First woman to circumnavigate the world
Between 1766 and 1769, botanist and explorer Jeanne Baret became the first woman ever to circumnavigate the world. This is not only a first for women, but also for French people.
Disguised as a boy on the Étoile (women were not allowed on board at the time), Jeanne changed her name to Jean and continued collecting plant samples and observing the environment.
One plant she is believed to have found was the bougainvillea – a purple vine named after the leader of the expedition ship, Louis Antoine de Bougainville.
The first female fellows of the Royal Geographical Society
British travel writer, photographer and naturalist Isabella Bird made major discoveries in the 19th century.
Despite failing health, dangerous terrain, and sometimes having to flee her attackers, Isabella continued to explore the world and document her adventures into her later years.
result? A lifetime collection of books covering the many places she has traveled: China, Iran, Hawaii, Kurdistan, and India—all illustrated by beautiful photographs she has taken herself.
Her work was so important that she was made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 1892, making her one of the first women to receive the title.
first person to circumnavigate the world less more than 80 days
heard about this book Around the World in 80 Days? Of course you have. Heard of the woman who traveled around the world in just 72 days? maybe not.
Elizabeth Cochran Seaman, also known as Nellie Bly, was an American journalist who refused to be beaten by men. When she pitches the papers her plan to travel the world in less time than the bestseller, they love the idea – but think one should go, not.
Nellie refused to let anyone leave in her place. The newspaper relented, and she set off in 1889. After just 72 days, she returned after setting a new world record for the fastest time around the world.
First woman to cycle around the world
Some people think she was inspired by the book Around the world in 80 days. Others claimed that Anne was trying to prove a point when two men said a woman couldn’t cycle around the world in 15 months and make money herself.
Whatever the reason, in 1894 Anne set off from the State Capitol in Boston, Massachusetts, leaving her home, her husband, and three children by bicycle to embark on her adventure. She went from America to France, then to the Middle East, China, and beyond.
She returned to Boston in less than 15 months. As for the money, she stuck to the stakes — accepting interviews with sponsors from all over the world about her travels and getting the world’s media attention.
Anne (née Cohen Kopchovsky) is a Jewish immigrant from Latvia who speaks out against not only sexism, but also anti-Semitism and racism.
first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic
On January 3, 1921, Kansas-born Amelia Earhart took her first flying lessons. Less than eight years later, in June 1928, she became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean. She took off from Port Trepassi, Newfoundland, Canada, on a plane named Friendship. Just 21 hours later, she landed on the other side of the Atlantic in the Welsh port of Bury.
As if that wasn’t enough, in 1932 she became the first woman, and only the second, to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She didn’t stop there, achieving many other firsts throughout her life. Amelia became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean and the first solo pilot to fly from Mexico City to Newark.
Sadly, her adventure came to an end in 1937 when she attempted to circumnavigate the world. Her plane disappeared without being found and Amelia was declared “missing at sea”.
First woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
At just 22 years old, Sheila MacDonald became the first woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Londoner climbed the world’s tallest free-standing mountain in 1927, some forty years after the first successful ascent by man. The young woman continued to climb because her male companion had to give up due to exhaustion.
Many other women have followed in her footsteps. For example, Kristina Schou Madson holds the record for the fastest known time by a woman to reach the summit in just 6 hours, 52 minutes and 54 seconds. The youngest girl to climb Africa’s highest mountain was Montannah Kenney, who was 7 years old in 2018.
first woman to travel around the world alone
In March 1978, Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz set off from the Canary Islands on a sailboat built by her husband.
Just over 400 days later, and after sailing nearly 3,000 nautical miles, the Polish sailor became the first woman to circumnavigate the world alone in April 1978.
She was followed by Naomi James, who completed her route just two months after Krystyna. Since then, many others have achieved the same.
Laura Dekker set off at just 14 and returned less than two years later to set the world record for youngest woman to circumnavigate the globe solo.
First black woman to visit every country in the world (almost)
Jessica Nabongo is an American-born Ugandan travel influencer on a mission to become the first black woman to visit every country on earth.
She achieved her goal here in October 2019, arriving in her 196th country, Seychelles.
Before she completes her epic adventure, we catch up with her and discover the highs and lows of the journey. Check out the full interview.
