Travelling is one of the most enriching experiences one can have. It exposes us to new cultures, foods, people, and places. However, travel can also be an opportunity to learn about the history and its significant role. Black people have played a role in shaping our world. We explore the top 21 Black historical tours worldwide.
1. Cape Coast Castle Tour, Ghana
The Ghana Cape Coast Castle was one of the most significant hubs of the transatlantic slave trade. The castle served as a holding place for enslaved Africans before being shipped to the Americas. Visitors can tour the castle and its underground dungeons where enslaved people were held captive. The tour includes visiting the Door of No Return, through which enslaved people were forced to pass before being shipped off. Visitors can also learn about Ghanaian history and culture. Read more.
2. Robben Island Tour, South Africa
Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site that served as a prison for political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela. Visitors can take a guided tour of the island and learn about the struggles and sacrifices of those who fought against apartheid. The time includes visiting the prison where Mandela was held for 18 years. Visitors can also explore the island’s wildlife and learn about its ecological significance.
3. Underground Railroad Tour, New York, USA
The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped enslaved people escape from the South to freedom in the North. Visitors can tour the various Underground Railroad sites, including the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Maryland. The tour includes visits to places associated with Harriet Tubman, a formerly enslaved person who led countless others to freedom. Visitors can also learn about the daily lives of enslaved people and the risks involved in escaping.
4. The Slave Trail, Virginia, USA
The Slave Trail in Virginia traces how enslaved people were forced to walk from the city to the docks, where they were shipped to other parts of the world. Visitors can take a walking tour of the trail and learn about the horrors of the slave trade. The time includes visits to sites such as the Lumpkin’s Slave Jail, a holding place for enslaved people. Visitors can also learn about the lives of free Black people in Virginia. Read more.
5. The Apartheid Museum, South Africa
The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg is dedicated to telling the story of apartheid in South Africa. Visitors can learn about the history of apartheid and its impact on South Africa’s people and culture. The tour includes exhibits that showcase the struggle against apartheid, including the Sharpeville Massacre and the Soweto Uprising. Visitors can also learn about Nelson Mandela’s fight for freedom.
6. National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, USA
The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., is a Smithsonian institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing the contributions of African Americans to American history and culture. Visitors can explore exhibits that highlight the struggles and triumphs of African Americans from the days of slavery to the present. The tour includes interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations, and artefacts that bring history to life.
7. Nelson Mandela Museum, South Africa
The Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha, South Africa, is a tribute to the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. Visitors can explore Mandela’s childhood home and learn about his journey from activist to president. The tour includes exhibits that showcase Mandela’s struggle against apartheid and his efforts to unite South Africa. Visitors can also see the many awards and honours he received during his lifetime. Read more.
8. The Slavery Museum, Senegal
The Slavery Museum on the island of Goree, Senegal, tells the story of the transatlantic slave trade and the role that the island played in it. Visitors can tour the museum and see the House of Slaves, where enslaved people were held before being shipped to the Americas. The tour includes exhibits that explain the impact of slavery on Africa and its people. Visitors can also learn about the lives of enslaved people and the resistance movements that fought against slavery. Read more.
9. The Civil Rights Trail, USA
The Civil Rights Trail in the United States traces the history of the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for racial equality. Visitors can visit sites such as the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where Bloody Sunday occurred. The tour includes visits to museums, churches, and monuments that commemorate the movement and its leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. Visitors, can also learn about the impact of the activity on American society. Read more.
10. The Black Paris Tour, France
The Black Paris Tour in France explores the contributions of Black people to Parisian history and culture. Visitors can learn about the lives of famous Black writers, musicians, and artists who lived in Paris, including James Baldwin and Josephine Baker. The tour takes visitors to sites such as the Montmartre Cemetery, where many Black Americans rest, and the African and Caribbean Market, which sells traditional African and Caribbean products. Read more.
11. The Ghanaian Heritage Tour, Ghana
The Ghanaian Heritage Tour in Ghana offers visitors a chance to explore the country’s rich cultural history. Visitors can learn about traditional Ghanaian music, dance, and cuisine. The tour includes visits to historical sites such as the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which honours Ghana’s first president, and the Ashanti Palace, which showcases the history and culture of the Ashanti Kingdom. Read more.
12. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Atlanta, USA
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, Georgia, honours the life and legacy of Dr King. Visitors can explore Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood home, the church where he preached, and the crypt where he rests. The tour includes exhibits that showcase Dr King’s contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and his message of nonviolence. Visitors can also learn about the impact of his work on American society. Find out more
13. The Freedom Trail, Boston, USA
The Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts, is a 2.5-mile trail that takes visitors through 16 historic sites related to the American Revolution and the fight for independence, including the African Meeting House, a gathering place for free Black Americans. The tour includes visits to museums, churches, and monuments commemorating the movement for independence and its leaders, such as Paul Revere and Samuel Adams. Visitors can also learn about African Americans’ role in the Revolutionary War. Find out more.
14. The Afro-Caribbean Tour, Cuba
The Afro-Caribbean Tour in Cuba highlights the country’s rich African heritage. Visitors can explore the Afro-Cuban music, dance, and religion that has profoundly impacted Cuban culture. The tour includes visits to historical sites such as the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the former residence of Cuba’s colonial governors, and the Callejon de Hamel, a vibrant alleyway filled with Afro-Cuban art and culture. Visitors can also learn about the lives of critical Afro-Cuban figures such as Antonio Maceo and Jose Marti. Read More
15. The Zanzibar Slavery and Freedom Tour, Tanzania
The Zanzibar Slavery and Freedom Tour in Tanzania offer visitors a chance to learn about the island’s history of slavery and its struggle for freedom. Visitors can tour the former slave market and see the monuments dedicated to the island’s abolitionists. The tour includes visits to museums that showcase the impact of slavery on Zanzibar’s history and culture. Visitors can also learn about the island’s connection to the spice trade and its role in East African history. Read more.
16. The Zanzibar Slavery and Freedom Tour, Tanzania
The Zanzibar Slavery and Freedom Tour in Tanzania offer visitors a chance to learn about the island’s history of slavery and its struggle for freedom. Visitors can tour the former slave market and see the monuments dedicated to the island’s abolitionists. The tour includes visits to museums that showcase the impact of slavery on Zanzibar’s history and culture. Visitors can also learn about the island’s connection to the spice trade and its role in East African history. Read more
17. The Black History Tour of London, U.K.
The Black History Tour of London in the United Kingdom explores the contributions of Black people to British history and culture. Visitors can learn about the lives of famous Black writers, musicians, and activists in London, such as Mary Seacole and Olaudah Equiano. The tour includes visits to historical sites such as the Nelson Mandela statue in Parliament Square and the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton. Visitors can also learn about the impact of Black Britons on British society. Read more
18. The Toussaint L’Ouverture Tour, Haiti
The Toussaint L’Ouverture Tour in Haiti is a tribute to the Haitian Revolution and its leader, Toussaint L’Ouverture. Visitors can explore the sites where battles were fought and learn about the revolution’s impact on Haiti and the world. The tour includes visits to historical sites such as the Citadelle Laferriere, a fortress built to protect Haiti from French invasion, and the Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien, which showcases Haitian history and culture. Visitors can also learn about the life of Toussaint L’Ouverture and his legacy. Read more
19. The Black History Walking Tour of Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Black History Walking Tour of Amsterdam in the Netherlands highlights the contributions of Black people to Dutch history and culture. Visitors can learn about the lives of famous Black writers, musicians, and artists in Amsterdam, such as Anton de Kom and Ruth First. The tour includes visits to historical sites such as the Tropenmuseum, which showcases the cultural history of the Dutch East Indies, and the Black Archives, which is a repository of Black history and culture in the Netherlands. Visitors can also learn about the impact of Black people on Dutch society. Read more
20 The Memphis Civil Rights Museum in Tennessee
The museum dedicates itself to telling the story of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Visitors can learn about the movement’s history and impact on American society. The tour includes exhibits that showcase the struggles and triumphs of African Americans from the days of slavery to the present. Visitors can also learn about Memphis’s role in the Civil Rights Movement, including the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Read more
21. The Black History Tour of Paris, France
The Black History Tour of Paris in France explores the contributions of Black people to French history and culture. Visitors can learn about the lives of famous Black writers, musicians, and artists who lived in Paris, such as Josephine Baker and Alexandre Dumas. The tour includes visits to historical sites such as the Musée Dapper, which showcases African and Caribbean art, and the African Market in Château Rouge. Visitors can also learn about the impact of Black people on French society and culture. Read more
Main image: Sweden Syndrome, Adobe Stock
