TravelCoterie

David and LaTonya Whitaker’s decision to host an intimate Thanksgiving dinner in Japan had unforseen and life-altering consequences. What started out as an opportunity to cook a nostalgic meal for friends and family evolved after a few years into Soul Food House – a soul food restaurant in the Minato area of Tokyo.

This series highlights African-American entrepreneurs impacting the hospitality and travel industries in both minor and significant ways. This week TravelCoterie is highlighting Dianelle Rivers-Mitchell, founder of Black Girls Travel Too, a travel company focused on creating once in a lifetime experiences for African-American female travelers and their allies. Dianelle Rivers-Mitchell’s...

Festivals have finally re-emerged from their COVID-induced hiatus! And with Black pride at an all-time high, I think the melanated community is ready to bask in celebratory vibes, star-studded line-ups, diasporic cuisine, and the promotion of social change. With that stated, here are 8 African-American festivals that are sure to ignite Black joy!

There’s no better way to spend a warm, summer day than floating down a river in good company. Across the United States, there are hundreds of river locations that are home to relaxing tubing excursions, and we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite spots. From the most...

The pandemic, social media fatigue and just general burnout has many travelers shifting their vacation priorities. More people are seeking experiences in nature to reconnect with themselves, and to rejuvenate in isolation with a peaceful backdrop as company. With this demand for a return to nature, more and more campgrounds...

“Typical white people sh*t” is how one Xhosa woman characterizes the international response to the COVID-19 Omicron variant being discovered in her native South Africa. That overwhelming international response – from more than 70 countries and counting – was to ban all incoming travel not only from South Africa, but the entire southern Africa region. That includes, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Johannesburg is more than a gateway into other parts of Africa. Young and resourceful South Africans are transforming a city once labeled the “the most dangerous city on earth” into a bustling travel destination primed with varied tiers of lodging, a dinner club, cocktail lounges, rooftop nightclubs with picturesque city views, luxury shopping, studio visits with local artists and immersive cultural experiences.

If there’s one issue South Africans can find consensus on, it’s frustration with the country’s failing electrical grid. Electricity is severed as frequently as twice a day in certain regions, hampering productivity and costing businesses revenue. “Load shedding” is the painful phrase making South Africans grimace and shudder. For them, the words mean not having electricity for as long as five hours a day. With the country welcoming tourists again post COVID-19 shutdown – the electrical crisis will likely worsen becoming an even greater nuisance for South Africans and travelers.

African safari remains one of the most coveted travel experiences in the world. Families and schoolteachers around the world try to, thoughtfully, replicate the experience by schlepping around zoos — but there’s really no replicating spotting wildlife in its natural habitat. One of the main concerns preventing most from venturing on an African safari is budget: and the other is probably safety. Surprisingly, safaris don’t have to break the bank and you’re probably not going to die, but there are some potentials questions we’d like to help you answer before your ride out into the bush.

Jovial and nimble, Sanza Sandile navigates the narrow passages in his makeshift kitchen with precise movement. His cooking process is rustic, confident, seemingly effortless and vibrant. He admits that for an African male, he’s spent a lot of time laboring in kitchens: first his grandmother’s, then his own as a film student, and finally in perhaps the most transformational, the kitchens of Nigerian, Ghanaian, Ethiopian and Zimbabwean food stalls and restaurants in Yeoville.

A day trip to Soweto makes perfect sense for travelers visiting Johannesburg. The Jozi suburb, located twenty-minutes from the Central Business District, is varied enough in enriching experiences to make the trek rewarding. Soweto: A Condensed History. Soweto, an abbreviation of South Western townships, was formed during South Africa’s apartheid...

Will Smith’s inclusion of travel influencer to his already extensive resume has been as rewarding for viewers as it likely has been for Smith. The actor’s content spans searches for spiritual understanding to death-defying adventures, giving fans an intimate look at being Will Smith with each post. In that process,...

“Stay out the cemeteries and away from those voodoo priestesses,” my cautious aunt warned over the phone. My white Jetta was pulling onto the 10 freeway as I had so many previous times throughout a life spent in Southern California. On this occasion I wasn’t glaring at bumpers en crawl towards the Pacific, I was cruising over … quite literally … a Southern swamp.

Parisian affinity for Josephine Baker will culminate this fall in a tribute befitting royalty. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that on November 30, 2021, Baker will be placed inside the tomb of heroes at The Pantheon in Paris. This makes the iconic singer, dancer, actress and activist the first Black woman to receive such an honor.

The answer is okra. Article over. Although I hope you’ll continue reading as we unpack what exactly okra has to do with the authenticity of enjoying a bowl of gumbo. To further our understanding, we have to look at the crop’s origins in this country. That answer lies, or rather grows, thousands of miles away from the United States in the fertile soils of West Africa.

Walking the grounds of a slave plantation can be surreal – particularly for African-Americans. The horrors, atrocities and dehumanizing conditions occurring in these now tranquil environments is unsettling and no amount of meticulous landscaping can change that. But does that emotional discomfort mean we should avoid going? Absolutely NOT. In fact, if you’re visiting New Orleans, a plantation tour should be on high on the list of things to do.

One of New Orleans most important tours is self-guided and free. On the borders of the French Quarter and Treme sits Louis Armstrong Park, and within that: Congo Square. The Oak-shaded space has hosted visitors for over 300 years. First were regional Native Americans tribes, and then enslaved Africans and African-Americans. Today, it’s a gathering spot for the spiritual, curious and artistic. Still, the spirit of this particular location has remained relatively unchanged.

The days of gliding under the radar as a hidden gem are nearing an end for Memphis. This Tennessee city’s dynamic food scene, soulfully-curated hotels, cocktail establishments, emerging art scene, music, history and outdoor activities are ushering in a new era – fellow travelers: take note. This is the city where soul music originated, fights for justice were waged on streets and pulpits, and dry rubs and vinegar sauces were crafted.

The days of gliding under the radar as a hidden gem are nearing an end for Memphis. This Tennessee city’s dynamic food scene, soulfully-curated hotels, cocktail establishments, emerging art scene, music, history and outdoor activities are ushering in a new era – fellow travelers: take note. This is the city where soul music originated, fights for justice were waged on streets and pulpits, and dry rubs and vinegar sauces were crafted.