operating under its own brand since last year. SAA resumed flights earlier this month after a year-long break as it worked on a financial restructuring severely impacted by the pandemic. Airlink was established in 1992 and is an independent, privately-owned, full-service airline. The airline serving more than 45 destinations in 12 countries throughout Southern Africa, Madagascar and St Helena Island (South Atlantic ocean). “United continues to demonstrate our commitment to Africa, starting three brand-new flights to the continent this year alone including new service to Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria and Johannesburg, South Africa,” said Patrick Quayle, vice president of international network and alliances at United in a statement published in the company’s website. “And now through our codeshare agreement with Airlink— which is the most expansive partnership in Southern Africa, customers will be able to easily

explore more bucket list destinations across the continent,” he added. Currently, United Airlines oﬀers direct service to four African destinations, and earlier this month, United announced flights between Washington, D.C. and Lagos, Nigeria, which is scheduled to begin on November 29, subject to government approval. The airline launched service between New York/Newark and Johannesburg, South Africa and between Washington, D.C. and Accra, Ghana, which is expected to operate daily this December and January. United’s popular service between New York/Newark and Cape Town, South Africa will also resume on December 1. “North America is an important source market for our destinations. This codeshare will make it easy for our North American customers to reach the Okavango Delta, Chobe, the Kruger National Park and adjacent private game lodges, Cape Town, the Garden Route, Swakopmund and the Copperbelt, among others,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster. “Similarly, the codeshare means that our customers in the 12 African countries we currently serve, will have fast and seamless access to all of United’s network.” https://travelnoire.com/united-airlines-expandssouthern-africa Image credit: domesticflights-southafrica.co.za

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www.travelnoire.com

British Airways Announces Codeshare with Kenya Airways By Hannah Brandler

ritish Airways has announced a new codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways, allowing its customers to fly to more destinations across Africa. Customers flying to Nairobi with British Airways will be able to connect onto 20 destinations across East and Central Africa, including Douala, Zanzibar, Lusaka, Mombasa, Addis Ababa and Entebbe. The agreement will also provide travellers with more options to reach holiday destinations such as Mauritius and Seychelles. BA currently oﬀers four flights per week from London Heathrow to Nairobi, operated by a four class B777 aircraft. Members of BA’s Executive Club will be able to earn Avios and tier points when flying on eligible codeshare routes operated by Kenya Airways. Meanwhile, customers flying with Skyteam carrier Kenya Airways to London will be able to connect onto 26 destinations across the UK and Europe on routes operated by BA, including Glasgow, Madrid, Milan, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. Christopher Fordyce, British Airways’ Head of Alliances, said: “After a diﬃcult 20 months with global travel restrictions, it’s

fantastic to see travel between the UK and Africa resuming. We are really pleased to be able to oﬀer our customers access to even more destinations across the region thanks to our new codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways, making that bucket list trip even easier to plan.” Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Oﬃcer at Kenya Airways, added: “We are delighted to secure this strategic codeshare agreement with British Airways to provide our travellers with a seamless journey to and from Europe and Africa. The agreement will increase choices for thousands of passengers and will allow for smooth connectivity to a significant number of new destinations – particularly

throughout Africa and Europe. By harnessing our complementary strengths, this agreement will also provide benefits to aid the recovery of international travel and meet the increasing demand. www.businesstraveller.com/businesstravel/2021/10/22/british-airways-announcescodeshare-with-kenya-airways Image credit: BA.com, nairobibusinessmonthly. com 14 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Industry News

Black-Owned App ‘Melanin On The Map’ Now Has a ‘Travel Bae and Bestie’ Feature By Parker Diakite

he founder of Black-owned app, Melanin on the Map, just added a Travel Bae and Bestie feature that will allow you to find love when you travel. When Ashley McDonough launched the app in 2019, her goal was to create a resource, specifically for Black travelers. App-users can find travel inspiration from other minority travelers, travel tips and deals, book travel directly through the app, and find ways to get paid while traveling. And now with the Travel Bae and Bestie component, app-users can use the platform to connect with other like-minded travel lovers. “I knew when I created the app, it would be a community-based platform and I knew it would be a no-brainer to [eventually] add love connections as a feature,” McDonough told Travel Noire. “So many people of color are looking for like-minded people and people who love to travel, and they have no idea where they are in the world.” McDonough says the new feature is a part of the app’s rebranding as her team works to upgrade and add components to ultimately foster

more connections. “Overall I really want people to create rea lifelong friendships, whatever that connection looks like for people,” she adds. “So many people are looking to do more than solo travel.” Travel Bae and Bestie can be found on the community manager option on the Black-owned app, which allows you to click on the group based on what you’re looking for between a travel bae and a travel bestie or if you are in the LGBTQ community. It’s similar to a chat room, where you go in and upload your picture and start interacting with people. You can also connect on social media. You do all of this by adding your city, occupation, any travel likes, and dislikes, and as many photos as you like. For more information about the app or to download it, click here. https://travelnoire.com/black-owned-app-travelbae-feature

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1st Person Africa

‘Living Abroad in Tanzania, I Felt Peace, Belonging, and Freedom’ l Never Forget’ By Ayah A.

oyce Oladeinde always dreamed of living abroad; her dream finally became reality in December 2020 when she moved from her home in the UK to Tanzania. For the 26-year-old engineer and freelance marketing consultant, the decision to move to Tanzania was a multifaceted one. In addition to having the opportunity to work remotely and travel throughout the country slowly, Joyce had goals aimed at showcasing the African nation in all its magnificence. “Among the things I wanted to do was to create content and promote Tanzania as a tourist destination to inspire Africans and people throughout the diaspora to visit Tanzania and support local businesses. I wanted to see more people who look like me travel to East Africa and experience its true beauty.” Speaking with many locals involved in the tourism industry, Joyce learned how the pandemic was negatively impacting their businesses. As the world dealt with the pandemic, learned to adapt, and pivoted, so did local tourism businesses. As a result, one local tour guide was forced to leave the job he loved and become a taxi driver to support his family. “Hearing these stories was very disheartening, and I wanted to do something about it. So I collaborated with local creatives and brands such as tour companies and small businesses to provide digital marketing consultations and strategies to improve their businesses.” Joyce found a great sense of fulfillment in helping these businesses. This was one of the many ways in which living abroad in Tanzania allowed her to

restore her physical and mental health after the ordeal of being in and out of lock down for nine months in 2020. “It had truly taken a toll on my mental health. Also, the death of George Floyd and seeing Nigeria fall apart with EndSARS was mentally draining. Being able to connect with people of diﬀerent cultures in Tanzania was a saving grace for me. After all, travel is my love language.” Despite having been born and raised in the UK, Joyce never felt like she could genuinely call the country her home. She always desired to create her own home for herself, somewhere other than the UK. She had once moved abroad to Nigeria for three months. Now she had the opportunity to create the home she envisioned for herself, living abroad in Tanzania. “In Tanzania, I felt peace, belonging, freedom, and was comfortable enough to experience my true self without having to code-switch, worry about racism, microaggressions, or ‘working twice as hard as my white counterparts,’ as my mother would tell me growing up. The pandemic reminded me that tomorrow may not always be promised, so I began doing a lot of research, watching YouTube videos, and learning basic Kiswahili using the Duolingo app to prepare myself to move there.” Joyce’s time living abroad in Tanzania was split mostly between Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Zanzibar. She enjoyed the diverse landscapes, natural beauty, and wonders Tanzania has to oﬀer, including Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, wildlife-rich national parks, such as the Serengeti, and Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean coast. “I could work at a beach resort one day and a

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local café on the next. I liked the freedom of being able to change my environment when working. I would describe my time in Tanzania as a Nollywood movie, from witnessing my friend having an emergency brain operation in Zanzibar to having an impromptu music jam session with Tanzanian musicians in the rain. The spontaneous road trips. Watching the beautiful traditional Adumu dance by the Maasai tribe. Making Mtori soup and chapati with a friend from the Chagga tribe. Discovering my love of Amapiano music while experiencing Tanzania’s vibrant nightlife.” Joyce witnessed the country mourn the losses of Zanzibar’s first vice president, Seif Sharif Hamad, and Tanzanian president, John Magufuli. She was there as Samia Suluhu Hassan made history as the first female president of Tanzania and in East Africa. It was a heart-breaking yet also hopeful

time for the people of Tanzania. One of the things Joyce loved the most about living abroad in Tanzania was its strong sense of community, and for her, it was the people that made Tanzania truly unforgettable. She made many friends who became like family to her and received an overwhelming outpouring of kindness and hospitality. She was invited to stay in peoples’ homes and was genuinely looked after and cared for as she navigated the country as a foreign newcomer. “One time, I was at a bar where someone was celebrating their birthday. They oﬀered a slice of cake to everyone present. I had a similar experience on Mbudya Island and soon realized that this is a common occurrence in Tanzania. It

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1st Person Africa Tanzania - from page 17 reminded me a lot of Nigeria. From the moment I arrived at the airport, an immigration oﬃcial said to me ‘karibu dada,’ which means ‘welcome sister.’ Even with over 120 ethnic groups there is a lack of tribalism, which makes the country relatively peaceful. The ethnic groups integrated well with each other while still maintaining their own languages, customs, and traditions, which add to the beautiful diverse culture.” Unfortunately, Joyce was unable to renew her visa for a third time. She would have to leave the country and re-enter again. Instead of returning to the UK, she decided to explore the neighboring country of Kenya, traveling by road to Nairobi. She had no trouble leaving Tanzania, however, when she went to Kenyan immigration with her approved e-visa, she encountered some trouble. “They started interrogating me and asking me why I stayed for so long in Tanzania. They accused me of planning to overstay in Kenya. They were trying to find something they could use so that I could bribe them, but I didn’t budge. They were checking my negative COVID test certificate repeatedly and demanded proof of payment for my test. Luckily, I had not thrown my receipt away. They asked for my return ticket and I explained to them that a few months ago I changed my return ticket to an open ticket, as I was not ready to go back to the UK just yet. They threatened to deport me back to Tanzania if I didn’t show them proof of a return ticket. I quickly pulled up my original ticket, which had a return date to the UK for March, and they finally let me enter Kenya.” After spending two months in Kenya, Joyce headed to Nigeria, where she is currently staying. She will soon return to Tanzania to visit friends and will continue scoping out which African country she wants to relocate to long term. “My heart is set on living in Ghana, but I know one thing for sure; the next country I live in will be on the African continent because that’s where I feel most at peace and at home.” To read more about Joyce’s life in Africa, visit her blog at www.diywithjoy.com. https://travelnoire.com/living-abroad-tanzaniafelt-peace Images credit: Courtesy of Joyce Oladeinde 18 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

HandWoven Art

Ghana’s

“City of Baskets” By Paula Froelich

ome of the world’s most beautiful, intricate baskets are made in northwestern Ghana, not far from the Burkina Faso border. Here, over hundreds of years, the Gurunsi people have perfected the art of twisting and entwining the tough elephant grass that grtows in the marshes and streams. The Baba Tree Basket Co., based in the town of Bolgatanga, brings the work to an international stage. Founded by Canadian-born Gregory MacCarthy, who has spent most of the past 20 years in Ghana, the impact-focused company commissions baskets from a cooperative of more than 250 artists at fair-trade prices, and provides training for students interested in learning the technique. When a basket if sold online, the weaver receives an additional portion of the sale, up to 15% - providing a living wge while supporting the region’s cultural heritage. The durable market hampers know as Bolga baskets are perhaps the most recognizable Gurunsi products. But it’s in the “art baskets” section of the website that you’ll find the real masterpieces. Made using the proprietary Pakirigo Wave method - a technique of creating undulating waves that takes years to master - each one can occupy a weaver for up to six weeks. No two are quite the same. As a personal touch, all of the weavers pose beside their work for the photos that appear on the website Baskets may be viewed and purchased from the website at www.babatree. com and, of course, in person when visitng the town of Bolgatanga. www.travelandleisure.com (November 2021)

Image credits: pinterest, babatree.com, attitude-mag.com 19 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Shop Accra

Goings-on in Ghana By Ekow Barnes

n 2019, Ghana made headlines when it debuted its first national pavilion at the Venice Biennale, designed by celebrated Ghanaian-British archtect David Adjaye. The groundbreaking exhibition displayed sculptures, paintings, and photographs from six artists of Ghanaian descent in a curving, ocher-colored space resembling a Gurunsi earth house, a traditional dwelling made from a mix of clay, soil, and straw. That same year, thousands of foreign tourists touched down in the capital city, Accra, for the Year of Return, a campaign aimed at reuniting members of the African Diaspora in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the landing of enslaved people in the United States. The multiday event was a celebration of the pan-African experience, with film screenings, poetry readings, and a concert so ambitious it was billed as Afrochella. The momentum didn’t stop there: last year, a striking elevated concrete gallery was unveiled at the Nubuke Foundation, one of Accra’s top art institutions, which has exhibited works by homegrown talents including photographer James Banor and sculptor and painter Kofi Setordji. And these are just a few examples of the country’s growing influence. To get a full picture of the scene, we spoke to the nation’s young generation of tastemakers for their local recommendations.

Raised between Ghana and various cities in the U.S., the 26-year-old singer-songwriter is known for pioneering a distinctive Afro-fusion sound that’s heavy on R&B influences. In April 2018, Apple Music Africa dubbed her a favorite New Artist, and last November, she released her debut studio album, The Angel You Don’t Know, which Pitchfork selected as a Best New Album in November 2020. Her go-to spot to shop for music in Accra is God’s Time Vinyl, a stall in the downtown Arts Center market specializing in hard-to-find records from African artists like Fela Kuti and Ebo Taylor.

STEVE FRENCH “I draw a lot of my inspiration from Ghana’s art, mujsic, culture, and history,” says the up-and-coming fashion designer, whose colorful,

AMAARAE

billowing garmentsprinted in bright shapes and patterns-have been worn by the likes of Naomi Campbell. In 2019, he won a coveted

Guicci Design Fellowship, which celebrates underrepresented talent in the fashion world. Shop his looks at Elle Lokko, the city’s most celebrated concept shop, in the busy Osu neighborhood.

ARTSOUL KOJO The 24-yearold artist’s vivid figurative p a i n t i n g s incorporate Pop-art motifs and fragments of poetry. His works can be seen at Gallery 1957-one of Ghana’s first contemporary art institutions, located in Accra and Londonas well as at the recently debuted Open House Studio, a communityminded space founded by Slovenian artist Tjasa Rener. “It’s inspiring to see how the scene is

similar here. “Five years after its opening, Elle Lokko is still the spot to scoop up fashoins from young and established African brands like accessories line AAKS and ready-to-wear label I.AM.Isigo-plus locally made beauty products, ceramics and framed artworks. www.travelandleisure.com (March 2021) Image credit: myjoyonline.com, naturalmusic.co, vliscoandco.com, braperucci.africa, artsy.net, https:// kuulpeeps.com/2021/08/25/artsoul-kojo-preservingafrican-culture-and-philosophies-through-hispaintings/people, cac.gov.gh, Essence

evolving, and how nuch energy is here.” Kojo says.

STEFANIA MANFREDA The Ghanian-Italian businesswoman is the founder and creative director of Elle Lokko. “I spent some time in Italy and was particularly inspired by 10 Corso Como,” she says, referring to the trailblazing Milan boutique. “When I got back to Ghana, I felt the need to do something 21 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Sept 2021

Not A Competition

Kenya Has a Beautiful Geothermal Spa and it S By Brunno Braga

ocated at the Hell’s Gate National Park in Kenya, the KenGen Geothermal Recreational Health Spa is the only one of its kind in Africa. The geothermal spa temporarily closed at the height of COVID-19 restrictions, but is now open for visiting. The Ministry of Health of Kenya and Nakuru County Government Health Oﬃcials approved to reopen the facility through a bill of health to resume operations under strict compliance with the COVID-19 preventive measures. The spa is operated by Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC and the geothermal leisure center can be compared to the famous Blue Lagoon spa located in Iceland. “I encourage members of the public visiting our Geothermal Spa to observe all COVID-19 protocols as you enjoy this natural resource

that is unique not only in Kenya but in the entire African continent,” KenGen Managing Director and CEO Mrs. Rebecca Miano to African Travel Commission News. This facility oﬀers a stunning backdrop and is a great getaway for those who want to relax. KenGen Geothermal Recreational Health Spa opened in 2015 to explore other uses of geothermal energy generated by Olkaria Geothermal Resource. Basically, once steam has been used for electricity generation, the byproduct is channeled to a series of cascading blue lagoons created from the geothermal brine to form a natural spa where the water is put to good use. Its proximity to Nairobi makes it an alternative attraction to other tourist destinations like the Mara, Serengeti, and even Mombasa. One can easily access the spa from Nairobi, and those

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Should be on Your Bucket List

who wish to can travel back the same day. One of the things that has made the geothermal spa in Kenya so famous over the six years of its existence, is its medicinal value. According to the spa board, the hot brine contains antibacterial chemicals that heal skin diseases. The brine contains Sulfur, which is otherwise referred to as the body’s beautifying mineral. The facility when fully operational will have natural pools, a spa, steam room, sauna, conference facilities and cottages. For more information, you can visit the spa website here. https://travelnoire.com/kenya-best-geothermalspa Image credits: Geothermal Spa Kenya| Facebook, kengensrbs.co.ke, karibu.mambozuri.com 23 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

History is a Destination

National African Museum Reframes History of Slavery in Angola By Anadolu Agency

museum in Morro da Cruz, far from the Africa were taken from Ghana and Senegal, it hustle and bustle of Angola’s capital is known that more than 5 million came from Luanda, puts the history of slavery and how Angola, and a quarter of the approximately it disrupted the social fabric of the country under the spotlight. The National Museum of Slavery displays hundreds of items utilized in the slave trade. Although Angola has the third-largest economy among sub-Saharan African countries, the exploitative system and slave trade of Western countries, which inflicted heavy damage on the country Exhibit in the past, are cited Display as the biggest reasons why at least one-third of its population of approximately 30 Baptizmal cauldron million live in poverty. According to the records, a British pirate ship anchored at Point Comfort, Chesapeake Bay on the east coast of the U.S. in August 1619. There were more than 20 Angolans on board, who were forcibly detained from a Portuguese ship. The arrival of these Angolans in Virginia 400 years ago is considered the beginning of a slave trade that lasted for more than 200 years in the U.S. Although most of the slaves from 24 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Exhibit Display 400,000 Africans sent to North America were sold by the Portuguese who dominated the slave trade for decades. Features Recent History of the Southern African Country Built in 1977 by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the museum exposes the brutal history of slavery in Angolan lands. The country gained its independence in 1975 but still faces the damage inflicted on its social fabric centuries ago. Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the museum neighbors the island of Mussulo and Kwanza River, an important trade route where

victims of the slave trade lived in the past. The museum, which was quickly renovated after suﬀering damage during the civil war, hosts thousands of foreign visitors from many countries, including Portugal, Germany, Spain and Russia. Americans have also shown a particular interest in the museum. The artifacts depict the scenes where slaves were put on ships to be transported to America. Exhibits include shackles used to restrain people on ships, iron weights, sculptures featuring slaves, models of ships from the slave trade period, weapons and materials used in daily life at that time. The museum also houses cauldrons from the 18th century where Africans, who were forced to convert by their Portuguese “masters,” were baptized while they were waiting to be loaded onto ships. The museum, which also includes many souvenir shops, can be visited for $1.70. www.dailysabah.com/arts/national-africanmuseum-reframes-history-of-slavery-in-angola/ news

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Image credits: momma.org

Wildlife Conservation

Rob and Melani Walton Foundation Commits $100m to Wildlife Conservation By Jean Marie Takouleu

frican Parks is again getting funding for wildlife conservation in Africa. The $100 million pledge is being made by the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation, administered by US billionaire Rob Walton, founder of retail giant Walmart, and his wife Melani Lowman-Walton. The funds will be divided into two parts. The first of $75 million will be used to create the Rob and Melani Walton Endowment Fund to support conservation operations. The second part of the funding, $25 million will support national parks managed by African Parks. The Johannesburg, South Africa-based organisation manages 19 national parks across the continent, covering 14.7 million hectares, through its 3,200 staﬀ. “Part of the funds will be used for five-year matching grants, in conjunction with the Legacy Landscapes Fund, for Iona National Park in Angola and Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo. This funding will leverage an additional $10 million for each park over the following ten

years,” says African Parks.

The urgency of wildlife conservation The organisation, founded in 2000 by Paul Fentener van Vlissingen, believes that the funds provided by the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation will increase its impact by managing more parks, reduce poaching, increase wildlife populations and improve the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people living around national parks. In 2020 African Parks identified in an analysis 161 ‘anchor areas’ in Africa that have the greatest potential to become large, sustainable landscapes capable of supporting globally significant biodiversity. However, only 69 of these areas are currently adequately protected, the organisation said. “If all 161 areas are given eﬀective management solutions, they will be a fundamental step towards the broader vision of saving 30% of Africa for nature,” says African Parks.

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Odzala-Kokoua National Park Congo

Expanding the biodiversity conservation area “The impacts of the climate crisis are undeniable, and we must act quickly and boldly to protect communities so that people and nature can thrive together. In Africa, part of the solution is to conserve more parks to protect biodiversity and ensure that communities enjoy the health and economic benefits that these areas can oﬀer when well-managed,” says billionaire Rob Walton, who is also a trustee of African Parks. The organisation’s ambition is to manage 30 African national parks, covering at least 30 million hectares by 2030, while supporting local

Iona National Park Angola image: stunningtravel.nl livelihoods. According to African Parks, this prospect would support the eﬀorts of African governments, helping them to achieve the global goal of protecting 30% of the planet for nature. www.afrik21.africa/en/africa-rob-and-melaniwalton-foundation-commits-100m-to-wildlifeconservation

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Sustainability Tourism

5 Things to Look for in a Sustainable Hotel By Jennifer Flowers

s a growing number of hotels around the world weave sustainability and social impact into their operations, travelers in search of a responsible stay have more options than ever before. But in the face of widespread greenwashing—say, a heavily promoted towel reuse program and little else—and a lack of universal standards, it can also be daunting to find a genuinely sustainable hotel. With that in mind, here are five key things to look for when you’re choosing a hotel, from its impact on the surrounding community to its sourcing of produce and building materials. While running a sustainable hotel is an ever-evolving process that requires constant fine-tuning based on factors such as resources and technology, these insights will help you determine whether the property you choose is on the right path—and truly walking the walk. 1. Your hotel benefits the local economy and landscape. When it comes to hotel profits, the stakeholders matter: Is the revenue staying within the community, or is it mostly going to a foreign investor? In Canada’s centuries-old Great Bear Rainforest, the First Nations people of Kitasoo/Xai’xais in British Columbia are the owners of the oceanfront Spirit Bear Lodge, and they employ close to 10% of the community—which means your travel dollar stays put. In subSaharan Africa, Beks Ndlovu, the Zimbabwe-born owner of the multi-country African Bush Camps, is one of the few Black lodge owners in the region, setting an example for the next generation of hospitality entrepreneurs on the continent. Ndlovu, who grew up in a village near Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, where he now operates his flagship Somalisa Camp, recently opened Khwai Leadwood, his 16th property in Botswana’s wildlife-filled Okavango

▲Khwai Leadwood. okavangodelta.com

Delta; all camps charge a conservation levy of $20 that funds the community and conservation work of the company’s nonprofit arm, African Bush Camps Foundation. When a hotel isn’t locally owned, look for ways that the business is benefiting residents in significant and long-term ways. In Kenya, Maasai families

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▼So

At Mahali Mzuri, the partnership with the Maasai people ensures that all community members receive a stable income and that the destination is protected from overtourism. Photo by Jack Brockway own the conservancies that surround the Maasai malisa Camp. chaloafrica.com Mara National Reserve, and rather than just use all that land to graze cattle, many lease part of it to retreats like the glamorous, Richard Branson– owned Mahali Mzuri, for photographic safaris. The 12-tent camp, which is located on the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, hires staff from the surrounding community, and it supports a nearby primary school funded through local businesses and guest donations. 2. Your hotel treads lightly on the landscape. There’s nothing wrong with the aforementioned towel reuse program, but ideally, it’s just one component of a more comprehensive ecofriendly strategy. There are some building rating systems, like the U.S. Green Building Council’s multi-tiered LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design), which offers a reference point for properties that have gone green (or greener) with features that, for example, increase water efficiency and decrease energy consumption. Marriott International lists its more than 150 LEED-certified properties around the world by tier, from Mumbai to Miami. Preferred Hotel Group recently launched a new Beyond Green portfolio featuring 30 ecofriendly properties that have met a set of sustainability criteria in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. But responsibly run smaller hotels might not brandish a sleek seal of approval. The new 39room Casa di Langa, tucked amid the vineyards of Italy’s Piedmont wine region, has no such designation as of now, but it’s striving to make its operations carbon-neutral through practices such as using 100% recycled water for irrigation and farm-to-table cuisine sourced within a few miles of the hotel. 3. The property holds itself accountable. In the absence of global sustainability standards, many conservation-minded operations are taking

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Sustainability Tourism Sustainability - from page 29 matters into their own hands and rating their own progress; often they’ll even publish reports for full transparency. One such example is &Beyond, which has camps and lodges in rural parts of sub-Saharan Africa and in South America. The company has released annual “Impact” reports since 2017 that present the numbers on everything from local employment to the number of endangered rhinos it has moved to areas less vulnerable to poaching. In Newfoundland, Canada, Fogo Island Inn was created by island native Zita Cobb to fund her nonprofit Shorefast Foundation, which supports local small businesses and cultural programs. Her organization publicly tracks where the money from the inn goes each year through an Economic Nutrition Label, much like a nutritional label on a food product. For example, 49% goes to labor and 12% goes to food and room supplies, while 65% of the overall economic benefit distribution goes to Fogo Island Inn (a mere 3% of profits leave Canada). 4. The hotel takes part in a larger conservation or social impact story. When hotels partner with bigger conservation or community initiatives, it can lead to richer experiences for guests while also offering both support for and exposure to the work of those organizations. Media mogul Ted Turner, the second largest private landowner in the United States, spent decades conserving North American wildlife habitats before introducing hospitality experiences within them. His collection of retreats as part of Ted Turner Reserves includes Vermejo, a well-appointed lodge in northern New Mexico sitting on more than 550,000 preserved acres where 1,200 wild bison roam. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the new Lovango Resort + Beach Club private island resort, powered by wind and solar energy, partners with the University of the Virgin Islands to help restore coral in Lovango Cay; the resort offers educational snorkeling programs so guests can see their work in progress. On a green mountain facing the ocean in Golfito, Costa Rica, the six-suite, solar and micro hydro–powered Cielo Lodge opened in January on 380 acres of primary and secondary

rain forest; it is part of Fonafifo, a government program that gives the lodge a stipend to preserve more than 250 acres of rain forest on its property. To date, the resort has planted more than 4,000 native fruit and hardwood trees on previously logged land. Cielo Lodge has also partnered with NGOs like Osa Conservation, which protects the area’s biodiversity, to help with research work, including counting resident jaguars. 5. Your hotel experience tells a story about the destination. Often, the components that make a hotel sustainable—like a locally hired staff, or a repurposed historic building—are also what help to immerse you in a destination. The Pig at Harlyn Bay, located on England’s Cornish coast, is set in a reimagined 15th-century home with stone walls. At the retreat’s restaurant, everything comes from within 25 miles of the property, lightening the menu’s carbon footprint while also showcasing the region’s produce, from whole dover sole fished along the coast to linguine laced with mushrooms foraged nearby. Along the sandy shores of southern Mozambique, the minimalist Sussurro is a chic study in the vernacular and materials of the area, with thatched-roof bungalows and hand-carved furnishings made with local wood. In Baja California, Mexico, the new 35-suite Paradero Todos Santos, created by Mexico City–based Polen architects, is set within a small agricultural community on previously farmed land. A 100,000-square-foot botanical garden contains more than 60 native plant species, including red sand verbena and Mojave yucca, all of which naturally thrive in that climate, making the garden prosper while surrounding guests an immersive encounter with the native flora. www.afar.com/ magazine/how-totell-if-a-hotel-isactually-sustainableor-ecofriendly

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Sussurro in.pinterest.com

Ancient Forest

Amazing Ancient Forests Around the World:

Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar By Matt Bell and Jessie Beck

Photo by Monika Hrdinova/Shutterstoc

etting back to nature can be like going back in time—especially in the world’s most ancient wooded areas, some of which are home to the oldest life forms on Earth. Often in far-flung corners of the globe, travelers can easily plan an entire trip of one or two weeks around visiting these natural wonders. With many of us looking more toward destinations filled with nature as we venture back out into the world of travel, now is as good a time as any to daydream about hiking through these incredible landscapes. So get your hiking boots ready, and consider a visit to one of these ancient forests around the world.

Madagascar Hundreds of years ago, the ancient trees that line the Avenue of the Baobabs were part of a tropical forest dense with Adansonia grandidieri, a strikingly beautiful tree endemic to Madagascar. After years of deforestation, only around 20 of

the species—commonly known as baobabs— still stand tall along the famous dirt road. In their peculiar shape and unique “upside-down” stature, these majestic trees are particularly imposing at dawn and dusk. How to visit The Avenue of the Baobabs is just a quick taxi ride from Morondava, a low-slung, easy-paced city on the west coast of Madagascar. The easiest way to get here is with a quick flight from the capital, Antananarivo (Tana, for short). For a more adventurous journey, hop on a twoweek tour with Espace Mada and make your way there overland, canoeing down the Tsiribihina River, making a detour to the otherworldly rock formations of Tsingy de Bemaraha, and riding in 4x4s over the rough roads of rural Madagascar. www.afar.com/magazine/ancient-forests-aroundthe-world

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Sustainable Tourism

2021 Stay List: Best New Sustainable Hotels | Africa From the Editors of AFAR

HABITAS Photo by Kleinjan Groenewald

Meet the World’s (Africa’s) Most Sustainable New Hotels

s travelers start moving around the world again after our long pause, this year’s Stay List focuses on what matters most for our collective path forward: sustainability. These 14 hotels (3 based in Africa) set the standard for what the most environmentally conscious, socially responsible, and community-centered hotels can be in 2021. These properties minimize their impact on the planet, connect travelers to their destinations in mutually beneficial ways, and exemplify an intentional, inclusive approach to hospitality. They’re also, quite simply, incredible retreats that offer their guests sublime experiences.

Read on for the world’s most exceptional new and renovated hotels committed to making travel a force for good. — Jennifer Flowers

Habitas

Namibia

Habitas, a sustainability-centered company, opened its latest property in January in sandswept Namibia. In keeping with the company’s mission, Habitas Namibia was built with modular structures to reduce waste of resources, offsetting its modest footprint by funding reforestation projects. The 15 solar-powered, canvas-walled tents are set on a private, 120,000-acre wildlife reserve that was once a hunting area, and the hotel is staffed by locals through a partnership with the nonprofit group Saira Hospitality. While the resident white

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rhinos, giraffes, and hippos are a thrill to encounter, the retreat puts a heavy emphasis on cultural programming, offering medicinal plant workshops, drum circles, and a pop-up bush braai dinner experience.

Sussurro

Mozambique

The owners of Sussurro, a new lodge set along a turquoise lagoon in southern Mozambique, pulled out all the stops to ensure that the hotel treads as lightly on its habitat as possible. The six bungalows, inspired by the regional architecture, were built using primarily natural and local materials. About 90 percent of the resort’s energy is renewable, thanks in large part to solar power. Meals in the dining room use ingredients from neighboring fishing and farming operations. Travelers spend their days scuba diving, exploring the water on a traditional dhow, or journeying inland for a safari in the wildlife-filled Gorongosa National Park.

Kruger Shalati South Africa The most innovative way to stay in South Africa’s Kruger National Park offers a rare look at the social history of the country’s SUSSURRO Photo from Sussurro famous wilderness. Kruger Shalati hovers 50 feet above the Sabie River on a retired train track that carried Kruger’s earliest visitors into the park about a century ago. Developed by Motsamayi Tourism Group, which describes itself as South Africa’s oldest Black-empowered tourism group, Kruger Shalati offers 31 guest rooms (some fashioned out of refurbished train carriages) where travelers can look down at waters filled with crocs, hippos, and elephants. www.afar.com/ magazine/2021-stay-listsustainable-hotels KRUGER SHALATI from Kruger Shalati 33 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

1st Person Africa

F From a Hotel Housekeep US to Owning a Luxury U Dakar, Senegal D By Brunno Braga B

n 2017, Senegalese entrepreneur Souadou Niang opened Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel in Dakar, Senegal. However, behind this amazing accomplishment lies a story of an African woman who started out as a hotel cleaner in the US. “I started cleaning toilets. Today, I am the manager of my own five-star boutique hotel with 60 employees,” Souadou Niang told BBC Africa. Born and raised in Dakar, Souadou Niang moved to New York when she was 18. When she got there, she had to work to pay for her studies. “Then I moved to Washington, DC and one day I walked past the Ritz Carlton. I saw how beautiful it was, and I asked if they had a job vacancy. So I worked as a cleaning lady while studying,” Niang recalled. Despite working in the lower rank of the hotel, Niang was confident about her potential. “My vision was to be part of the management. It was a melting pot with Mexicans, Ghanaians. So as a Senegalese [woman] I thought I also have my place,” she said. After working for 10 years in the hotel in Washington, Niang got her Bachelors degree, and she got a job with the management team at the same hotel she started working as a cleaner. “I rose through the ranks and that’s where I got the passion. I said one day I will go back to my country and show that luxury and quality of service can be achieved there.” Sure enough, after returning to Senegal, Niang

opened Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel, with a unique characteristic— 80% of the staﬀ is female. “I decided to set up a structure led by women. As a woman, I knew what I was capable of, and I saw it in African women. For me, women are born managers, because they have the capacity to manage a lot of things. You only need to do a short training course to have what you want,” she explained. Niang told BBC Africa that things were diﬃcult initially. ”I only had answers such as ‘You won’t get far’, ‘It’s not for women’, ‘It is not for African women’, and I had no guarantees in Dakar. Unfortunately, banks aren’t shaped like in the US, where you don’t need guarantees. I knocked on the door of several banks,” she said. However, things started to change for the better when she met an investor who believed in her project of building a luxury hotel in Dakar. “One day I got lucky. In one of the banks, there was a risk committee, and the director who manages all the bank’s branches in Africa was present at one of the meetings. He said to me: “I see your determination. I see your eyes sparkle when you talk about your project. I believe in you. I’ll take the risk of lending you money.” Now, this Senegalese woman wants to expand her business across Africa, and other countries outside the continent. “My dream is to conquer Africa, and why not the world. As the international hotel franchises in

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per in the y Hotel in

Africa, we should be able to adapt our Afro-chic boutique hotels in Western countries, and show African women can run luxury boutique hotels with the same standards as the international hotels,” concluded Niang.

https://travelnoire.com/hotel-housekeeper-toluxury-hotel-dakar-senegal Image credit: rugali.com, thepalmsdakar.com, TripAdvisor

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Ideas for 2022 - Nigeria

Osun Osogbo Festival: The Annual Nigerian Event That Honors the Osun Goddess By Brunno Braga

very year, thousands of followers of traditional religions across Nigeria converge at the Osogbo, Osun state capital to join in one of the most popular festivals in West Africa— the Osun Osogbo International Festival. The five-day event of celebrations happens in August. This Nigerian festival attracts tourists within and outside the country swarming the street of Osogbo to join the annual rites, with thousands escorting the maiden calabash bearer to the shrine to show gratitude to the Osun goddess. Osun worship belongs to the Yoruba people, which are the predominant ethnic group in South Western Nigeria. They were believed to have originated from Ile-Ife. Their traditions are closely linked to nature. There is a strong belief in the supreme being God of all creations, called Olorun or Olodumare, and over 200 other gods, called Orisas. Many of these gods are represented by natural creations in the

environment. Sango, for example, is the god of thunder. Yemoja, the goddess of the sea, and Oya— one of Sango’s wives— is the goddess of the storm. This religious tradition is celebrated in many countries outside Africa such as Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Cuba. Despite the influence of the Western culture and religion, the festival has maintained its originality, authenticity and acceptability among nations worldwide. The celebration transcends various eras right from when it was only known to the Yoruba people of Nigeria down to present day when the cultural festival has now gained world acclaim and is even celebrated beyond the shores of Africa. During the days of celebrations, followers and tourists line behind the Arugba showing gratitude for the previous year’s blessings and praying for more blessings in the coming year. The group arrives at the Osun to a patiently waiting crowd

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that receives them amidst prayers in a very beautiful ceremony. Osun Osogbo Festival is not only important because of its religious approach, but also for keeping Yoruba’s tradition alive and its potential to attract tourists from all over the world. “Osun Osogbo festival is a brand on its own. Therefore, the Osun State Government must upgrade the Groove to an international standard as it is done in Brazil and other Caribbean countries,” Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, told Vanguard News Nigeria. Cultural enthusiast and traditionalist, Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon also stresses the need for

Yoruba nation to establish a means to defend itself and protect their cultural heritage. “We need to be more alert and protect ourselves using traditional means. We need to deploy traditional means to protect our people. Yoruba across the country must rediscover itself. We must uphold the tradition and culture which God bestows on us,” he said. In his remarks to Vanguard Nigeria News, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, said Osogbo town was blessed with the Osun river goddess, declaring that the festival ranks among the best in the world and urged the Osun state government to reinvent the glory of the Osun Osogbo Festival by providing the support that is needed to make Osogbo the business hub of the state. For him, Osun Osogbo festival remains an annual fiesta for tourism attraction, adding that the state is capable of sustaining culture, tradition and Yoruba heritage. https://travelnoire.com/osun-osogbo-festivalnigeria Image credit: Wikimedia Commons, howng. com, olorisupergal.com, kwekudeetripdownmemorylane.blogspot.ca

37 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Ideas for 2022 - Nigeria

Twin Capital Igbo-Ora, Nigeria Celebrates World Twins Festival By Malik Peay

n Nigeria, a growing city called Igbo-Ora is known as the twin capital due to it having the highest rate of twin births in the world. The town is the home of the annual World Twins Festival, which celebrates the many twins that reside in their community. The landmark event is a week-long festival in which the local community looks to their twin neighbors to pay their respects for the phenomenon that has become a cultural norm. From October 3rd through 9th, the twins of IgboOra bond through intellectual debates, cultural games, and other festivities. They get together to follow local traditions and honor Thanksgiving Sundays. These are days in which they attend church dressed in their finest clothing and make oﬀerings and donations. Other church services are also held during which cleansing rituals are practiced. Although no scientific justification has been produced to explain the anomaly that exists in this Nigerian community, many locals believe there is a spiritual reason the city has so many identical twins. Others believe the high rates of twin births can be attributed to a diet rich in okro leaves, which happen to be the main ingredient in one of the region’s most popular traditional dishes, ilasa

soup. However, it is worth noting that although the cities surrounding Igbo-Ora all follow the same habit of eating these prickly green leaves, their twin populations do not even come close to matching the consistent amount of twins to be

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found in the twin capital. During this year’s World Twins Festival, National Hospital Abuja will be highlighted due to their groundbreaking achievement of separating conjoined twins. In November 2019, Goodness and Mercy Ede were successfully separated

with the help of over 70 hospital workers. Prior to this achievement, this type of surgery had never been done in the country. The World Twins Festival has become a popular attraction drawing many tourists who wish to experience the twin capital of the world for themselves. There, seeing double is not out of the ordinary. https://travelnoire.com/twin-capital-igbo-oranigeria-celebrates-world-twins-festival Image credit: Jessica Felicio, todayng.com, BBC, NDTV justtoursnewsafrica.com, gogeafrica.tv

39 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Marketing Travel

Rihanna and LeBron James are the New Faces for Travel Luggage Brand Rimowa By Nasha Smith

Rihan

Roger Federer

inger/business mogul Rihanna, NBA superstar LeBron James, 20time Grand Slam tennis champion Roger Federer, and multidisciplinary artist Patti Smith are all part of the new global Rimowa campaign “Never Still” which showcases their personal relationship with travel. The Covid-19 pandemic created a shift in travel, forcing the industry

Patti Smith

to redefine how we experience diﬀerent destinations. The legacy LVMH-owned luggage label is leaning into more purposeful travel and has enlisted the high-profile icons to share their own travel stories. The reflective and intimate short videos feature a poem written and narrated by Smith and a custom score by Jamie xx. “Travel as we knew it is over,” says LeBron James in a 15-second clip.

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LaBron James

nna

“Now it’s not about how far you go, but why you go. And who you bring along for the ride.” Rihanna adds, “You just need to receive life as it comes, and traveling really did that for me. When everything is minimized, you see what’s important. You’re discovering experiences as they come to you, and you’re embracing it.” The entertainer has previously been spotted with the limited-edition Rimowa x Oﬀ-White Cabin Multiwheel suitcase, designed by Louis Vuitton creative director Virgil Abloh. This new campaign is part of the promotion

for Rimowa’s collection of “mobility essentials” launched late last year. “I’m not here to criticize what we’ve done in the past — it was a diﬀerent era — but I think this is truly our first Virgil Abloh campaign where we’re keen to have a two-way conversation and really get people thinking about the impact the pandemic has had on them and what they’re going to change, keep, evolve, you name it,” Emelie De Vitis, Chief Marketing Oﬃcer at Rimowa told High Snobriety in an interview. “It’s truly a universal question. I think there will probably be less futile travels, but more travel for purpose.” https://travelnoire.com/rihanna-lebron-james-luggagelabel-rimowa Image credit: luxexpose.com, hawtcelebs.com, lesitedelasneaker.com, Pinterest, Hypebeast, UnderConsideration

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Ideas for 2022 - Burkina Faso

Diallo, a film director and twotime FESPACO winner, will debut his comedy, “The 3 Lascars”, about three friends going on a trip with their mistresses. “In these very diﬃcult times for Burkina Faso and all the countries of the Sahel because of the terrorist attacks, I have the pleasure of oﬀering a beautiful comedy to make people smile, to entertain the public and ask questions about our current identity, to show our identity to others and enjoy theirs,” Diallo, 59, said. Burkina Faso was once regarded as a beacon of peaceful coexistence in the region, which some attribute to its rich cultural scene. “Culture builds the ground for development. It is crucial for living together in peace,” said Alexander Widmer, head of governance at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Burkina Faso, which co-funds the film festival. Some people think the event could be an opportunity to unite an increasingly fractured nation and remind the world that it’s still open for business. “It’s now that FESPACO is even more important for the country,” said Koudbi Kabore, a historian and researcher at Joseph Ki Zerbo University in Ouagadougou. “It showcases African cinema, and holding it will undoubtedly return Burkina Faso’s image of being a good destination for business and investment.”

Africa’s Largest Film Festival Kicks Oﬀ in Burkina Faso By SAM MEDNICK

frica’s largest film festival kicks oﬀ Saturday in Burkina Faso amid both the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing jihadi insurgency in the West African nation that has killed thousands of people and displaced more than 1 million in recent years. Alex Moussa Sawadogo, head of the PanAfrican Film and TV Festival of Ouagadougou said organizers wanted to go ahead with the event known by its French acronym, FESPACO in spite of the challenges to show Burkina Faso can still “inspire imagination through cinema.” “This event will be a FESPACO of resistance because it is taking place under harsh security and health conditions,” he told The Associated Press in an interview in the capital, Ouagadougou. Sawadogo said the number of venues has been reduced this year. The weeklong festival showcases works by African filmmakers and works produced on the continent. Out of nearly 1,200 films submitted, 282 have been selected to compete, some of which have already been shown at places like Cannes and the Toronto Film Festival. Participants say they hope FESPACO will be a breath of fresh air for a suﬀering nation. Boubakar

https://apnews.com/article/coronaviruspandemic-entertainment-health-pandemics-artsand-entertainment-fb9ebee2055fbcd31e34ﬀ7 0e7087985

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Women Focused Travel

Going It Alone, Together By Tanya A. Christian

hen Ashley N. Company quit her corporate job in 2016 to start Jelani Women Travel, a boutique agency focused on transformative trips for solo women of color, she was ahead of the curve. Before the pandemic, her small-group trips to Africa were selling well, with individual women finding camaraderie among like-minded adverturers. While COVID-19 put the brakes on some trips, Company says, the appeal of heer alone-buttogether getaways has never been stronger. “People have been quickly booking up our yearend excursions, as well as the ones we have planned for 2022,” she says. “They’re sying, ‘I know I have something to look forward to.’”

Small group trips aimed at solo women are taking oﬀ, says Cole Banks, who founded Sisters Traveling Solo, which is exclusively focused on female clients. “More than 60% of the women traveling with us are new customers,” Banks says. “Women have realized the importance of gettin out, doing what they want, and not waiting on others to join them.” www.travelandleisure.com (Sept 2021) Image credit: Jelani Women Travel, wetravel. com, Justia

travel africa

Promoting Africa-focused Tourism Since 2011

Travel Africa www.africabusinessassociation.org 43 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

1st Person Africa

For the First Time, a Team of All-Black Women Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and They’re all Over 40 By BOTWC Staﬀ

group of Black women, aged 40+, just made history as the first all-Black American woman team to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Diana Kinard and Dawn Frazier are the founders of Shades of Favor, a collective that aims to “inspire Black women to embrace their next chapter of growth through travel and shared experiences.” The two Georgia women met in 2019 and immediately hit it oﬀ. They bonded over their love of life, gratitude for how far they had come, and a desire to keep living boldly. The women realized they were favored to be healthy and have the ability to continue pursuing their life’s goals. The idea for the “Shades of Favor” group was born.

“We are both grateful that we met, and our friendship grew. Becoming comfortable talking about goals and dreams made us aware of many we shared. It also made us aware that we are at the age [where] we realize that members of our families had stopped saying ‘not yet.’ After a few messages about Kilimanjaro, we both realized that it was a ‘not yet’ moment for us both, [and] an idea was born,” Frazier told Because Of Them We Can. That feeling of “not yet,” led the women to invite others to join them. They formed a group of women, ages 42-77, who would venture on the bucket list journey of a lifetime. While the chaos of the last year deterred some and created setbacks,

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the women persevered. “To continue to plan and execute our dream trip during a pandemic was a true testament of our faith and belief,” Kinard said. Eventually, the group of 20 dwindled to 9, and the women began training to conquer the mountain in Tanzania, the world’s highest freestanding mountain. “Every training plan says to be in the best shape of your life. The altitude was an unknown factor, so all eﬀorts were attempts to prepare for the lack of oxygen. Getting used to the weight of the clothing, boots, and backpack was a big part of the training.

Then focus on spending time on your feet for consecutive days to prepare for the fatigue,” Frazier explained. She continued, “I personally decided to slow things down and spend my training hours in a zone that increased my aerobic fitness. My whole goal is to make my body able to maximize whatever oxygen is available as we get closer to the top. It was tough to slow the walks, runs, and bike rides down, but I found that it kept me from being sore and able to do at least 1.5 to 2 hours each day for about 60 days before I left. Everyone did something diﬀerent, and that worked for me.” Before they knew it, it was time to embark on

the journey. Of the nine women, five ended up making it to the mountain’s highest peak, Uhuru, which sits at 19,341 feet. Two made it to Stella Point, sitting at 18,885 feet, and one made it to Gilham Point, sitting at 18,652 feet. The journey took about five days, with some days being short and others being long. They started the day just before 3 am and ended around 4 pm, with another 4-hour trek back down to their campsite during their summit push. While the journey was arduous, it was one that they’re all very proud of and one they believe was life-changing. “We are all stronger than we think. Your body will want to quit, but your mind will keep you going. This was a lesson in life,” Kinard said. The two women credit the group’s support with pushing them each on and recommend anyone looking to replicate the trek to find their village, after consulting their doctors first, of course. For the duo, it was not just about the bucket list item but more about proving to themselves and the world that no matter your age, there’s always an opportunity to grow. “I do not want people to think this is all about travel. This is about w o m e n who will traditionally be a supportive member of someone’s village when she should be the supported member of her own village. It’s not about where we are going but keeping a growth mentality,” Frazier said. www.becauseofthemwecan.com//blogs/botwcfirsts/first-time-team-all-black-women-climbedmount-kilimanjaro-over-40

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Image credit: Shades of Favor

Architecture as a Destination

Africa’s Iconic Architecture in 12 Buildings

hile the pyramids of Egypt are recognised around the world, much of Africa’s architecture remains unknown something architects Adil Dalbai and Livingstone Mukasa hope to change. They are part of the team that has recently published the seven-volume Architectural Guide Sub-Saharan Africa. Their in-depth study encompasses buildings from earlier eras, the colonial period - like the recently renovated railway station (above) built in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, in 1910 - to more modern masterpieces. Here are 12 of the most innovative, historic and iconic entries: 1) Kasubi Tombs, Uganda - 1882 Covering hectares of agricultural land in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, the Royal Complex at Kasubi is the burial place of monarchs of the Buganda Kingdom. It was predominantly built from wood and other organic materials. The interior is designed to replicate a sacred forest and is topped with 52 circular rings to represent each of the 52 Buganda clans. Mukasa, who was born in Uganda, visited the tombs for the first time when he was 10 years old. “It was stunning,” he told the BBC. “Not just the scale of it, but the entire grandeur of the building. “[It] was constructed in the late 19th Century before the introduction of modern materials, using traditional centuries-old methods. I felt that the building had a presence. When you were inside it, it dominated you.” 2) Lideta Market, Ethiopia - 2017 A contemporary entry, this shopping centre was built in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, with lightweight concrete. The considered design includes a perforated façade that controls the flow of natural light and ventilation within. Moreover, the cut-out pattern decorating the building’s gleaming white shell imitates a traditional Ethiopian fabric. 3) Hikma Complex, Niger - 2018 Architecture studio Atelier Masōmī’s Nigerien founder, Mariam Kamara, restored a former

#1 Pinterest #2 © Gonzalo Guajardo

Hausa mosque that had fallen into disrepair, adding a community space and library. Compressed-earth bricks make up the majority of the building with materials mostly sourced from within 5km (three miles) of the site in the village of Dandaji. For Dalbai, the project is particularly impressive for its seamless blend of old and new. “It’s clearly a contemporary building that is deeply rooted in Nigerien tradition,” the German architect told the BBC. “Not only culturally, but also technically because it relies on old traditional building techniques and materials.” 4) Maropeng Visitors’ Centre, South Africa 2006 Known as the Cradle of Humankind World

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#3 © James Wang

#4 © GAPP Architects & Urban Designers

#5 © Valerian Guillot Heritage Site, Maropeng is a state-of-the-art visitors’ centre designed to help people learn about the early development of modern humans. This iconic structure was designed by South

African firms GAPP Architects and MMA Studio. The building itself resembles a burial mound rising from the earth in a design that appears truly integrated with nature. 5) Pyramids of Meroë, Sudan 3,000BC The oldest entry in the guide are these step-sided pyramids, which date back to 3,000BC, located around 200km (125 miles) from Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, in Meroë in the Nile Valley. This Unesco World Heritage Site was once the capital of the ancient Kushite empire and excavations revealed the remains of palaces, temples and royal baths. The pyramids of this burial site were built with sandstone blocks, while elaborate reliefs are etched within their interiors. 6) Basotho Houses, Lesotho - date unknown In Lesotho, “litema” is a mural decoration involving engraving, mosaic and relief elements on the facades of houses. Built with earth brick and plaster, this house is painted in the traditional colours of red ochre to symbolise the blood of fertility and sacrifice, white to represent purity and peace, and black to reference the ancestors and the promise of rain symbolised by “dark rain clouds”. “Basotho houses have always been of interest to me in the way that they stand out in the landscape - the use of colours and the use of geometric shapes,” says Mukasa. “I always found it interesting that people would use what was around them to turn a rudimentary structure into a piece of art.” 7) Kenneth Dike Library, Nigeria 1954 This library is often cited as one of the key works of what is known as “tropical modernism”.

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to page 48

Architecture as a Destination Africa’s Architecture - from page 47 It was built during a period when patterned sunscreens had risen in popularity, drawing inspiration from Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier’s use of “brise-soleil” - an architectural feature of a building that reduces heat within a building by deflecting sunlight. The building was designed by Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew, who were pioneers of the Modern Movement in England. The library is part of the University of Ibadan campus - founded by the British colonial authorities in 1948 - and became an influential model for climate responsive architecture in the sub-region. 8) Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali - 13th Century A monument to Islam, the Great Mosque is the largest earth-built structure in the world. The mosque is a symbol of the city of Djenné, which flourished as a centre of commerce between 800 and 1250. The building’s smooth sculpted walls are constructed with sun-baked earth bricks, sand and earth-based mortar and a coat of plaster. Each year, residents of the city communally re-plaster the mosque during a one-day event known as the Crépissage de la Grand Mosquée (Plastering of the Great Mosque). 9) Palace of Emperor Fasilides, Ethiopia early 17th Century This palace is located in Ethiopia’s northern city of Gondar, within a fortified compound known as the “Fasil Ghebbi” (Royal Enclosure). The site includes some 20 palaces, royal buildings, elaborately decorated churches, monasteries and unique buildings. The design of these buildings were influenced by the baroque style brought to Gondar by Jesuit missionaries. 10) Dominican Chapel, Nigeria -1973 Artist Demas Nwoko blends sculptural elements and modernity with a Nigerian vernacular style of architecture in this reimagined Dominican chapel in Ibadan. The structure incorporates features such as carved timber columns and elaborate metalwork on the balustrades and gates. Mukasa says it marked a radical break from the modernist movement that had cemented itself on

#6 © Gary van Wyk

#7 © Iain Jackson

#8 © Getty Ima the African continent to a means of expression that was “homegrown and derived from local culture”. 11) Great Mosque, Benin - 1912-1935 This mosque in Benin’s capital, Port-Novo, is a striking example of Afro-Brazilian architecture built in the style of 17th and 18th Century churches in the north-eastern Brazilian state of,

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ages

#9 © Heide Ludger

#12 © Peter Rich Architects

#10 © Andrew Moore #11 Pinterest

Bahia. The colour palette of bright yellow, brown, green and blue are reminiscent of Bahia’s historic architecture. Along the West African coast, it is one of many Afro-Brazilian mosques built in the early 20th Century by returning descendants of freed slaves. “It shows the many layers that are specific to western Africa’s architectural heritage - the intercontinental connections between Europe, South America and the West African coast in the bay of Benin at a time when there were many

exchanges,” says Dalbai. 12) Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre, South Africa - 2009 Located in a rocky landscape within Mapungubwe National Park, this centre won South African architect Peter Rich the 2009 World Building of the Year Award at the World Architecture Festival. The celebrated design is constructed with “a long-forgotten vaulting technique that bricklayers from North Africa took to Catalonia, and which was used by architects such as Antoni Gaudi”, according to Rich. Mud bricks were formed using soil from the construction site and only 5% of additional cement to create a clay mixture. www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/africas-iconic-architecture-in-12-buildings/arAAPonXx?ocid=winp1taskbar Image credit: Pinterest, Africa’s iconic architecture in 12 buildings

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World’s Best Awards

2021 Travel + Leisure Annual World’s Best Awards - Focus on Africa This year’s World Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifing COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire you as you get back out into the world. T+L October 2021 www.travelandleisure.com.

#46 #53 #54

Top 25 Cities Overall

#71

#20

Cape Town, South Africa

Top 10 Cities Africa/Middle East #1 #2 #4 #10

Cape Town, South Africa Marrakesh, Morocco Fez, Morocco Essaouira, Morocco

#60 #63 #68

#71 #88 #90

Angama Mara, Masai Mara, Kenya Gibb’s Farm, Karatu, Tanzania Singita Grumeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania Matetsi Victoria Falls, Matetsi Private Game Reserve, Zimbabwe Khwai River Lodge, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana Bushcamp Company’s Mfuwe Lodge, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa Sasaab, Samburu, Kenya Lion Sands Game Reserve, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa Oyster Box, Umhlanga Rocks, South Africa

Khwai River Lodge, Botswana

Top 5 City Hotels North Africa/Middle East

Top 25 Islands Overall #24

Seychelles

Top 3 Islands Africa/Middle East #1 #2 #3

Seychelles Zanzibar, Tanzania Mauritius

#20

Royal Mansour, Marrakesh, Morocco La Mamounia, Marrakesh, Morocco Marriott Mena House, Cairo, Egypt

Top 5 Resort Hotels North Africa/ Middle East

Top 100 Hotels Overall #1 #13

#2 #3 #4

Mahali Mzuri, Masai Mara, Kenya Savute Elephant Lodge,Chobe National Park, Botswana andBeyond Phinda Viel Lodge, Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Kasbah Tamadot, Atlas Mountains, Morocco Four Seasons Hotel, Casablanca, Morocco

Top 5 City Hotels Africa

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Royal Livingstone Victorial Falls Zambia Hotel, Livingstone, Zambia

#1 #2 #3 #4 #5

Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa The Silo, Cape Town, South Africa Ellerman House, Cape Town, South Africa Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa, Johannesburg, South Africa One&Only, Cape Town, South Africa

Top 3 Resort Hotels Africa #1 #2 #3

Matetsi Victoria Falls, Matetsi Private Game Reserve, Zimbabwe Oyster Box, Umhlanga Rocks, South Africa Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel, Livingstone, Zambia

Top 10 Safari Lodges Africa

#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #9

Mahali Mzuri, Masai Mara, Kenya Savute Elephant Lodge,Chobe National Park, Botswana andBeyond Phinda Viel Lodge, Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa Angama Mara, Masai Mara, Kenya Gibb’s Farm, Karatu, Tanzania Singita Grumeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania Khwai River Lodge, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana Bushcamp Company’s Mfuwe Lodge, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa Sasaab, Samburu, Kenya Image credit: afktravel.com, travelbutlers.com, wild-wings-safaris.com

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1st Person Africa

New Book: Safari Style N Exceptional African Camps and Lodges E By Melissa Biggs Bradley B

f t e r traveling to Africa dozens do of times on safari, saffari I have been asked, asked as a founder of luxury travel group Indagare, to pick a favorite lodge more times than I can count. It is truly impossible for me to choose just one, which is why in Safari Style: Exceptional African Camps and Lodges, I cover many lodges in many regions, from the desert in Namibia, the Serengeti in Tanzania, the mountains in Rwanda, to the great concessions and parks in Botswana and South Africa. Every property in the book—there are 21 of them, across 7 countries—can be guaranteed to deliver an unforgettable safari and aesthetic experience. I have included the continent’s most luxurious lodges as well as incredible tented camps that showcase cutting-edge sustainable infrastructure, but these are illustrative, not definitive, because there are many amazing properties that didn’t make it in the book. Safari Style is meant to inspire discovery and broaden—not limit—one’s view of Africa and its safari lodges.

Here are seven properties that showcase some of the most impressive locations and innovations of Africa’s next generation of safari camps, and highlight the diversity of experiences that you can have in the bush. Singita Mara River Camp, Tanzania For the Great Migration and epic wildlife viewing Its prime location in northern Tanzania, on the banks of the Mara River, means that each morning at Singita’s Mara River Camp you’ll wake under canvas in the middle of the Serengeti to the sound of bird calls and be perfectly positioned to observe the Great Migration (should you visit during the right time of year). Though watching a river crossing is a high-drama event that can typically attract dozens of vehicles, staying at Mara River Camp gives you the absolute privacy

Singita Mara River Camp

Mwiba Lodge 52 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

of the Singita Lamai concession and, rather than spending hours waiting for a crossing, you can leisurely watch the fabled river from the comfort of the lodge. From the game viewing to the location of the lodge along the iconic Mara River, it is hard to beat this under-canvas experience. Mwiba Lodge, Tanzania For community visits and cultural exchange Mwiba Lodge sits in an idyllic location overlooking a watering hole on the Arugusinyai River and is set on a 129,000-acre reserve bordering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on one side and the Serengeti National Park on the other. The lodge balances the indulgences of a permanent safari lodge with the immersive wilderness experience of a tented camp: Though the 10 tented suites have hardwood floors and glass sliding doors, they also have canvas walls allowing you to fall asleep to the sounds of the bush at night. One of the standout experiences at Mwiba is the opportunity to go on a bush walk with the nomadic Hadza, a local hunter-gatherer tribe of only 1,300 members, who live as they have for centuries. Lodge guests can learn how they forage for food in the harsh landscape and, from the lodge, there is also the chance to visit a Maasai village to learn about their incredible culture and tradition. I believe that a combination of time in the bush and also with people—giving opportunities for cultural immersion and exchange—is what makes for a

perfect safari experience, and Mwiba’s location allows guests to find that ideal mix. Segera Retreat, Kenya For blend of traditional safari vestiges and cutting-edge African art Segera is a nine-guesthouse resort-like property in Kenya’s Laikipia region that puts a large focus on sustainability and conservation programs and showcases an amazing collection of safarirelated antiques and 21st-century African art. Safari traditionalists will appreciate the wonderful memorabilia such as signed Hemingway letters and the vintage plane used in the film Out of Africa (guests who stay at the property can experience a safari from the sky), as well as the pieces from owner Jochen Zeitz’s modern art collection, and the property’s “4C” vision (a balance of community, commerce, culture, and conservation), which Jochen pioneered by uniquely applying to sustainability. Mombo Lodge, Botswana For the Okavango Delta There is no landscape in the world quite like Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a 6,000-squaremile wetland paradise covered by a labyrinth of waterways filled with animals. Mombo is an eight-suite intimate camp on Chief’s Island in the Moremi Game Reserve in the Delta. The camp can claim numerous distinctions, including being to page 54

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Mombo Lodge

1st Person Africa Safari Style - from page 53 the priciest safari lodge in Africa, but most importantly, it changed the course of Botswana’s history and of ecotourism when it opened in 1991 by setting a new bar in the design of sustainable safari camps (the camp is 100% solar powered). The game viewing from the reserve is truly unparalleled—cheetahs, prides of lions, packs of wild dogs, elephants, leopards, and black-andwhite rhino are all prevalent on the concession— and the wild floodplains that you can explore from camp ensure that every drive is filled with excitement. Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Namibia For the sheer drama of the landscapes

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

As a safari destination, Namibia is known for its intimate lodges set in remote, starkly beautiful places filled with fascinating desert-adapted wildlife. Sossusvlei, in the southern Namib Desert, is an area famous for having the world’s largest sand dunes, and it is also celebrated for its spectacular night skies (the area has been designated as a rare International Dark Sky Reserve). Sossusvlei Desert Lodge sits on a 30,000-acre private desert reserve. The bare minimalism of the interiors parallels the barren vistas in the 11 suites, each with its own plunge pool, as well as retractable skylights positioned to allow stargazing from the bed. The desert safari opportunities from the lodge are incredible: Guests can explore the Sossusvlei dunes and salt pans, take desert walks, go hot-air ballooning, and discover ancient San rock paintings. The Farmstead at Royal Malewane, South Africa For walking safari and trackers The Farmstead at Royal Malewane is a

The Farmstead at Royal Malewane 54 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

groundbreaking public/private partnership in the Greater Kruger area (the lodge was built with the sole purpose of benefiting the community) and was created by the Biden family, one of South Africa’s leading hospitality families. The Farmstead beautifully merges modern farmhouse design with a vibrant palette of colors and contemporary African Art. With only three suites and a threeand-a-half-bedroom villa, The Farmstead is often considered one of the hardest lodges to get into in South Africa and also one of the best. The lodge has a number of master trackers and renowned guides (the highest of all the lodges in South Africa) and, right from the base of the lodge, you can head on multiple walking safari trails with an expert ranger. It’s an incredible way to experience the bush and a unique opportunity in South Africa. Bisate Lodge, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda For the endangered mountain gorillas, one of the most special animal-viewing experiences in the world Set on a hillside overlooking the volcanic

peaks of Bisoke and Karisimbi in Volcanoes National Park, Bisate features six villas that resemble massive weaver nests. The interiors mix comforts like soaking tubs and fireplaces with elements of traditional Rwandan crafts, such as the colorful kitenge fabrics. Bisate is a perfect base for trekking to see endangered mountain gorillas as well as golden monkeys—though not your traditional safari experiences, both are extraordinary animal encounters—and Rwanda is a must-visit destination for outdoor enthusiasts and those who want to witness the positive power of safari tourism to preserve wildlife and empower local communities. www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/7-of-thebest-safaris-in-africa-according-to-a-travelexpert/ar-AAPyXQu Image credit: Singita Mara River Camp, Mwiba Lodge, Segera Retreat, Mombo Lodge, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Volcanoes National Park Source: Architectural Digest

Bisate Lodge, Volcanoes National Park 55 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Nigeria - Hospitality Opportunities

Meet Mark Essien: Nigerian E Transforming the Travel Industry A

uch can be said about the budding tech scene in Africa, with many startups founded within the last decade making big wins in the industry. However, in the midst of the hype, there is a distinct lack of local talent that is being nurtured and brought into the businesses, with many founders opting to import expensive expatriates. This strategy is not just ineﬃcient for startups in the longer term, but also for African economies. One serial entrepreneur who has established a number of successful businesses (including Africa’s biggest hotel booking platform Hotels.ng) whilst training up the next generation of African tech leaders is Mark Essien. Early Beginnings Essien was born in Nigeria to business-minded parents who owned a number of schools and was a high school student during the tumultuous military coup in the late nineties. He went on to graduate and accepted an oﬀer at a German university. Unsurprising, with Germany being one of the world’s most innovative countries, he quickly recognised the rise in demand for digital products during the ‘dot com’ era. He became fascinated and, although he did not own a computer at the time, his older sister, who was also based in Germany, allowed him to use her own, along with her dial-up internet. Essien was soon hooked on everything internetrelated and invested all of his spare time into trying to understand it. After mastering the basics, he purchased some visual basic software and learned how to develop software. His first idea was a file sharing service (similar to Napster) called Gnumm, a platform that would go a step beyond peer-to-peer sharing by allowing individuals to share data via multiple networks. The app soon had many downloads. The app garnered attention and eventually an acquisition proposal from Snoopstar, an augmented reality platform which was part of the Bertelmann group. After the acquisition, he postponed his studies and started working for Bertelmann as part of the

software development team. After a few years at Bertelsmann and having experienced a taste of entrepreneurship with Gnumm, Essien now focused on computer programming. He tried his hand at a number of different projects, writing the code himself from his university dorm. At this time, he had returned to Beuth University of Applied Science to complete his degree. He created a platform named Standard MPEG, which was one of the first MPEG encoder software available for the DirectShow platform. Essien sold his software to a number of notable clients, including Disney and the US military. The income from his endeavours meant he was able to support himself financially through his studies, whilst also developing his entrepreneurial flair. Although Essien has become an expert in building software for PCs, the age of the smartphone had begun and the popularity of the devices had skyrocketed. Smartphones transformed the way we use technology and so, Essien adapted accordingly. Over the next few years, he developed apps for the Apple’s App Store with mixed success. The market for apps in Western countries became saturated and so Essien saw an opportunity to take the technology to Africa. He had researched the start-up climate in the continent and saw that things in South Africa had started to take off. However, the industry in wider Africa was nascent, so he shifted his focus to consumer facing startups. The travel industry in Africa was active but many providers lacked an effective consumer experience, particularly the travel booking process. Essien identified an opportunity to develop an efficient technology solution. Establishing Hotels.NG Essien moved back to Nigeria to build his hotel booking platform. Although Lagos is the commercial capital of Nigeria, he set his sights on the city of Calabar, a popular holiday destination for natives and other Africans. The dense population of hotels in the city provided

56 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Sept 2021

Entrepreneur Across Africa By Tommy Williams

a large number of potential clients. He divided his time between developing the website and visiting hotels in order to share his platform with their management. The sign-up responses were positive as the platform was mutually beneficial, given that each hotel could advertise its products and gain new customers. Ultimately, “no hotel wants fewer guests,” Essien states. After signing up the majority of the hotels in the Calabar market, it was time to expand. However, larger cities do not benefit from the same density of hotels and the higher levels of traffic make transportation challenging. Seeking investment, Essien met with a well-known African entrepreneur, Jason Njoku, founder of iROKO Partners Limited, who, at the time, had started his own investment fund. Njoku offered him USD 75,000 in seed funding. Given the lean business model and Essien’s ability to develop the website himself, the funding was mainly used for recruiting sales agents, who would sign hotels up to the platform. As the business grew, the number of agents increased to 300, many of whom were contacted and hired via Facebook. Today, Hotels.NG has a team of 150 people, serving hotels and customers across Nigeria, with plans to expand across Africa and to eventually offer the full end-to-end travel experience. The journey has been tough but rewarding for Essien. When asked about the biggest challenges that he has faced so far, he mentions recruitment, as the tech industry in Africa in still in its early stages therefore finding trained talent proved to be difficult. The problem is compounded by international companies and startups who outsource or hire expatriates to fill their technical roles. Essein was reluctant to adopt this strategy as he is passionate about

seeing the African technology ecosystem and economy grow and thrive. With this in mind, he established an initiative to train local developers, some of whom have become some of Hotels.NG strongest employees. Creating The HNG Internship HNG Internship is an initiative which came about when Essien needed to hire three local developers. The search was challenging, however he eventually found three talented individuals who were also keen to develop their technical skills. The next year, he decided to advertise the programme and 170 people applied. Rather than filtering through CVs, he gave the applicants a technical task and each day he eliminated the weakest 10. Eventually, he was left with 10 candidates who proved to be exceptional interns. He repeated the process in the following year and received 800 applications. Neither Essien or his team has the capacity to mentor the interns personally, so he brought in the previous 10 winners to filter through these applicants using the same recruitment process. The most recent cohort of the internship had 13,000 applicants and 40 mentors. Essien feels proud that, although he is not able to hire all of the applicants, local developers are being exposed to practical programming experience, which can be diﬃcult to obtain in the region. Essien is considering launching the initiative out of Hotels.NG, so he can reach even more talent across Africa. www.forbes.com/sites/ tommywilliams1/2020/01/09/meet-mark-essiennigerian-entrepreneur-transforming-the-travelindustry-across-africa/ Image credit: Courtesy of Mark Essien, hotels.ng

57 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Sept 2021

Travel - Be Safe

TSA: What to Know Befo Face Coverings and Social Distancing

TSA officers ar required to we surgical masks and gloves.

Practice social distancing. 6 feet

TSA

Phased installa of plastic shiel at points of int between passe and TSA office (e.g., checkpoin checked bagga drop-off, etc.)

Checkpoint floors have visual reminders of appropriate spacing. Travelers should wear face coverings. Travelers who require an accommodation due to a disability or medical condition should alert the TSA officer.

Travelers may have to adjust their face coverings for IDverification or remove for secondary screening.

Cleaning and Disinfecting 12 oz.

TSA is allowing one liquid hand sanitizer container, up to 12 ounces per passenger, in carry-on bags.

TSA officers will change their gloves with each pat-down and upon passenger request.

New Explosives Trace Detection swab used for each person.

58 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Sept 2021

Increased cleaning an disinfecting of frequen touched surfaces and screening equipment, including bins.

ore You Go

re ear

ation ding teraction engers ers. nt, age

Reduced Physical Contact

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Travelers keep possession of their IDs and boarding passes, place on the reader, and hold up for visual inspection.

TSA Website: www.tsa.gov/coronavirus

Remove belts and all items from pockets and put them in carry-ons instead of bins.*

TSA Safety Video: www.tsa.gov/videos/stayhealthy-stay-secure

Remove food items from carry-on bags and place in bin for screening.*

Travelers may be directed outside of the checkpoint to remove or repack items (e.g., laptops, liquids, gels, aerosols and large electronics).

d ntly security * Does not apply to TSA PreCheck™ members.

CDC Dashboard: www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ whats-new-all.html COVID-19 Testing: www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ symptoms-testing/ testing.html COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination: www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ travelers/map-and-travelnotices.html

Stay Healthy. Stay Secure. tsa.gov/coronavirus 59 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Sept 2021

Art is a Destination

Ghanaian Artist Creates Haunting Sculptures of Slaves in Accra Lake By Chad Williams

hanaian artist Kwame Akoto-Bamfo has created haunting sculptures of slaves in a lake in memory of African ancestors who drowned as they were being transported across the Atlantic Ocean as slaves. His Ancestor Project portrays Africans who were imprisoned, kidnapped or coerced into slavery. According to BBC News Africa, using the ancient Akan tradition of creating portraits of the dead, Akoto-Bamfo wants to show people how great their community was before slavery. The Ancestor Project seeks to use art and performance to empower, educate and promote an interest in African heritage among the youth.

Montgomery, Alabama. The work is directly connected to a larger installation of the same name made up of more than 1,500 portraits of Africans in the diaspora. According to the website Cultured Mag, his ongoing installation, Nkyinkyim, of cement eﬃgies are embedded in a field in

Akoto-Bamfo created the pseudo-art movement. His outdoor sculpture dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Transatlantic slave trade is on display at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice that opened in 2018 in

Nuhalenya N h l Ada, Ad a town t outside t id A Accra. Akoto-Bamfo’s heads show fear, sadness, disgust or surprise and capture the pain of the slave trade. The sculptures depict young and old, male and female, as well as members of diﬀerent tribes. Akoto-Bamfo’s graduate research was in multidisciplinary eclecticism and he has worked as a creative director combining traditional media, fine arts (stone, wood, terracotta and concrete sculpture and acrylic, watercolour paintings) and digital art, digital painting, 3D modelling and digital illustration. 60 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Between 1650 and 1860 approximately 10 to 15 million slaves were forcibly transported from the western African coast to the Americas. Most, packed like sardines onto ships, endured a perilous journey to the West Indies, Central America and South America. The majority of the slaves transported to Virginia were Senegambians (what is today Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mali), followed by the Akan people of the Gold Coast (Ghana), the neighbouring Windward Coast (now Ivory Coast) and others from the Bight of Benin (today’s eastern Nigeria and Cameroon), writes Cultured Mag. www.iol.co.za/travel/africa/watch-ghanaianartist-creates-haunting-sculptures-of-slavesin-accra-lake-f4f35eb8-8c1f-5a3a-ad2577b6ef5acec7 Image credit: Owula, Cape Gazette 61 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

1st Person Africa

Into the Wild By Mark Holland

he guide clicks his fingers. After three days of walking with Mpatinga Ole Nkuito, I know he is signaling a warning. We look up to see a bull elephant 50 feet away, striding through the spiny grass in search of a mate. “If he smells us, we’re in big trouble,” whispers Roelof Schurte, my other guide. It’s unmistakable, from the secretion that trickles down the side of the bull’s head, that he’s in musth - which means he’s aggressive and hormonal. We stop dead, shoulders pinched to our ears. I’ve seen animals in musth before, but on foot it’s infinitely more hair-raising. Schutte shakes his wind checker, a cylindrical brass container that releases baby powder, to establish which way the wind is blowing. The creature can’t see us, but one shift in the wind and he could pick up our scent, “The elephant must never know we were here,” says Schutte. Going unnoticed-while staying alert is a requirement on a walking safari. Unlike in a vehicle, you’re not just viewing the wild; you’ve within it. Animals react to you diﬀerently. Giraﬀes freeze, as though you’ve caught them stealing marula fruit from the trees, topi make alarm calls to warn their clan that a potential predator is nearby. On foot, you’re a threat, not an observer. While there are moments-like when we spy a leopard

dashing from a tree-that my legs turn to jelly, there are others when I feel exhilarated, knowing that the electric action I’m witnessing could never be experienced from the back of a chugging four-wheel drive.

Walking safaris have become more popular in eastern and southern Africa in recent years, but only a handful of places oﬀer multiday tours. Conceived by tour operator Asilia Africa and Schutte, this five-day trip through the lands of the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association was created to encourage travelers to experience the less traﬃcked areas north of Maasai Mara National Reserve, some of which can only be reached on foot. These 15 conservancies comprise 600 square miles of

62 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, adding that the lease payments provide guaranteed income even in bad years. “The model is complex, but it proves to be working and could influence national policy.“ Considering over-tourism has been rampant in the Mara for years and trave dollars don’t always wind up in the hands of the community, scaling up a more sustainable model like this is groundbreaking. Compared with the safaris many well-heeled travelers have come to know, where high tea awaits at 3 p.m. and air conditioners whir above the beds, this safari is decidedly less lavish. Which

A room at Naboisho Camp in Mara Naboisho Conservancy.

private land owned by local Maasai but leased to investors like Asilia Africa. Bordering the reserve, they allow for the expansion of the Mara ecosystem and free movement of animals. More than 14,500 landowners have leased their property to the association so far, earning up to $5 million collectively. This unique economy, built on the pillars of community and wildlife, has created jobs for more than 2,000 people in the hospitality and wildlife sectors. “The conservancies act as land banks,” says Daniel Sopia, CEO of the Maasai

is not to say budget. Each day, after trekking 10 miles in eight hours, we arrive at a new camp that’s been set up by Asilia staﬀ employed from surrounding villages. We remove our boots, sink into the canvas director’s chairs, and guzzle hardearned G&Ts. Then we wash up with hot bucket showers and eat homemade bread, curries, and ugali (maize-flour poridge) cooked over a fire. Later we curl up in tents and listen to whooping hyenas and roaring lions, acutely aware that the only thing separating us from them is a thin flap of fabric.

63 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

see page 64

Walking Safari

from page 63

In the mornings we wake with the birds and fuel up on coffee before beginning our daily trek. Schutte and Ole Nkuito, a Maasai from the nomadic Ndorobo tribe, travel through the bush as if guided by an invisible compass. Ole Nkuito, who grew up walking this turf, moves through the endless plains with nothing more than a water bottle, a rungu (wooden baton) tucked into his belt, and his red shukka flapping behim him. Marching at a brisk pace in the midday sun can be taxing, but we make numerous pit tops. Sometimes we come to a screeching halt when there’s a threat ahead of us, like when we spy a lone buffalo on the horizon, staring at us as though we owe it money. “They aren’t afraid of anything,” says Schutte, fingering the rifle that’s slung over his shoulder. “Rather than run, they attack as a defense.” We stop to examine smaller things too, like dung beefles. Schutte explains how the removal of dung eliminates a buildup of parasites, which in turn stabilizes the ecosystum. Having grown up going to the bush, I’ve disregarded countless dung beetles before, but observing them through this lens makes me appreciate them anew. We also meet with local organizations like the Maa Trust, a nonprofit that aims to boost community development. At tea one afternoon, we find women threading necklaces for Maa Beadwork, a social initiative that generates extra income for Maasai women. We leave with jewelry and beaded belts, knowing our money was well spent. After three days tiptoeing past elephants, I’ve come to appreciate the interconnectedness of everything in this animal kingdom. I’ve also witnessed the results of preservation at work. Since the conservancy model began around 10 years ago, Schutte has seen a spike in fauna. “there’s life everywhere!” he exclaims when we dip into a valley to discover nine species of mammals.scruffy warthogs, bleating wildebeests, elands flicking their tails-grazing side by side. It’s thrilling

evidence of the positive ve impact that responsible tourism models can have on wilderness areas. “this is a conservation movement to expand the ecosystem m and give local people value ue to their land,” says Schutte. tt It’s also a jarring reminder of our power within this fragile ecosystem, and that the monumental responsibility of keeping it in balance rests entirely upon us. Source: conde nast traveller january/february 2021 Image credit: responsiblevacation.com, avax. news, michaelfinnwildlife.com, asiliagiving.org, uyaphi.com, asiliaafrica.com, discoverafrica.com

64 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Safe Travels

This Black Tech Company Invented Wireless Headphones that Translate Any Language By Parker Diakite

reddie Figgers is known to be one of the most innovative African American inventors and tech entrepreneurs of our time. Figgers is a computer programmer, software engineer, and founder of Figgers Communications, the only Blackowned telecommunications firm in the United States competing with networks like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Founded in 2009, Figgers Communications oﬀers mobile data plans in more than 80 countries. Figgers and his team continue to lead In the technological realm and it comes to no surprise that the company invented headphones that will allow customers to speak to anyone, anywhere, at any time, despite language barriers. The earbuds will translate any language (when paired with a F-3 along with Google Translate) allowing the user the opportunity to develop endless relationships around the globe. With just a setting international business and recreation travel becomes a reality. The F-Buds are setting the tone for smart technology and wireless headphones. F-Buds, when paired with Figgers phones, allow you to translate over 100 languages in the world to the language of your choice. Not only are the F-Buds built to last with the water-resistant feature, but they oﬀer 50 hours of talk time on a single charge. The F-Buds, when housed in their case, need only 30 minutes of downtime before they are fully charged and ready to go again. “Everything I develop is always with the customer in mind,” Freddie Figgers told the

Chicago Defender. “I took a close look at everything on the market and said to o myself, that not only could I create a better product, but I could do it without ccharging a ridiculous price tto enjoy them. I think people are tired of having tto spend large amounts of money on accessories that do not stand up to the lifestyle test. I truly believe that my F-Buds will be the very accessory that changes the game and the wireless accessory that all others will become measured by.” Rapper Jeezy gave Figgers Communications his stamp of approval by financially backing the Black-owned tech company. “There was a point in my life where I wasn’t able to pay the phone bill,” Jeezy said in a news release. “Now as a businessman and entrepreneur to be able to partner with Freddie, someone who overcame similar life obstacles, and to give people more access to handheld technology at an aﬀordable price, it’s truly a blessing.” https://travelnoire.com/black-companyheadphones-translate-language Image credits: IMEI, www.amazon.com/ electronics

65 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Cruise Africa

South Africa Spotlight OCEANIA CRUISES

Oceania Cruise Lines Nautica

Nautica Bar

his cruise roundtrips from Cape Town back to Cape Town. The ship visits Walvis Bay, Namibia then returns to South Africa beginning with Port Elizabeth, then Durban, Richards Bay and Mossel Bay. To take part in this excursion you must be vaccinated. The 12-day cruise on the Nautica departs from Cape Town on January 6, 2022 and docks at Cape Town on January 18th. Visit www.oceaniacruises.com for details. www.travelandleisure.com Image credit: www.oceaniacruises.com

Cream Scones at Tea Time

Nautica Suite 66 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

67 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Libya Hopes to Revitalize its Economy with ‘Rome Of Africa’ Remains By Malik Peay

ibya is home to one of the most ancient World Heritage Sites in the world. The Libyan ruins known as the ‘Rome Of Africa’ hold centuries of cultural relevance and African antiquity. The Phoenicians were the people who discovered the historic city of Leptis Magna but after the Romans took over the city there has been a major influence on African architecture. The ‘Rome Of Africa’ structures are over 2,500 years old and have become defaced with graffiti and are shockingly desolate. The potential for this becoming a tourist destination is high for Libya’s economy and can be revitalized for visitors to look at Libya as a desirable country for international travel. The ancient city was excavated and preserved for visitation in the early 20th century. Leptis Magna is located at the top of a scenic mountain road that towers over Libya and is on the coast facing the Mediterranean Sea. There are miles of stone pillars, an amphitheater, and an abandoned bathhouse that were built centuries ago. This African global site is as picturesque as it gets, with how the ocean’s cascading waves are in your 68 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Leptis Magnaa

peripheral view when standing on this architectural spectacle. There are four other UNESCO world sites in Libya that are being jeopardized by vandalism because of Libya’s inner turmoil from previous political conflicts in the last two decades. There are hundreds of acreages where these Roman-

inspired buildings lie on the West African coast and are accessible for tourists. However, in 2016, the ‘Rome Of Africa’ vestiges were placed under the endangered category because of lack of maintenance, restoration procedures, and coastal weather impacts. The remains are negatively affected by the flooding and sea erosion that has prevented the ancient ruins of Leptis Magna from maintaining its normal conditions. With each year that passes, the ruins are becoming more and more at risk. However, they are open for tourists who want to experience what magic that they still possess. https://travelnoire.com/libya-rome-of-africa Image credit: Moayad Zaghdani, Ahmed Almakhzanj

69 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do Algeria

Tamanrasset Camel Trekking Sahara Dune Skiing The Turquoise Coast CAPITAL: Algiers www.algerie-tourisme.dz

Angola

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

Benin

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

Windsurf on Wheels, Lake Assal Djibouti africa-horn-travel.co

Botswana

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

Burkina Faso

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

Burundi

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

Cameroon

Mandera Mountains (hiking, climbing) Bouba Ndjidah National Park

Festival National des Arts et de la Culture (FENAC) in December CAPITAL: Yaoundé www.cameroun-infotourisme.com

Cape Verde

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

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Oﬃce du Tourisme, Tel: 01 45 53 36 75

The Comoros

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

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Frère Gillet Botanic Gardens world-famous rare orchids (Kisantu) 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

Djibouti

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

Egypt (Kemet)

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

Equatorial Guinea 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

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

The Gambia

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

Ghana

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

Guinea

Kindia (cloth market) Kinkon Falls Îles de Los CAPITAL: Conakry to page 72

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Travel Africa

Leptis Magna (tribute to African Roman Emperor Septimus Severus) CAPITAL: Tripoli www.libyan-tourism.org

- from page 71

www.ontguinee.com

Guinea-Bissau

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

Madagascar

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

Malawi

Kenya

Fianarantsoa (Capital of Wine) Montagne d’Arbre National Park Queen’s Palace CAPITAL: Antananarivo www.madagascar-tourisme.com Lake Malawi Marine Park Nyika National Park Liwonde National Park CAPITAL: Lilongwe www.malawitourism.com

Mali

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

Mauritania Museum of African Artegacts, Guinea-Bissau fortuneofafrica.com

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

Lesotho

Mauritius

Liberia

Morocco

Libya

Mozambique

Bushmen Rock Paintings Ski Lesotho Highlands (www.afriski.co.za) Sehlabathebe National Park CAPITAL: Maseru www.ltdc.org.ls Sapo National Park Kendeja National Cultural Center Firestone Rubber Plantation CAPITAL: Monrovia www.micat.gov.lr Akakus Mountains (prehistoric rock art) Ubari Lakes (dune surfing)

Black River Gorges National Park Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve Rodrigues Island CAPITAL: Port Louis www.mauritius.net Todra and Dades Gorges Talassemtane National Park Essaouira CAPITAL: Rabat www.visitmorocco.com Maputo Elephant Park Gorongosa National Park Bazaruto Archipelago

72 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

CAPITAL: Maputo www.futur.org.mz/indexen.html

Humpback Whale Watching Săo Tomé & Principe pickvisa.com

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

Humpback Whale Watching Agua Izé Plantation CAPITAL: São Tomé www.saotome.st

Nigeria

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

Senegal

Republic of the Congo

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

Reunion

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

Rwanda

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

São Tomé & Principe

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

Seychelles

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

Sierra Leone

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

Somalia

Hargeisa National Park Neolithic Paintings Las Geel Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches CAPITAL: Mogadishu

Bom Bom Island Deep Sea Fishing 73 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Noc 2021

to page 74

Travel Africa

- from page 73

www.somali-gov.info/Tourism/index.html

Somaliland

Hargeisa National Park Neolithic Paintings Las Geel Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches CAPITAL: Hargiesa www.somalilandgov.com (Ministry of Tourism & Culture 252-225-7917)

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

Togo

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

Tunisia

South Sudan

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 www.welcometoswaziland.com

Tanzania

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

Incwala Festival

eswatinikuwait.com independentnews.co

Koutammakou (World Heritage Site) Whale Watching, Gulf of Benin Fosse aux Lions (Lions’ Den) National Park CAPITAL: Lomé www.togo-tourisme.com Desert Trekking from Douz Matmata (Star Wars film site) Sidi Bou Saïd CAPITAL: Tunis 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 dajla47@hotmail.com

Zambia

Walking Safari, South Luangwa National Park 74 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

.sz

Musi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls), Livingstone Zambezi White Water Rafting CAPITAL: Lusaka www.zambiatourism.com

Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe Lake Kariba Chizarira National Park

CAPITAL: Harare www.zimbabwetourism.co.zw

Sources:

www.worldtravelguide.net/africa www.internationaltouristboards.com www.worldtourismdirectory.com/directory/africa/ index.html

International Festival Of The Sahara Douz Tunisia blogspot.com

75 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Ski Africa

Overview: Skiing in Africa

here are currently 10 indoor and outdoor ski resorts set in the nations of Kingdom of Morocco, Republic of Egypt, Republic of Algeria, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa. There are 4 unconfirmed ski resorts. The following facts provide an overview of the ski regions of Africa: Elevation of the Ski Resorts 70 m - 3268 m Elevation Diﬀerence max. 658 m in one ski resort Slopes 21 km (max. 10 km in one ski resort) Ski Lifts 23 (max. 7 in one ski resort) Ski Passes € 14.40 to € 30.74

Oukaimeden

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ oukaimeden The ski resort Oukaïmeden is located in the Marrakesh-TensiftEl Haouz Region (Morocco). For

Thabang Mabari, 10, has been taking to the slopes since the age of three (A Photo/MARCO LONGARI) Afriski Mountain Resort, Lesotho

skiing and snowboarding, there are 10 km of slopes available. 7 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 2,610 and 3,268 m.

Chréa

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ chrea/ The ski resort Chréa is located in the Province of Blida (Algeria). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 0.5 km of slopes available. 3 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,460 and 1,550 m.

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ afriski-mountain-resort The ski resort Afriski Mountain Resort is located in the ButhaButhe District (Lesotho). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1.8 km of slopes available. 2 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 3,030 and 3,222 m. AfriSki, the only skiing resort in the Kingdom of Lesotho, is located 3222 m above sea-level in the Maluti Mountains. It oﬀers a main Ski slope, a beginners slope and operates during the winter months.

Afriski Mountain Resort

76 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Tifﬁndell

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ tiﬃndell

AFP

The ski resort Tiffindell is located in the Province of Eastern Cape (South Africa). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 2.4 km of slopes available. 5 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 2,700 and 2,930 m. Tiffindell is the highest resort in South Africa. It is nestling snugly on the slope of Ben McDhui (3001m), the highest pass in South Africa and the highest peak in the Cape. Within 15 acres of terrain, there are pistes suitable for all abilities. In an average season, Tiffindell is open for skiing and snowboarding in June, July and August. It has slope-side accommodation available for 150 guests and many more day visitors in the surrounding valleys. There is a restaurant, coffee lounge, 2 bars, ski clothing shop and ski school. Non aspiring skiers join in to enjoy a unique experience, making snowmen, throwing snow balls or tobogganing, making it the perfect family holiday for young and old.

slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,880 and 2,060 m.

sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,800 and 2,000 m.

Ski Egypt

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

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ ski-egypt/ The indoor ski resort Ski Egypt is located in the Mall of Egypt, 6th October City, Cairo (Egypt). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 0.6 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 150 and 180 m. With over 7,000 tons of snow, Ski Egypt is launching the first ski resort in Africa with the world’s largest indoor snow park, oﬀering everything from skiing, slope snowboarding, sledging and a Polar Express Train to a jolly kids area and a professional Ski School, all in a one stop, breathtaking experience for family and friends.

Ski Namibia

Options for Dune Skiing in the Namib Desert, Namibia (high dunes, breathtaking landscapes, long dune belt) are manifold. Not only the fast ski runs on the dunes bring the kick, but also the landscape and nature aspect are simply one-of-a-kind amidst the world’s oldest desert. For information and arrangements: www.ski-namibia.com, henrik@ ski-namibia.com, P.O. Box 8140, Swakopmund, Namibia.

Jbel Hebri

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ jbel-hebri

Matroosberg

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

Michlifen

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ michlifen The ski resort Michlifen is located in the Meknès-Tafilalet Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of

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

Azrou

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ azrou The ski resort Azrou is located in the Ifrane Province of the FèsMeknès region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter

77 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

Unconﬁrmed Ski Resorts

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

Golf Africa

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

Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi golftripz.com

Botswana

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

Egypt

Alexandria Sporting Club, Alexandria Cascades at Soma Bay Golf and Country Club www.residencedescascades.com Dreamland Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo www.dreamlandgolf.com Golf City, Cairo Katemeya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo www.katameyaheights.com Madinat Makadi Golf Course, Madinat Makadi www.madinatmakadigolf.com Mena House Oberoi Golf Course, Cairo 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 www.nyaligolf.co.ke Railway Golf Club, Nairobi Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi The Golf Park at the Jockey Club of Kenya, Nairobi Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, Nairobi www.windsorgolfresort.com

Mauritius

Ile aux Cherfs, Trou d’Eau Douce 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 Walvis

78 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

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

Morocco

Nambia

Anfa Royal Golf Club, Casablanca Cabo Negro Royal Golf Club, Tetouan Royal Golf of Dar es Salam, Rabat www.royalgolfdaressalam.com/ english/index.cfm Club Med les Dunes, Agadir El Jadida Royal Golf Club, El Jadida Fes Royal Golf Club, Fes Marrakech Royal Golf Club, Marrakech Meknes Royal Golf Club, Meknes Mohammedia Royal Golf Club, Mohammedia Settat University Royal Golf Club, Settat Tangier Royal Golf Club, Tangier

Keetmanshoop Golf Course, Keetmanshoop Okahandja Golf Club, Okahandja

www.okahandja.net/sport/default.html Orandjemund Golf Club, Oranjemund Rossmund Golf Course, Swakopmund Tsumeb Golf Club, Tsumeb Walvis Bay Golf Course, Walvis Bay Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek www.windhoek.co.za

Nigeria

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

Reunion

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

Senegal

Golf de Saly, Mbour www.golfsaly.com/intro/presentation_fr.htm Golf International du Technopôle, Dakar Le Méridien President Resort & Golf Club, Dakar www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/ overview/index.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 Benoni Country Club, Johannesburg www.benonicountryclub.co.za/ pro/Default.aspx Blair Atholl, Fourways www.blairatholl.co.za Blue Valley Golf & Country Estate, Olifantsfontein www.bluevalley.co.za Bryanston Country Club,

s Bay Golf Course, Walvis Bay golfpass.com 79 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

see Golf Africa on page 80

Tiger Woods

from Golf Africa page 79 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 Durban Country Club, Durban www.dcclub.co.za Durbanville Golf Club, Durbanville www.durbanvillegolfclub.co.za East London Golf Course, East London www.elgc.co.za Emfuleni Golf Estate, Vanderbijlpark www.emfulenigolfestate.com Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate, George

www.fancourt.co.za Gary Player Country Club Golf Course, Sun City www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/ Golf/Pages/Golf.aspx George Golf Club, George www.georgegolfclub.co.za Germiston Golf Club, Germiston www.germistongolf.com Glendower Golf Course, Johannesburg www.glendower.co.za Hermanus Golf Club, Hermanus www.hgc.co.za Houghton Golf Club, Houghton www.houghton.co.za Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth www.humewoodgolf.co.za The Country Club Johannesburg, Rivonia www.ccj.co.za Killarney Country Club, Johannesburg www.killarneycountryclub.co.za Kingswood Golf Estate, George www.kingswood.co.za Kleinmond Golf Club, Kleinmond www.kleinmondgolfclub.co.za Kloof Country Club, Kloof www.kloofcountryclub.co.za Knysna Golf Club, Knysna www.knysnagolfclub.com

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Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate, Nylstroom www.korocreek.com Langebaan County Estate Golf & Leisure, Langebaan www.langebaanestate.co.za Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane www.leopardcreek.co.za Lost City, Sun City www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/ Golf/Pages/Golf.aspx Malmesbury Golf Club, Malmesbury www.malmesburygolfclub.co.za Metropolitan Golf Course, Cape Town www.metropolitangolfclub.co.za Milnerton Golf Club, Cape Town www.milnertongolfclub.co.za Modderfontein Golf Club, Modderfontein www.mgclub.co.za Monks Cowl Coutry Club & Lodge, Winterton www.monkscowl.co.za Mossel Bay Golf Club, Mossel Bay www.mosselbaygolfclub.co.za Mowbray Golf Club, Cape Town www.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 www.readingcc.co.za River Club Golf & Conference Center, Cape Town http://riverclub.co.za Riviera on Vaal Country Club, Vereenigning www.rovcountryclub.co.za Royal Cape Golf Club, Cape Town www.royalcapegolf.co.za Royal Durban Golf Club, Durban

San Lameer Club, South Africa southafricacheck.com 81 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

see Golf Africa on page 82

from Golf Africa page 81 www.royaldurban.co.za San Lameer Country Club, Margate www.sanlameer.co.za Scottburgh Golf Club, Scottburgh www.scottburghgolf.co.za Selbourne Golf Estate, Pennington www.selborne.com Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club, Pretoria www.silverlakes.co.za Somerset West Golf Club, Somerset West www.somersetwestgolfclub.co.za St Francis Bay Golf Club, St Francis Bay www.stfrancisgolf.co.za St Francis Links, St Francis Bay 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 Umdoni Golf Course, Pennington www.umdonipark.com Umhlali Country Club, Umhlali www.umhlalicountryclub.co.za Westlake Golf Club, Cape Town www.westlakegolfclub.co.za Wingate Park Country Club, Pretoria www.wingateparkcountryclub. co.za Swaziland Royal Swazi Spa Country Club www.suninternational. com/Destinations/Resorts/ RoyalSwaziSpaValley/ FacilitiesActivities/Pages/Golf. aspx

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

The Gambia

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

Tunisia

Djerba Golf Club, Midoun www.djerbagolf.com El Kantaoui Golf Course, Port El 82 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

African Cuisine! Republic of Zambia

apenta (or matemba as it is locally pronounced) is a beautiful fish that is eaten almost exclusively in the African regions of Zimbabwe and Zambia due to the large fisheries that harvest them in the nearby Lake Kariba. Stewed Kapenta with Sadza

in your kapenta, boil for 15 minutes. • After 15 minutes, remove your kapenta, pat it dry and then chop into thin chunks ready for frying. • Finely chop your onion and garlic, and add to a hot frying pan of olive oil, cook until browned. • Finely chop the tomato and add to the pan along with salt, pepper, groundnut powder and a 1/2 cup of water. • Add your kapenta to the pan, making sure to immerse it in the sauce. Cover the pan and leave to simmer for 10 minutes on a low heat, stirring half way through. • Take your fish stew off the heat and leave to rest for 2 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. • Your stewed kapenta is now ready to eat, serve with sadza or boiled rice.

Sadza https://taste.co.zw/recipe/sadza/

Traditionally, before cooking the kapenta is dried in the sun on a rack over the course of a day and, because of this, it is able to be kept for long periods without refrigeration and provides an important source of protein to locals. This stewed kapenta recipe is the epitome of the type of traditional cuisine eaten across the country. The kapenta is often served with sadza which is made out of ground maize, but you can also serve kapenta stew with rice.

Stewed Kapenta (Matemba) with Sadza https://travelfoodatlas.com/stewed-kapenta-matembasadza-zimbabwean-zambian

Serves 4 Ingredients: • 1 lb Dried kapenta fish • 1 Large onion • 1 Large tomato • 4 cloves Garlic • 1 tbsp Olive oil • Salt & pepper to taste Directions: • Prepare a large pot of boiling water and place

Ingredients: • 750ml boiling water • 5 cups roller meal, plus extra • Cold water Directions: • Add 1/2 cup of mealie - meal to a large saucepan. Add enough cold water to completely soak the mealie - meal and to make a smooth paste. • Place saucepan over medium high heat, and while stirring add the boiling water slowly. Continue to stir evenly and constantly to prevent the mealie - meal from settling and hardening at the bottom of the pan. • As the mixture heats up, the texture changes from rough to smooth. Continue to add water to loosen the mixture and allow it to boil with enough movement - some upward spattering will occur! • Allow the mixture to boil under medium high heat for about 10 minutes. Add extra mealie meal ½ cup at a time and stir. At this point the sadza requires heavy stirring as it thickens! Continue to add more and stir evenly until the sadza takes on the appearance of smooth stiff mashed potatoes. • After the sadza reaches the desired texture

83 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

see page 84

African Cuisine! Zambia

page 83

and is well mixed,turn heat off and cover and let it set for a couple of minutes before serving. Spoon into a large dish and smooth over with a wooden spoon. Serve with your favourite relish. Delicious!

Sausage Casserole https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/11/08/kitchen-kantasausage-casserole/

Whatever the dish, and whatever the time of day, Sausages are the perfect go to food. Remember that you can use any good quality sausages for this dish so enjoy. Serves 12 Ingredients: • 4 large potatoes • 4 carrots • 8 good-quality sausages • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, chopped • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 1 tsp paprika • 400g can chopped tomatoes • 400ml vegetable stock

Sausage Casserole Directions: • Turn on the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4. • Peel and cut the potatoes and carrots. • Prick the sausages all over with a fork (to help the fat run out of the sausages, so that they don’t split open as they cook). • Heat the olive oil in a deep oven proof pot or casserole dish and fry the sausages, turning often, until lightly golden all over, about 10 minutes. Remove the sausages from the pan and put them on a plate. • Add the chopped onion to the casserole and

continue to cook over a low heat for 5-10 minutes, until the onion softens. Add the garlic and paprika and cook for another minute. • Now add the chopped potatoes and carrots and stir everything well so that the vegetables are coated with the oil. Add the tomatoes and stock (to measure the stock, you can use the empty tomato can – filled up, it will hold 400ml of stock) Simmer and return the sausages to the casserole. • Using your oven gloves carefully put the casserole into the oven. Cook for 45 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through, and serve hot.

Tongabezi Chicken Curry and Mealie Bread For a pleasant surprise please try these curry and mealie bread recipes. One issue with the curry is that the yogurt curdled a bit when it was mixed in so take care. The mealie bread, which is similar to American-style cornbread, except it uses raw corn and is laced with smoky blackened chillies, is really juicy and flavorful with just the right amount of spice to it. Curry Ingredients: • 2 sweet potatoes • 1 butternut squash • 4 large chicken pieces • vegetable oil • 2 onions • 2 tomatoes • 2 garlic cloves • 3 tbsp grated fresh ginger • 6 cardamom seeds • 1 tsp curry powder • 2 cups chicken stock • 2 stalks lemon grass • 2 small red chillies • 1.25 cups plain yogurt • salt and pepper to taste Directions: • Bring a pot of water to a boil and boil sweet potatoes for 10 mins in their skins. Once cool enough to touch, cut into cubes • Meanwhile, peel and dice the butternut squash and half the chicken pieces. Season chicken with salt and pepper and fry in oil until browned all over (about 15 minutes) • Finely chop the onion. When chicken is browned, remove from the pan and fry the

84 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

combine. You should still have large pieces of corn visible. • In bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add the corn mixture and the chopped peppers and stir to combine • Bake in a greased 8×8 baking dish for 45 – 50 minutes at 350. Slather on butter if desired

Zambian Fritters with Orange Syrup https://www.demandafrica.com/food/recipes/zambianfritters-orange-syrup/

Tongabezi Chicken Curry

•

• •

•

Something sweet for breakfast or tea.

onions in the same oil and juices. Quickly blanch and de-skin your tomatoes (if you want), then chop and add to the onion along with the garlic (chopped), ginger, cardamom, and curry powder Fry the above for a few minutes, then return the chicken to the pan and add the lemongrass and chicken stock. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked all the way through While that is simmering, fry the cubed sweet potatoes and squash in a separate pan until they are brown and crispy Finely chop the chillies and add them to the pan with the veggies and chicken. Cook for an additional two minutes, then stir in the yogurt and cook until warm (careful not to boil) Serve stewed curry atop the now-crispy squash and potatoes

Mealie Bread Ingredients: • 1 lb de-thawed frozen corn kernels • 4 eggs • 4 tbsp butter • 2 cups flour • 4 tsp baking powder • 4 tbsp sugar • 1 tsp salt 1/4 cup chopped blackened poblano chillies Directions: • Start by blackening your poblanos. If you have a grill, you can easily blacken them over a grill. If you do not have a grill, rub the chillies in oil and broil them until black on all sides. Once blackened, chop them up and set them aside. • Set aside just 1 cup of the corn kernels. Then, in a blender, blend together the remaining corn, eggs, and melted butter. Once smooth, add the remaining corn and pulse briefly, just enough to

Zambian Fritters with Orange Syrup Ingredients: • 300g bread flour • 12g fresh yeast or 10g instant • 30ml sugar • 2ml salt • 300ml water • 15ml veg oil • Veg oil for deep frying Ingredients for Syrup: • 90g sugar • Zest of 2 oranges • 1 cup Clover Krush Orange Juice Directions for Fritters: • Rub yeast into a little bit of the flour then add the rest of the flour, mix in sugar, salt, water, and veg oil to make a soft dough. • Set aside in a warm spot until doubled in volume. • Once proved, heat vegetable oil in a large wok or deep fat fryer and drop spoonfuls of the dough into the hot oil. • Fry until golden brown and cooked through

85 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021

see page 86

Events Around the African Continent and the World Afrochella 2021 December 26, through January 4, 2021 www.historicalafrica.org/events/ afrochella-2021 Accra, Ghana

fter the pandemic threw some of our favorite concerts and events off course a bit, the team is coming are slowly starting back up again, including one for the culture: Afrochella. The team has been working tirelessly for the chance to pick up where they left off from 2019’s amazing “Year Of Return” celebration and to bring some unique experiences to the multi-day celebration. “We are really excited as a team to welcome everyone back to Ghana,” Abdul Abdullah, founder, and CEO of Afrochella told Travel Noire. “We have put in a lot of work over the past two years to make sure that we curate the vibes.” Abdullah, says Afrochella will look a little different for 2021 as the team has put more emphasis on looking beyond the festival. One new experience you can expect this year is the traveling music museum. “This is very new for us and something we’re introducing this year,” sids Abdullah. “We wanted to create a new experience that we can travel with throughout Africa as we activate but also around

African Cuisine - Zambia

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approx. 5 minutes. Directions for Syrup and Icing: • Put all ingredients in a pan and heat until sugar has dissolved and syrupy. • Make thick icing with icing sugar and orange juice. • Drizzle icing over the fritters and serve with syrup on the side.

the world. With this music museum, we’re doing some educational workshops with different brands like YouTube so, individuals can get the opportunity to learn about productions from some amazing producers.” Visitors will also have a chance to learn about the history of Ghana’s music through the museum as well. “People will take a journey through the precolonial era to what after Ghana’s Independence, and learn more about musical pioneers. Many of the artists that we listen to today, including Whiz Kid and Burna Boy, talk about the inspiration that they received on their visits to Ghana, and we wanted to kind of pay tribute to those amazing musicians.” With a theme of “Made in Africa,” the team is kicking off its annual event earlier this year to highlight more of Ghana’s beauty and support the local economy. “In the past, we’ve been hyper-focused on the music festival but we needed to open our understanding of people’s experience in Ghana outside of that,” he adds. The 2021 calendar kicks off with the Amapiano Brunch series on Dec. 26 with some of the hottest DJs from the continent, Abdullah confirms. Then On Dec. 27, there will be a celebration around the music museum and the festival will take place on Dec. 28. “We want to highlight the amazing creators that are coming to Africa from the people who make clothes, food, art, and obviously the musicians as well. One of the things that Afrochella loves to do is to show people what’s capable in Africa.” Learn more about this year’s event and purchase tickets by clicking here. https://travelnoire.com/afrochella-is-back-2021

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Maasai on Zanzibar beach

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Africa Business Association Publications March 2021

Travel Africa

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Events Around the African Continent and the World

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African Cuisine! Republic of Zambia

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