Africa has a lot to offer the eager traveler.  From the fledgling drummer drawn to the music, to the student of politics trying to wrap one’s mind around apartheid’s legacy, to the seeker in search of a personal connection to their ancestral homeland, the continent extends its welcome.  And while it’s certainly possible to go on one’s own, some may want to enlist the help of a travel professional.  The Atlanta Post has rounded up eleven black companies that specialize in coordinating tours from the US.  While all help with standard requirements like airfare, accommodation, tour guides, translation, etc., some go further, organizing trips that explore such concepts as spiritual development or investment opportunities.  Whatever your interest, you’re bound to find a firm that can assist you in realizing the ideal travel experience.

Henderson Travel

Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey

Opening its doors in 1955, Henderson Travel considers itself the first full-service, black-owned travel company to operate in the United States. In 1957 when commercial travel between the US and Africa did not exist, Freddye and Jake Henderson chartered a flight to Ghana to celebrate its independence. Today the founders’ daughter, Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey, heads the firm, continuing a long tradition of promoting African travel.  Itineraries reach across Africa and, of late, Brazil, where African culture has strong resonance.