Established with a passion for exploration

My name is Thandisizwe Dano, and I am the founder of Ngena Ekasi Tours, a tour guiding and operating company based in Gugulethu.

I began my journey in tourism during the vibrant days of Gugulethu’s entertainment scene, when Mzoli’s Butchery was at its peak. Back then, Gugulethu was alive with music, food, and culture, attracting both locals and international visitors. Tourists often asked me to show them around, and it was then that I discovered the potential of township tourism. This passion drove me to earn my tour guide certification and eventually start my own tourism business.

But when Mzoli’s closed and crime increased, Gugulethu’s reputation as a tourism hub declined. Many operators and visitors became afraid to enter, and I was forced to pass my township tour requests to colleagues in Langa and Khayelitsha. This challenge, however, became a turning point. I realized that tourism in our communities had to evolve if it was to survive.

That’s how Ngena Ekasi Tours grew into what it is today. We shifted our strategy—expanding beyond Gugulethu to showcase Cape Town’s most iconic attractions while keeping community empowerment at the core of our work.

Many Capetonians live within view of Table Mountain and Robben Island yet have never set foot there. Our mission is to change that narrative. We believe tourism should not only serve international visitors but also open doors for local communities to experience the treasures of their own city.