Group Travel
People of the African diaspora live in every part of the world. Please allow me to help you discover the hidden history, culture, art and music of Black folks in places near and far. You do not have to be Black to be able to appreciate the richness of the Black culture. Please allow me to especially curate your travel group plans.
I can also arrange specialty group tours, with a minimum requirement of 6 people. Our groups are small, usually 12 to 14 people. If you are a solo or couple, I can design an unaccompanied travel plan as well.
Our group leaders are personable, knowledgeable, and engaging. Your guide will always be respectful and caring as well as being up-to-date with the latest trends, safety issues and cultural norms of the city of travel.
Professional Consultation Fee: All travel consultations are free for the first hour. Once your basic needs, must sees, budget and schedule is determined, a $100.00 consultation fee will be charged. Couples are charged $150 and groups are charged $250. This fee is non-refundable. However, if you book with me, the fee is applied toward your travel. If you do not book with me, the fee will be applied to the time used to research, curate and book your trip.
Payments can be made directly to me, your trusted travel advisor which will be applied directly to your vendor. Or, payments can also be made via check, money order or a credit card payment via Zelle® to M&F Bank using phone number (919)985-1954. All payment methods are secure and encrypted. As a travel advisor, I work directly under the brand of Outside Agents, my host agency.
Travel Insurance is always recommended when you are investigating your hard earned money in a trip. Please check out these possible travel insurances: CSA Travel Protection / General Global Assistance and Travel Guard (AIG)
Custom Group Land Tours
“Quest for Freedom”
Edenton, North Carolina
Description: This study tour will focus on three special women. The first will be Harriet Jacobs (1813- 1897), fugitive slave, writer, and abolitionist. She penned “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl which depicts her early life and time spent living in the attic of her grandmother while on the run. Josephine Napoleon Leary (1856 – 1923), a remarkable woman who was born in slavery and became a successful entrepreneur. And, lastly, Lydia (circa 1829). Her case considered by legal historians, State v, Mann 13 N.C. 263 (1829) to be the law’s starkest, most cruel justification of the violence at the heart of the slave labor system. Lydia had a highway marker unveiled a few years ago in her honor.
During this study tour you will also take the walking tour which highlights 18th, 19th and 20th Century African American businesses and churches in Edenton, North Carolina which includes including the Josephine Leary Building and the Kadesh A.M.E. Zion Church. We will visit the Dismal Swamp for robust book discussions featuring these remarkable women.
The Study tour will also include transportation from Raleigh to Edenton, lunch, afternoon refreshments, dinner, entry into the Penelope Barker Home and the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse will be available for viewing. Edenton once served as North Carolina’s Colonial capital. It has a treasure host of restored Victorian homes and a wonderful day trip from Raleigh.
This is a full day trip leaving from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Cost: $250.00
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“Freed Blacks during the Colonial Period and Regency Era”
TOUR ONE: New Bern North Carolina
TOUR TWO: London and surrounding areas of England
Description: During Jane Austen's Regency Era, we know that there was some 20,000 freed Blacks working, performing, and living in England. The first Black man to vote in England's general election in 1774 was Ignatius Sancho. Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay, a mixed raced young lady received an inheritance from her British Naval Captain father and may have had some influence over Lord Chief Justice and the First Earl of Mansfield. Moreover, there were freed Blacks carving out a life in the United States, especially North Carolina. Not all were enslaved. Many Blacks in the colonies remain loyal to the British Crown which caused an interesting outcome during the American Revolutionary War.
These tours will discuss the life of those freed Blacks. Tour One will focus on the America's Revolutionary period in New Bern, North Carolina. Tour Two will focus on Georgian and Regency era England. Learn about this exciting time in history.
Tour One (New Bern, North Carolina) Enjoy a relaxing coach ride to eastern North Carolina from Raleigh where you will be introduced to the history of the freed Black people. You will start with a delicious lunch provided by a well-known Black chef. During lunch, we will have a robust book discussion featuring a selection that will broaden your perspective and knowledge of the African diaspora. Afterward, you will tour the current communities that were founded in the 1700s, where Blacks carved out a substantial life despite obstacles. We will tour Tryon Palace and unearth the daily lives of those indentured and enslaved people. We will enjoy an afternoon tea in the Regency style with heavy hors d'oeuvres. Before returning to Raleigh, you will have some free time to shop around downtown pedestrian-friendly New Bern, a waterfront city.
This is a full day trip leaving from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Cost: $250.00
Tour Two: (London and surrounding Areas, England) is in the planning stages for 2026. The trip will be 7 days with flights from major USA airports included.
Cost: To be Determined
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"Harlem Renaissance"
Harlem and Surrounding areas, New York
You will arrive in New York at JFK airport where you will be picked up by a comfortable van coach. You will stay in the heart of Harlem at a luxury hotel. The focus of this trip is to learn about the people, the architect, and food of historic Harlem as well as discover the new Harlem of today. Our tours are small and interactive limited the group to 10-12 participants. We will start our tour of the borough of Queens to visit Addisleigh Park Historic District and Corona where we will view the homes of legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, and many others, topping off our visit to Louis Armstrong House Museum. Your visit will also include but not be limited to a walking tour of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Apollo theater, Cotton Club, Abyssinian Baptist Church and much more as you are escorted by a professional guide of Harlem. We will enjoy several culturally related meals at one of Harlem's finest restaurants such as Melba's. Of course, a trip to Harlem will not be complete without savoring some jazz music and enjoying the night life. We will also take a moment to honor our ancestors on your own at the African Burial Ground National Monument and Seneca Village, a nineteenth century Black settlement in present day Central Park. To enrich your learning, we will also have an optional late evening Harlem Renaissance trivia game with prizes and Afrocentric craft painting project. Transportation will be arranged for you back to one of the local airports. This is a land tour leaving from the arrival airport of JFK, New York.
Cost: The total for the tour is $2,500.00. Only a deposit of $250.00 can be made to hold your place.
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"African Roots of Ancient Orthodox Christianity"
Lalibela and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, East Africa
Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s sprawling capital in the highlands bordering the Great Rift Valley, is the country’s commercial and cultural hub. Its National Museum exhibits Ethiopian art, traditional crafts and prehistoric fossils, including replicas of the famous early hominid, "Lucy." The burial place of the 20th-century emperor Haile Selassie, copper-domed Holy Trinity Cathedral, is a neo-baroque architectural landmark. Ethiopia where you will learn about the Coptic Church and the country's history of Christianity, as an official religion since around 355 AD. You will enjoy a rare treat in Lalibela, visiting the rock-cut churches, which are said to be "built by angels". Highlights of this trip will include several land tours and attendance at an Ethiopian Coptic Church.
You will have the opportunity to continue to Alexandria, where Saint Mark, the evangelist begins to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ around A.D. 33. By the year A.D. 300 it was well known as one of the great Christian Center.
No doubt, this a trip of a life time, not to be missed.
Final details are being worked out for this trip with are partner, ETS Faith Based Travel.
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Soulful Epicurean Cruises
AMA Waterways River Cruises for 7-12 days.
Call for specific cabin pricing with most starting at $4,449 per person depending on category.
Highlights of this trip will include a luxury Soulful Epicurean River Cruise, multiple specialty tours, museum entries, wine tasting events, and optional bike riding tour.
Hotel, most meals, and city transportation are included in this tour. However, Watermelon with Seeds Travel can assist with booking your transportation to and from your home city.
France
7-day River Cruise from Arles to Lyon with 3-nights in Paris
Description: Enjoy jazz, dancing, food and the culture of France. This is all about celebrating Black history and culture. You do not need to be Black, just have an appreciation of the people, food, music, history, and culture of the African Diaspora.
Join us aboard the award-winning AmaKristina, a five-star luxury river cruise line in Arles as we sail through the South of France along the Rhône River to Lyon. Explore the cultural history of Marseille, delight in live performances on board and on shore and conclude your journey in Paris, where many Black artists, writers and entertainers made their mark. Enjoy a variety of experiences exclusive to this special itinerary, such as guided tours showcasing jazz, food, and wine, all while shining a light on Black heritage. The river cruise will include Marseille full-day Black Heritage tour, evening cruise to illuminated Pont d’Avignon outside the city of Avignon, Grignan excursion and Truffle Farm outside of the city of Viviers, a steam train ride near the town of Tournon, explore Roman ruins and evening jazz performance in Vienne, ending in Lyon with a city tour.
We will then travel up to Paris, the city of lights, for a welcome dinner of like-minded people, interested in exploring the city's African and African American history and culture. While in Paris, we will visit the many sites where famous authors such as Alexandre Dumas, Chester Himes, Richard Wright, and Langston Hughes worked and lived. Sit in cafes where luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance lived and worked. Enjoy dining on food from French Africa in the Chateau Rouge area of Paris, known as "Little Africa" (Goutte d'Or). We will take time to visit the Eiffel Tower, listen to some "Hot Jazz" in underground cave clubs. While in Paris we will have an exclusive Josephine Baker excursion.
Learn why so many revered France and made it their home after the war.
This is a trip of a life time with luxury at every turn.
Egypt
Round Trip River cruise down the Nile starting in Luxor and including 4-Nights in Cairo
Description: The trip starts with exploring Cairo with embarkation in Luxor on the AmaDahlia, a small intimate luxury ship with Ama Waterways Cruises.
Allow yourself to be treated to a connoisseur’s discovery of this ancient civilization as only AmaWaterways can provide – with an unparalleled 11-night Nile Soulful Epicurean River cruise and land experience that includes exquisite cuisine, authentic experiences and the extraordinary service for which AmaWaterways is renowned. Explore ancient wonders, such as the beguiling Temple of Luxor and the mystifying Valley of the Kings and Queens. Plus, come face-to-face with the last survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Sphinx and the three Pyramids of Giza. This unforgettable itinerary includes exclusive experiences, such as a private tour of the tomb of Queen Nefertari and a private lunch at the Abdeen Presidential Palace. Uncover the many mysteries and secrets that have shaped Egypt’s past and continue to influence the future of this remarkable land.
This is a no doubt another trip of a life time, not to be missed.
Hotel, most meals and city transportation are included in this tour. However, Watermelon with Seeds Travel can provide transportation to and from your home city.
South Africa
14-Night River Cruise and Land Safaris from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
June 13, 2025 - June 27, 2025
Description: Your journey begins with a three-night stay in picturesque Cape Town. Next, fly to Kasane, Botswana to begin your Zambezi Queen safari cruise on the Chobe River. Explore Chobe National Park, home to one of the densest populations of wildlife on the African continent. Spend two nights at the legendary Victoria Falls before flying to Johannesburg for two nights that includes a visit to the township of Soweto. Then fly to Hoedspruit, located in the game-rich country of Greater Kruger National Park. Spend three nights at a luxurious game lodge in this premier eco-tourist destination, known for some of the best “Big Five” viewing in Africa. Experience the thrill of daily game drives, while evenings bring you breathtakingly clear skies.
Columbia
7-Night river cruise from Barranquilla to Cartagena with optional 3-Nights in Medellin
Description: Embrace the magic of Colombia as you explore the country along the magical Magdalena River during this special 7-night journey. Move to the beat of a variety of Latin American musical styles including cumbia and vallenato, and revel in exciting performances at a colorful Carnival experience in Barranquilla just for AmaWaterways guests. Drink a steaming cup of the country’s famous coffee. Listen for the calls of distinctive birds and wildlife not found anywhere else on the planet. Discover timeless traditions while getting to know the friendly guides and residents from diverse backgrounds who live beyond the riverbanks. Enjoy the soul and spirit of Colombia as you sail this river along with AmaWaterways, the Heart of the River™.
Portugal
Round Trip river cruise from Porto including 3-Nights in Lisbon
Call or email for itinerary and pricing information: (919)521-4438 or watermelonwithseeds777@gmail.com