I was born and bred in Soweto, South Africa, growing up during the dark days of Apartheid.I have witnessed this township that started as a slum evolve into a sprawling suburb.I started school in this very township until it was disrupted by the 1976 Soweto student uprising during which time, I went to live with my Maternal grandparents in The Northwest Province (formerly Bophuthatswana Homeland).I returned to Soweto in late 1977 and resumed schooling till I dropped out in 1980 – Thanks to the Apartheid System.

From here I worked in various industries accumulating a wealth of experience in the corporate sector eventually joining the Tourism Industry in 2008 as a driver.In between the various jobs, I collected several short course certifications including matric (grade 12).While working as a tourist guide-driver, I enrolled and trained with Energy Guides and Drumbeat Academy where I qualified as a Culture Tourist Guide in Five of South Africa’s nine provinces.I also speak and understand all of South Africa’s eleven official languages.

I then joined a Tour Operating Company on a freelance basis but was soon roped in on full-time basis in 2012.The tours I did and continue to do, mostly cover the following:

Gauteng Province:

Pretoria

Cullinan Diamond Mine - where a diamond stone worth more than three thousand carats was found in 1905.

Voortrekker Monument – showcasing the rise of the Afrikaner Nation into the governing race in South Africa

Kruger House – showcasing the life and presidency of Paul Kruger

Melrose House – where the Vereeniging Treaty was signed giving birth to the Union of South Africa

Freedom Square - Enlisting the heroes that fought in the first and second world war and those that died fighting the Apartheid regime

Johannesburg

Mandela Square – the richest square mile on the African Continent

North suburbs- Home to the rich and famous

Hillbrow - what used to be the Manhattan of South Africa

Constitutional hill – Formerly a Fort, then a Prison and lastly the home of South Africa’s Constitutional Court

Braamfontein/ Newtown – The mecca of Johannesburg education institutions and street art

Carlton Centre- The tallest building on the African Continent from 1973 to…

Maboneng – A beacon of hope for the city’s rejuvenating project

SOWETO

Apartheid museum- Encompasses the history of South Africa from the eleventh century to the dawn of democracy in 1994

FNB Stadium- the biggest stadium on the African continent and host of the 2010 FIFA world cup final

Diepkloof Ext – The most upmarket suburb of Soweto and home to the third biggest hospital in the World

Soweto Twin Towers - Bungy jumping from cooling towers

Vilakazi street – the only street in the world that’s home to two noble peace prize winners

Hector Peterson Museum – showcasing and narrating the story of the 1976Sowet Students uprising

NORTHWEST PROVINCE - In the Northwest province I did and continue to do mostly transfers to:

SUNCITY – South Africa’s version of America’s Las Vegas

PILANESBERG GAME RESERVE – located in the Bojanala Region, within the Northwest Province and relatively near Johannesburg.Withan area of 550km², it is the fourth largest park in South Africa.home to the big five and only two hours from Johannesburg.

MADIKWE GAME RESERVE- regarded as one of the best conservation areas in Africa and offers the Big 5 in a680 km2 park (750 km2

LIMPOPO - In this province, most of my work has been transfers to lodges in Welgevonden, Mabula, Marataba, Ants hill, Ants Nest, Entabeni, Pafuri and Pont Drift.

At the end of my first year as a guide, I won the Tourist Guide of the year Award.Two years later I was promoted to be the Head Tourist Guide at Wilro Tours.There is an article online written by UK Travel journalist Mark Palmer, wherein he shares his experience of the tour he did with me in Johannesburg.The article is titled “THE JOYS OF JOHANNESBURG.”

I resigned from my full-time job in December 2017 and have continued to work on freelance basis to this day.