15 questions with Woni Spots, the first Black woman to visit every country in the world
In 2018, Woni Spotts became the first Black woman to visit every country in the world. And now she sits down for a fun interview about her global experiences.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Woni Spotts is the first black woman on current record to have visited every country in the world.
If you don't know, now you know.
Visiting every country in the world is no small feat, and Woni Spotts is living breathing proof that it can be done! You may be asking yourself - well, why the distinction for the first BLACK woman? Why does everything have to be about race? Why can't I be the first white middle aged man with two cats ? What makes this so important?
It is about representation. How many shows on the travel channel feature a person of color as the main host - when the show ISN'T specifically tied to their ethnicity? How many feature black host? And how many feature a black woman? The lack of representation in the travel community portrays the image of a traveler (and a frequent traveler at that) as someone who is : white and male. If they happen to be female, they are probably young, conventionally attractive, and still white.
Perception of Black, Asian, and Latino travelers in the travel community is severely underrepresented, which is ironic considering how the foundation of travel is experiencing different cultures. Representation, especially one such as someone visiting every country in the world, breaks the stereotype that people of color DO travel. They DO deserve space as a global citizen. They DO accomplish great things. It's a strong message of encouragement, inspiration, and a drive.
That said, while it is ultimately impossible to tell who did what when where how FIRST, since people traveled before social media (and still do!), Woni Spotts is the first Black woman on record to visit every country by September 2018, after traveling her entire life for decades. She wasn't in a rush, she wasn't on a mission to be the first Black woman to visit every country. She just wanted to see the world, a feeling we can all relate to.
Lucky for us, Woni Spotts took time out of her busy jetsetting schedule to sit down for a *super serious* tell-all interview about her life as a world traveler.
Q: Rate your skill level of using a squat toilet on a scale of 1-10
Spotts: Negative 10. I carried a wide mouth cup in Eastern Europe and Asia! Thankfully, now they invented GoGirl devices.
Q: What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you while traveling?
Spotts: A 20-year-old Bedouin man proposed to me in Jordan. He laid out in detail his income and how we would live( a cave was involved) he kept me company on my long walk out of Petra. I tried to tell him I was older than his mother but he wouldn't listen. He handed me a business card that said: "Donkey Engineer" Oddly enough, in Turkey, a business owner also proposed (after a two-minute meeting) He said we would live in his cave hotel. So far two compelling cave-dwelling offers on the table.
Q: Do you get seasick or motion sickness?
Spotts: Woni: No. I don't get seasick. However, I do get horrible altitude sickness. Particularly Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador. There were a few others, but mostly those three. As soon as we landed, we were offered coca leaves and tea from the leaves. It helps with altitude sickness! I had to chew the leaves the whole time. I never acclimated.
Q: If you could go back and visit a country for the first time again, which country would you pick and why?
Spotts: South Africa. I'd like to experience more tribal interactions and see more of the natural settings. Specifically - penguin spotting !! And staying with the Khoisan people.
Q: Which 5 countries have the best food?
Spotts: India, America, Mexico, and Thailand...and all the countries bordering the Mediterranean. In India, definitely Alo Gobi! America, anything “Beyond Meat” that's baked in BBQ sauce. For Mexico, corn tacos with grilled vegetables, bell peppers onions cilantro salsa avocado. Thailand has the most amazing vegan-ized Pak Booong and Som Tum! And basically all Mediterranean cuisine! Falafels, hummus...now I’m hungry!
Q: Have you ever been on the receiving end of a random act of kindness from a stranger while traveling?
Spotts: Yes, men are often protective of me while I'm traveling. Many men will suggest places I should avoid and make sure I'm safely inside the hotel. This has happened mostly in Asia and Africa.
Q: What is your typical trip like?
Spotts: I would say active. I'm usually climbing up or hiking to something. Nothing too crazy though! My favorite outdoor experiences have been balloon rides in Cappadocia, and the hikes in Iceland! There are so many more too, but my most relaxing outdoor experiences were in Mongolia where I lived in a Yurt. I explored the Steppes with animals casually roaming around.
Q: What has been the most incredible natural wonder you have seen?
Spotts: Iguazu falls and Patagonia are simply breath-taking. Animal interactions also leave me speechless, like watching elephants gently walk toward me (I was near their watering hole). Or having a curious whale under my kayak!
Q: Which “under the radar” countries did you really enjoy?
Spotts: Mongolia was wonderful !! The City, Steppes, Gobi, and Tereji National Park, all very different settings.
Q: Which country did you have low expectations for, but actually turned out to be amazing?
Spotts: I had low expectations for Belize and really had no information about it. Instead of the beach, I chose a mountain retreat called Gaia. The mountain setting and the retreat were dreamlike. I flew over the blue hole and visited ruins.
Q: Have you ever ended up in a hospital abroad?
Spotts: No, but I nearly broke my leg in Venice, Italy. The gondolier thought I was athletic enough to jump from the gondola to the dock. I blame myself for believing him.
Q: If you had to spend the rest of your life in one country, which one would you pick?
Spotts: EASY - Monaco!
Q: If your life was a movie, what would you title it?
Spotts: The Title - 'I Escaped Being an Adult.' The lead actress, Halle Berry! The genre would be action, drama, romance, comedy...and maybe a little horror too
Q: What are your favorite countries?
Spotts: The whole Antarctica experience was life changing! Iceland too! I also love the entire Mediterranean area especially Santorini, Greece. And let’s not forget Egypt! I was able to find something personally special in each of these places. What excites me about a country are the people, the animals, and the landscapes!
Travel Tip: for folks wanting to experience Antarctica for themselves after Woni Spotts' rave reviews, but still have...yanno, BILLS to pay, the cheapest way to visit Antarctica is grab a last minute cabin in Ushuaia, Argentina! - Kay Kingsman, travel blogger
Q: If you could go back in time and give yourself travel advice, what would it be?
Spotts: I would slow myself down and absorb the environment fully. Visit the places that call to you, from there you will discover more destinations. Go beyond basic itineraries. See everything the countries have to offer. Explore cities, architecture, museums, gardens, window shopping, festivals, events, religious sites, animals in nature, nature in GENERAL, mazes, ancient ruins, bustling markets, skyscrapers, vast deserts...
See it all.
Kay Kingsman is a fiction author and travel writer who prides herself on being a full-time silly goose. Along with being the first person to crip walk in Antarctica, Kay's writing has been featured in Forbes, Insider, Fodor’s, Viator, and more.