Black Americans who have been to African countries (life, cost, travel)

[Joy74]

What countries have you been to? What were your experiences like? How were you treated by the local population? What were the reasons for going? What countries are most welcoming to Black Americans?

[Joy74]

I guess none here on CD. I know one person who went to Ghana with some friends, and another who went to South Africa with her husband and children. All loved the countries, felt welcomed, and are planning on visiting again. I thought others here have had similar experiences in these or other countries.

[iuyno]

In my whole life, I have only met one African American who had traveled in Africa. A young woman and her mother who flew to Dakar and traveled overland to Niger. That was about 25 years ago.

[stcml]

I'm a black American. I've been to Africa, but only North Africa, specifically Morocco (Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Zagora, Essaouira). It was a good trip. Went for backpacking/holiday. I'd do it again. They're very welcoming to black Americans (Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix have spent lots of downtime in Essaouira, the locals famously told me this), but also you're American, so you will be haggled for money like most other Western foreigners. So be prepared to bargain. It gets exhausting after a while negotiating for everything you want, from taxi rides to food to accommodations, but it's simply how things are done in Morocco. However, the experience is worth it. Super cheap vacation spot, though.

I'd like to go to Sub-Saharan, Eastern and Southern Africa. But haven't gotten the chance yet.

[itshim]

Originally Posted by stcml

I'm a black American. I've been to Africa, but only North Africa, specifically Morocco (Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Zagora, Essaouira). It was a good trip. Went for backpacking/holiday. I'd do it again. They're very welcoming to black Americans (Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix have spent lots of downtime in Essaouira, the locals famously told me this), but also you're American, so you will be haggled for money like most other Western foreigners. So be prepared to bargain. It gets exhausting after a while negotiating for everything you want, from taxi rides to food to accommodations, but it's simply how things are done in Morocco. However, the experience is worth it. Super cheap vacation spot, though.

I'd like to go to Sub-Saharan, Eastern and Southern Africa. But haven't gotten the chance yet.

My fiance and I are going to Morocco this June, we've already bought the tickets on the Morrocan Royal Airlines. We plan to hit Casablanca, Essaouira, Tangier and a few BerBer villages in the south...how was the transportation there domestically? Is English widely spoken as a second language? How was the cost of everything? Any insite would be helpful.

I'm not really worried about any racial issues being black; I've been to Egypt before and I've lived for a small period in Israel and the West Bank, and my experience has always been that if you're an American...youre an American. Racism is more of a classcism engulfed in your nationality from what I've seen. In otherwords, AA's are seen as American which automatically gives you a certain measure of "prestige" (for lack of a better term)associated with a certain degree of education, money and political representation. Nigerians and other blacks from sub sahara Africa who aren't inherently wealthy, may be treated enitrely different.

[RumNCoke]

Originally Posted by iuyno

In my whole life, I have only met one African American who had traveled in Africa. A young woman and her mother who flew to Dakar and traveled overland to Niger. That was about 25 years ago.

wow now that is a profound thing to say absolutely amazing. I knew A Americans were not to particularly interested in Africa but that is amazing. Sounds like a thread I should be posting simply to see if it will lead to a heavy thread count. Hummmm

[slowlane3]

One especially popular destination for African-American tourgroups, is Goree Island, Dakar, Senegal, where centuries ago, many natives were jailed/confined, and put on slave ships for the Americas.