Mon 14 Oct 2024
CN Traveller
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Meet the Black travel groups promoting community while exploring the outdoors
Full Article Here.
Today, connection can often feel fragmented. There’s an ever-growing hunger for community, especially among people of colour. Recent global events and long-standing societal issues have only intensified this need for belonging, for feeling seen and safe.
For Black travellers, exploring the outdoors has long been a space of exclusion. Despite the growing desire for adventures like hiking, cycling and skiing, many still find themselves on the sidelines of predominantly white spaces, grappling with feeling unwelcome or out of place.
However, a wave of Black-led groups is rewriting this narrative. They are growing spaces to reclaim the outdoors and combine exploration with community-building. They’re breaking barriers, creating bonds and asserting their right to be in these spaces fully.
Soft Life Ski
After experiencing skiing for the first time post-lockdown, Emmanuel was amazed by the winter sports and après-ski culture – where the sounds of London, New York, and Paris blend together to find a home in the Alps. Still, something crucial was missing: representation. No spaces catered to the Black community or made these experiences feel inclusive. That’s when Soft Life Ski was born, a group designed to offer daring experiences while bringing Black culture to the slopes.
What began in 2022 as a small gathering of seven individuals has snowballed into a movement. In 2024, Soft Life Ski hosted over 310 skiers from across the globe to join in, with plans to push that number even higher. But SLS is more than just a good time; it’s a movement changing the face of winter sports. With 85 per cent of participants being first-time skiers, the group is breaking stereotypes about Black participation in outdoor activities. Whether taking over entire hotels, organising group lessons for beginners, or hosting legendary dinners and parties, Soft Life Ski inspires a new generation of Black skiers and proves that the great outdoors is for everyone.
Black Girls Hike U.K.
Created to challenge stereotypes that often deter Black women from feeling safe and welcomed in rural areas, Black Girls Hike was founded in 2019 by Rhiane Fatinikun MBE. Fatinikun set out to build a community where Black women could reconnect with nature and break down the barriers that have long kept them from enjoying outdoor spaces.
In just a few years, Black Girls Hike has held over 300 events across four countries, drawing in more than 5,000 participants. The group has maintained a strong sense of community. While the founder may have started the movement, Fatinikun ensures that the direction of BGH is driven by its members. Decisions about hikes and events are collectively made to keep the community’s needs at the forefront.
The group’s efforts have been recognised with a medal from the Royal Geographical Society for encouraging Black women to access nature. Their work has initiated necessary conversations with brands, charities and the government to better support Black women and give them access to the green and blue spaces they deserve.
Black Unity Bike Ride
In August 2020, over 1,000 Black cyclists gathered for the Black Unity Bike Ride organised by Tokunbo Ajasa-Oluwa. Following the isolation of lockdown, the Black community needed unity. What started as a ride to debunk the myth that Black people don’t cycle quickly evolved into an event bringing together generations.
Since then, the Black Unity Bike Ride has grown into a community. In 2024, they hosted their fifth flagship ride in London with 2,000 attendees. Beyond the ride itself, they host development training sessions in East London and have expanded internationally, raising over £25,000 for grassroots initiatives through overseas tours.
Black Unity Bike Ride inspires people to achieve things they once thought was impossible. From novices learning to ride for the first time to centurions completing their first 100-mile ride, the group gives cyclists a sense of belonging. They’ve also formed an alliance network with other Black-led cycling clubs, amplifying visibility and reinforcing the importance of community.
Looking ahead, the group plans to expand their rides to South Africa and cities across the UK, continuing to provide a safe, inclusive space for Black people to explore wellness through cycling.
Black Scottish Adventurers
After over a decade of exploring the outdoors, Joshua Adeyemi grew tired of the lack of representation in nature. In 2022, he started Black Scottish Adventurers as a response. Since then, the community has grown to around 3,000 active members.
Whether hiking through the Scottish Highlands or taking international trips, Black Scottish Adventurers creates community through shared outdoor experiences. Members have climbed mountains they once thought were beyond reach, shattering the misconception that outdoor adventure isn’t for them. Adeyemi believes the group’s greatest achievement is opening the Black community’s minds to new possibilities and showing that the outdoors is a space where they belong.
The journey hasn’t been without challenges. The group has faced racial abuse but has also received support from the wider outdoor community in Scotland, including national parks and the public.
With additional members joining from the Netherlands, France and the US, there is growing interest in expanding across the UK. Following the success of their first international trip to Marrakech in 2024, they’re preparing for new adventures, continuing to inspire the Black community to explore the outdoors.
