2013
Africa
Trip
June 27 - July 2

The First Lady's 2013 Africa Trip

First Lady Michelle Obama's Trip

The First Lady, along with daughters Malia and Sasha, joined President Obama’s official visit to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania on June 26–July 2. During the trip, the First Lady met with young people and highlighted the power of education.



Check out photos from the road, travel journals from the First Lady and more.

Schedule  |  Engage  |  Photos  |  Map


Connecting Continents: A Conversation with the First Lady

June 29th at 9:30 A.M. ET | #FLOTUSINAFRICA


Michelle Obama's Trip Schedule

Or see President Obama's Trip Information


June 27th

Thursday

  • The First Lady met with Madame Marème Sall, First Lady of Senegal. Later, Mrs. Obama and Madame Sall visited the Martin Luther King Middle School, an all-girls school in Senegal.
    View the Related Travel Journal
  • In the afternoon, the President and First Lady visited Gorée Island and in the evening, the First Lady joined President Obama for a dinner hosted by President Sall.
    View the Related Travel Journal
June 29th

Saturday

  • The President and First Lady visited Pretoria, South Africa, where the First Lady met with Mrs. Tobeka S. Zuma, First Lady of South Africa.
  • Google+ Hangout
    Later in the afternoon in Johannesburg, Mrs. Obama hosted a conversation with youth, organized in conjunction with MTV Base, an African youth and music TV channel, and Google+. The First Lady was joined by teenagers from across South Africa, as well as students who joined virtually in cities around the U.S. via Google+ Hangouts, including in L.A., Kansas City, New York City, and Houston.
    View the Related Travel Journal
  • In the evening, the First Lady joined the President for a dinner hosted by President Zuma.
June 30th

Sunday

July 1st

Monday

  • Mrs. Obama met with Mrs. Salma Kikwete, First Lady of Tanzania, and visited the Embassy Bombing Memorial.
    View the Related Travel Journal
  • The First Lady attended a performance by the Baba wa Watoto troupe, part of a center that serves underprivileged boys and girls between the ages of five and 18 years old.
    View the Related Travel Journal
  • In the evening, she joined the President for a dinner with President Kikwete.
July 2nd

Tuesday

  • The First Lady participated in the African First Ladies Summit: “Investing in Women: Strengthening Africa,” hosted by the George W. Bush Institute. At the Summit, African First Ladies from across the continent gathered to focus on the important role First Ladies play in promoting women’s education, health and economic empowerment.
    View the Related Travel Journal

How We Followed Along & Engaged with the First Lady

The First Lady's Travel Journal from Africa

@FLOTUS on Twitter for real time updates, photos from the road, and videos.

Many used @FLOTUS to ask questions and Mrs. Obama answered some during the trip with the hashtag #FLOTUSinAfrica.

The First Lady's town hall for young people was LIVE from Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday, June 29th.



Official White House Photos

  • President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Wave as They Board Air Force One
    1 of 60
  • President Obama Reviews Senegal Honor Guard
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  • First Lady Michelle Obama Talks with First Lady Marème Sall
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  • Students Listen to  First Lady Michelle Obama
    4 of 60
  • President Obama Joint Press Conference with President Macky Sall
    5 of 60
  • First Lady Michelle Obama Talks with Students in Their Classroom
    6 of 60
  • President Obama Meets with Chief Justice Papa Oumar Sakho
    7 of 60
  • An Honor Guard Lines the Steps
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  • President Obama and Daughter Malia Talk Aboard a Gorée Island Ferry
    9 of 60
  • President Obama Looks Out a Cell Window
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  • President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Look Out the "Door of no Return"
    11 of 60
  • President Obama Looks Out the "Door of no Return"
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  • President Obama at a Civil Society Organization Meeting
    13 of 60
  • President Obama Greets Residents of Gorée Island
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  • First Lady Michelle Obama Looks Out a Window
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  • President Obama Talks with Exhibitors at the Feed the Future Agricultural Technology Expo
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  • President Obama Talks with Kids at the Hotel
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  • President Obama at the Departure Ceremony with President Macky Sall
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  • An Honor Guard Waits for the First Family to Disembark Air Force One
    19 of 60
  • President Obama Meets with Senior Advisors in Johannesburg
    20 of 60
  • President Obama Talks on the Phone with President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt
    21 of 60
  • A Red Carpet is Rolled Out for the Official Arrival Ceremony
    22 of 60
  • Official Arrival Ceremony with South African President Jacob Zuma
    23 of 60
  • First Lady Michelle Obama Participates in a Google + Hangout in Johannesburg
    24 of 60
  • President Obama Meets with Advisors Before Press Conference with South African President Jacob Zuma
    25 of 60
  • President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Talk on the Phone with Graca Machel
    26 of 60
  • President Obama Signs a Copy of "Conversations with Myself"
    27 of 60
  • President Obama at the Young African Leaders Initiative Town Hall
    28 of 60
  • President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Attend an Official Dinner Hosted by President Jacob Zuma of South Africa
    29 of 60
  • President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Dance with Guests
    30 of 60
  • President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Arrive in Cape Town
    31 of 60
  • The First Family Tours the Lime Quarry on Robben Island
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  • President Obama Watches as Sasha Obama Unlocks the Door
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  • The First Family stands in Former South African President Nelson Mandela's Cell
    34 of 60
  • President Obama Walks with Guide Ahmed Kathrada
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  • President Obama Shakes Hands with Fire Fighters on Robben Island
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  • President Obama Greets Archbishop Desmond Tutu
    37 of 60
  • President Obama Roundtable Discussion at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Youth Centre
    38 of 60
  • President Barack Obama Talks with Health Class Students at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Youth Centre
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  • President Obama Speech at the University of Cape Town
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  • President Obama with University of Cape Town Audience Members
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  • President Obama is Briefed by Deputy National Security Advisor Tony Blinken
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  • President Obama and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania at the Arrival Ceremony
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  • President Obama and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania Watch Performers
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  • The President's Motorcade Makes its Way to the State House in Dar es Salaam
    45 of 60
  • President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Shake Hands with the Crowd in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
    46 of 60
  • First Lady Michelle Obama and First Lady Salma Kikwete
    47 of 60
  • President Obama Press Conference with President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania
    48 of 60
  • People Line the Street in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
    49 of 60
  • Members of Baba Watoto Perform for First Lady Michelle Obama
    50 of 60
  • First Lady Michelle Obama and Daughters Watch a Baba Watoto Performance
    51 of 60
  • President Obama Participates in a CEO Roundtable in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
    52 of 60
  • President Obama Pauses for the American National Anthem
    53 of 60
  • President Obama and former President George W. Bush Wreath Laying Ceremony at the U.S. Embassy
    54 of 60
  • President Obama and former President George W. Bush at the U.S. Embassy
    55 of 60
  • President Obama Greets Staff and Family at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam
    56 of 60
  • First Lady Michelle Obama and Former First Lady Laura Bush at the African First Ladies Summit
    57 of 60
  • President Obama Tosses a Soccket ballat the Ubongo Power Plant
    58 of 60
  • President Obama Watches Performers on the Tarmac before departing Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
    59 of 60
  • President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Wave to President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and First Lady Salma Kikwete
    60 of 60

View the First Lady's 2011 trip to South Africa and Botswana



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The President & First Lady's Africa Trip. June 27th to July 2nd. Dakar, Senegal. Pretoria & Johannesburg, South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.



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