Meet Our BOOKED Trips South Africa Partner: Eyitemi Popo, Founder Girls Trip Tours
Partnership is at the core of BOOKED Trips book-inspired experiences. We support local creatives, guides, and businesses on each our experiences. We’re excited to be partnering with Girls Trip Tour to utilize their Iranti alternative tourism ecosystem sustainable of ‘made in Africa’ or women-led businesses that empower the local economy for our two-city April 4-15, 2025 Johannesburg and Cape Town, South experience. This partnership will ensure your tourism dollars support locally-owned businesses and stay in the local economy.
We got the chance to sit down with Temi to learn a little bit more about her and her work.
Tell me a little bit about yourself and the work of Girls Trip Tours.
I grew up between Lagos, Nigeria and New York City with a mother who loves traveling. After visiting over 30 countries and living in seven, I developed a profound appreciation for the power of travel to forge connections that transcend borders. Seeking travel experiences that went beyond postcard-perfect sights as I began to explore more of Africa, I founded Girls Trip Tours, a social venture building ‘Iranti’ – an alternative tourism economy driven by women that’s changing the way people travel Africa. Our curations go deep beneath the surface, uncovering meaningful connections between travelers and the beating heart of Africa – its women.
What do you love about Cape Town, South Africa? Describe your ideal weekend in the city.
There is an other-worldly, stunning beauty that exists across the city of Cape Town. I’m currently in Cape Town and last weekend was picture perfect.
On Saturday, it started with a walk on the Sea Point Promenade, then brunch at the V&A waterfront.
On Sunday, we went to the Cape Winelands and used the wine tram to visit several estates including the first and only 100% Black owned winery, Klein Goederust. Wine tastings are very affordable starting at just $3 and can go up to $10 for a full range (white and red) with bubbly.
After having a late lunch with friends at Klein Goederust, we ended the day on the beach with a stunning sunset view of Table Mountain.
What food immediately connects you to a place that you’ve been?
Tagine. Lamb Tagine specifically. I had never really eaten authentic Moroccan food before I visited Marrakesh. When I had my first tagine on arrival at my riad…Oh Lord. It was beyond delicious; simultaneously warm, sweet, savory, and comforting. I haven’t had that experience anywhere else…where the food was so good, I could cry. And I really could cry because I’m such a foodie. I expected that in Italy, but the feeling never came, so props to Morocco.
If you could journey through a book, which book would it be and why?
Idris Elba narrates a short story on the Calm App titled Kingdom of the Sky, which explores the nation-state within South Africa that was never colonized: Lesotho. Lesotho is at the top of my wander list and I would love to journey through that story with Idris as my guide.
What was your last five star read?
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky: Stories by Lesley Nneka Arimah. I love short stories and really enjoyed this collection that explored ties that bind across cultures, space, and time. Some stories felt familiar and so much like home, others were more speculative, which is a genre I enjoy and wish more and more African writers would explore.
How can people support you and your work?
The best way to support us is by participating in a tour. We are launching private trips for businesses and individuals in 2025! Our ecosystem of trusted Black-owned or women-led partners ensure you can arrive at your destination feeling confident, connected and ready to explore. We would also love you to follow us on Instagram on LinkedIn.
