Did you know that only 15% of African safaris are Black-owned?

Since their colonial origins in the late 19th century, the safari operations on the continent have largely been headed by white men, with local communities rarely seeing the benefits.

(This extends beyond safaris to luxury tourism in Africa, which has been linked to extractive practices and degradation of local habitats.)

Mitti Hicks is a travel writer and former broadcast journalist who first reported on this issue for Travel Noire.

In this episode, Mitti will share how you can choose to do safari differently, seeing wild animals while supporting local communities AND black owner operators instead.

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Visit us at goingplacesmedia.com to learn more.

Thanks to our Founding Members:

RISE Travel Institute, a nonprofit with a mission to create a more just and equitable world through travel education
Radostina Boseva, a film wedding photographer with an editorial flair based in San Francisco

What you’ll learn in this episode:

How Mitti went from broadcast journalism to travel writing
What traveling in Jordan and Sierra Leone was like for Mitti
Connecting with Jordan's Black community
How you can support Black-owned safaris in Africa
Why Mitti seeks out Black stories wherever she goes

Featured on the show:

Follow Mitti on Instagram: @mitti_megan
Connect with Mitti on LinkedIn
Read Mitti's story on Black-owned safaris
Read Mitti's story on Sierra Leone

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Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who's worked with National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC Travel, and more.

Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.