These Instagram Accounts Founded by Black Women Will Inspire Your Next Vacation

The Black travel movement is gaining momentum. According to Mandala Research, African American travelers contributed a staggering $63 billion in 2018 to the U.S. tourism economy—but that reality isn't always represented. For decades, Black people have been sidelined by the mainstream tourism industry. We rarely see Black women lounging on the side of infinity pools for hotel and airline adverts. Travel agencies and tour guides often also fail to comment on whether people of color would feel welcome, or if Black women will be safe traveling in certain destinations.

However, that hasn't stopped Black women from using their social media feeds to tell the world that travel is for everyone. Black women are leading the charge with content that entices audiences to come out from behind our screens and book exciting adventures. Here are 15 travel accounts founded by Black women that will get you energized about globetrotting, and confident that—no matter how you look or where you come from—travel can help you find your happy place.

Traveling Black Widow, Charlotte Simpson

This widow and travel enthusiast is the embodiment of wanderlust. When her husband of 31 years passed away, she could have hung up her wings, but she did the exact opposite. She solo travels and meets up with her daughter on occasion, showing women over 60 that age is nothing but a number. While many of us can't even imagine visiting 80 countries by ourselves, Simpson has already done it—and her journey continues.

Lechicboheme, Yanique Holder

From the coastal backdrops to the glamorous outfits, Holder's content gives us so much inspiration. Her stylish fashion has us eyeing kaftans or sundresses in the dead of winter. After all, her feed focuses on the Caribbean and sun-soaked settings.

Spiritedpursuit, Lee Litumbe

Based in Senegal, Litumbe stresses the beauty of Africa. As a content creator, her photos teeter between modelesque and bae-cation (she recently got married). She is also a resource to other content creators and has guidebooks for travel to Zanzibar and Dakar.

Jelani Women Travel Africa

This travel company has built a community for Black women interested in traveling to Africa. This award-winning resource, led by Ashley N. Company, has arranged dozens of trips to African countries, like Ghana, South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya. The content focuses on cultural heritage and shares the service aspect of each curated trip.

Black Girls Travel Too

If Black Girl Magic were a travel feed, BGTT would be it. With over 129K followers on IG, this page is a beacon for Black female representation in travel. From influencer photos to travel tips, this group contributes significantly to the Black Travel movement by helping Black women feel safe and seen.

Packs Light, Gabby Beckford

Gabby Beckford is the young, entrepreneurial soul behind Packs Light. Her digital storytelling skills and vivid pictures are jaw-dropping, but we love her most for her personal finance tips and travel hacks. Beckford often shares ways to win free trips, scholarships, or paid travel opportunities, so her content is the gift that keeps on giving.

Black Girl in Budapest, Starr Session Varga

Budapest lacks Black girl content. But this American expat, wife, and mom is sharing her own experience of moving to Budapest and creating a community for other travelers and expats. She suggests restaurants, arranges meetups, and much more on her blog.

Travelgirlboss, Thithi Nteta

Thithi Nteta, aka travelgirlboss, exudes joy. She's from Johannesburg, South Africa, but can pop up anywhere. Although she often looks like she's dressed for a photo shoot, her feed also tells us that she knows how to find a great adventure. Always on-trend, she makes travel elegance look effortless.

Moshimmeringlight, Moxima Gama

Moxima Gama's feed is all about self-love and discovery, encouraging women to contemplate and heal their inner selves. Based in South Africa, Gama gives us beautiful sceneries of locations like Tanzania and Mozambique that will make you want to put down your phone, align your Chakras, and hug your inner child.

Jessica Nabongo

On a quest to be the first Black woman to visit every country on earth, Nabongo lets viewers witness this ambitious dream come true. Those of us who have been watching her progress remember when her handle was "the catch me if you can." Now she's verified on Instagram and giving us Black Carmen Sandiego looks, with oversized sunhats and hints about where she might be headed next.

The Passport Abuser, Shakeemah Smith

Shakeemah Smith regularly offers tips on traveling the world as a solo and female luxe traveler. Seen in glitz and gowns, her photos are well staged to make anyone stop scrolling. She has explored about 50 countries all by herself, and she teaches other women to do the same.

The Traveling Child, The Hambrick Family

Traveling with children seems like a hassle. Somehow, though, the Hambrick family has sorted it out. Monet Hambrick, the woman behind the account "The Traveling Child," gives us mom envy. She and her two girls, Jordyn and Kennedy, explore cities, villages, and deserts all around the world. (They let dad, James, tag along). Hambrick inspires moms to reimagine the daily grind and to create geographic freedom for their families.

Clairebsoares, Claire Soares

As the founder of the travel companies Up in the Air Life, Scalinup, and Caviar in the Air, Claire Soares is an influential travel advisor. One of her company's recent trips was to Antarctica, a spot most of us only dream of exploring. On her main account, she shares bits of her brilliant journeys and motivates other Black women to join the business side of the travel industry.

The Mom Trotter, Kay Akpan

Kay Akpan is a mom, wife, and the driving force behind "The Mom Trotter." She homeschools her son while traveling globally. When they're stateside, they keep it moving by living in an RV. Her social media focuses on the experience of being a digital nomad, with kids, and she curates a spinoff site, Black Kids Do Travel.

Candaceabroad, Candace Salters

Candace Salters is a London-based blogger and travel writer who shares fun pictures and tips on living in London with her Insta fam and readers. Because it is such a popular travel destination, her Black-women focused content on the city, and Great Britain more generally, is widely useful. If ever you're in town, check in with Salters' Women in London Collective, which (pandemic permitting) will host meet-ups in Feb 2022.