Where do travel influencers go with friends when they’re not on assignment?
Our favorite travel influencers headed to South Africa to celebrate a milestone birthday. What they discovered transcended the destination.
The LGBTQ+ tourism market is estimated to be worth over $200 billion a year, and a big part of that driving force is a group of ambitious content creators who make global travel look like a breeze. What you don’t see are the delayed flights (usually in economy), over-stuffed itineraries with barely enough time to snap a selfie, let alone take in the sights, and an excessive amount of negotiation and pre-planning it takes to seal the deal.
You might be thinking boo hoo, you get to travel the world, get over it!
True. But we all know social media is often aspirational and inspirational, and the effort to look effortless can be … well … a lot. On behalf of GayCities, Matthew Schueller (half of the dynamic duo of @michaelandmatt) gathered some of our favorite LGBTQ+ content creators to take an inside look at their recent South Africa adventure. Together, they unpacked what inspires them, how travel has impacted their lives, and the connections they’ve created, not only with their followers but with each other.
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“We left closer than I could have ever imagined,” content creator and travel photographer Kirstie Pike of @onairplanemode_ said of her and her fiancé, Christine Diaz’s, journey to South Africa to celebrate fellow traveler Ravi Roth’s 40th birthday.
My husband, Michael, and I were fortunate enough to join the celebratory trip alongside travel influencers Gabi and Shanna Meit-Sciara from @27travels. In all, the seven of us decided to do something incredibly rare: take a couple of weeks off from traveling for work and retreat to South Africa’s Kruger National Park and surrounding areas — not to complete an assignment — but to celebrate a dear friend.
What’s unique about influencers traveling together anyway? Working in media, and specifically as influencers, is competitive by nature. In a field that’s becoming increasingly saturated, content creators are in constant competition, vying for a select few opportunities in various projects and brand deals. We hear about and have witnessed on full display the tabloid-like drama between influencers. Even within our LGBTQ+ community, competition and rivalry can supersede camaraderie and collaboration.
Several months after the trip, I hosted a virtual reunion to reminisce and remind ourselves why we got into this crazy business in the first place. As our conversation began about our experience together in South Africa, Gabi contrasted the competitive nature of social media with our group’s experience. “It’s never like that. With us, we’re all friends first,” she said, “and I think we leave space for each other to be able to do our thing and help whenever there’s a moment of need.”
“We know what we’re here for, what the bigger picture is. We’re trying to lift up the community.”Kirstie Pike, @onairplanemode_
Ravi (@raviroundtheworld) added, “I never feel like it’s competition, you know, especially in this group. It just feels like we help each other out, no matter how zany or crazy the idea is.”
“It’s all about how we can help bring your vision to fruition in every single person’s niche or platform,” Kirstie said. “We’ve all worked together in so many different places around the world, but this was the first time we’ve really had that quality time to sit and have conversations and really get to know each other on a deeper level.
We all have the same vision: to be that LGBTQ+ representation in travel. I feel like it’s so hard to do what we all do and come up with amazing storytelling, pictures, and high-quality content day after day, in countries all over the world. We know what we’re here for and what the bigger picture is. We’re trying to lift up the community.”
Rhino Africa: seven queers encounter the Big Five
In early 2024, Ravi reached out to David Ryan, Founder and CEO of Rhino Africa, one of the world’s largest and most renowned safari booking companies (and also LGBTQ+-owned!), to ask if he’d be willing to host a group of influencers to celebrate Ravi’s 40th birthday. David obliged, offering a stay at his luxury safari lodge, Silvan Safari. All of us, having previously met at the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association conference, were excited to come together for an epic celebration.
Traveling to South Africa’s Kruger National Park provided a unique opportunity to disconnect with technology and reconnect with ourselves, our travel companions, and the natural world. When asked about the trip’s vibe, Kirstie said, “We understand that it’s got, as you know, ebbs and flows, and not everything goes according to plan. But I think all of us understand that aspect of travel, which also made it so much easier to just focus on being present. It was the best trip of our lives.”
The Rhino Africa team went above and beyond to ensure no fine detail was missed, from the exquisitely curated meals and sunset cocktails on the savannah to the exhilarating game rides to see South Africa’s Big Five animal species. The mind-blowing setting — from leopards on the hunt and herds of rhinos grazing at twilight to lions passing just feet away — was unforgettable.
Finding meaning in the savanna
One of the most memorable moments was a morning meditation David organized. We gathered at 5:45 a.m. in complete silence (a task in itself for a group of LGBTQ+ content creators!) to witness the sunrise together.
“We’re sitting on the rock, and the sun is literally inching up; it was just an absolutely perfect moment,” Shanna reflected. “For someone like me, who this kind of stuff never really works for, I’ve never felt so connected as in that moment.”
“It was just an absolutely perfect moment.”Gabbi Meit-Sciara, @27travels
“It was just one of those things where you’re like, ‘yeah, this is what is so important.’ Reminding ourselves what we’re here for and what really matters in life,” Kirstie said. “In that moment, we were connected in more ways than one, spiritually but also emotionally. It felt like I was connected through Ravi’s experiences, Matt and Michael’s experiences, and also Gabi and Shanna’s. I felt like I could feel you all there with me.”
“It was also the first time that I think we’ve all experienced anything without our phones or our cameras,” Ravi laughed. “After the meditation, I realized that none of this, in the grand scheme of things, really matters. I mean, what we do is important, but getting the photo and making sure it’s the right angle … none of that really matters.”
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Cape Town by sidecar
With the safari certainly delivering more than we could have imagined, we wondered how Cape Town could ever match up. “We’ve all been to Cape Town before, but this time, we saw a totally different side to it,” said Shanna. “We already liked visiting the city, but I think seeing it this time around, we really fell in love.”
One of the highlights from our time in Cape Town included riding along one of the world’s most beautiful roadways, Chapman’s Peak Drive, or ‘Chappies’ as locals call it. The tour, led by Cape Sidecar Adventures, included head-to-toe fabulous motorcycle garb and vintage motorbikes and sidecars. Chauffeured by the pros, we sat back and soaked in the view from the cliff-hugging roadway hundreds of feet above Hout Bay.
The twists and turns provided dramatic views throughout the evening ride, with several stops at prized viewpoints along the way to take photos and marvel at views of Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, and Cape Town’s cityscape sprawling among the dramatic changes of elevation. “The views were just insane,” Kirstie said. “I’ve been to Cape Town before but have never seen it from that vantage point.”
A day with the Wine Fairy
A trip to South Africa isn’t complete unless you explore its award-winning wines. We spent the day with the Wine Fairy, an LGBTQ+-owned and operated tour that transports travelers to the depths of wine country.
The picturesque ride to Stellenbosch brought us to some of the most famous and prominent wineries in the area, including Anthonij Rupert Wyne and Waterford Estate. Specializing in many varietals, we were surprised by the diverse array of flavor profiles, from bright sauvignon blanc to smooth and rich chardonnay to bold and jammy pinotage. And that was just the wine.
“She is so full of life!” Ravi said of Wine Fairy founder Katie Barratt. “The Wine Fairy is so outlandish with her pearls, and so knowledgeable of the wine. Sometimes going to three or four wineries in a day can be exhausting, but she made it so fun and personal.”
You can tell when a tour guide is not only passionate about their area of expertise but also equally invested in creating community among participants. Katie became part of our family that day. At lunch, she turned to me and exclaimed, “I just really want to hug you right now. Can I do that?” We didn’t just talk about wine, but life in general. It was so fitting on this trip to get to know our tour guides and actually become friends. After all, some of the best conversations occur over a few glasses of wine!
The power of queer women traveling together
“When you’re traveling, just seeing that little bit of representation, of a Pride flag is just like, okay we’re in good hands. We’re in a safe space,” said Kirstie of the importance of safe spaces.
When Shanna and Gabi created their account in 2016, there were few queer women travel content creators. “That’s one of the reasons why we’re so passionate about @27travels. We didn’t realize that we could be helping people. But when followers started messaging the couple, they realized their images and stories from around the world could empower other queer women to travel and push beyond their comfort zone.”
“There are so many nuances and complexities to travel as a woman in general,” Kirstie said. “Many people are just scared to travel, even solo or as a group. When you throw in the layer of being queer, that adds so much to the research you have to do, along with what you have to prepare for in order to go on a trip, not only internationally but also in the US. You don’t always see yourself represented. So to be able to go and do that with other women who love women, it really makes you feel like, okay, we’re in this together.”
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40 is more than a number
The desire to embrace LGBTQ+ visibility in the travel space originally brought us together.
Beyond the appeal of seeing queer solo travelers and romantic same-sex couples in far-reaching destinations, sharing informative travel content makes it more accessible. “People can see themselves traveling,” said Kirstie, “and then they feel inspired. We’re making a difference. That’s what these pictures and the content are doing. That’s what the goal is, right?”
Upon returning home, Ravi — the inspiration and organizer of this incredible trip — reflected on his experience:
“To spend my 40th birthday in the most magical place in the world, surrounded by the people who mean the most to me, has been an experience beyond words.
“When used with intention and purpose, these platforms can be more than a distraction — they can be tools for creating genuine connections, fostering community, and realizing dreams.” Ravi Roth, @raviroundtheworld
“The deepening of our bonds throughout this time together makes this journey even more profound. These are the people who see me, understand me, and shape me, just as I do them. Each of us, in our own way, has been transformed by this experience.
“The fact that platforms like Instagram and TikTok brought us together is a powerful reminder of the potential for good within social media. When used with intention and purpose, these platforms can be more than a distraction — they can be tools for creating genuine connections, fostering community, and realizing dreams. For that, I am endlessly grateful.”
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