Daphne is a talented Ugandan creator of beautiful handcrafted knitted toys and bespoke decorative pieces. Lina Nel, who previously worked with Daphne in Uganda, submitted this spotlight in her personal capacity because she hopes our tourism village can help Daphne’s small business be seen and discovered.

Her handcrafted creations could make beautiful additions to a lodge or hotel curio shop, thoughtful welcome gifts for travelling families, or meaningful keepsakes for guests.

Should anything featured in the video catch your eye, please connect with Lina Nel, who will gladly introduce you to Daphne.

In our virtual tourism village, we believe that we only rise by raising others.

𝗔 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼.

What Roxy, Gerhard and the Boompow team have achieved in helping us bring Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo to life has been nothing short of remarkable.

They did not simply build us a website or create beautiful visuals. They listened to the heart of what Rudi and I were trying to create and helped turn an idea, many conversations and more than a few late-night changes into something people can now see, understand and believe in.

Building something new is rarely neat or easy. It requires patience, flexibility and people who are willing to care about the vision as deeply as you do. Boompow has shown us all of this and more.

From both of us, thank you for walking this journey with us and helping to give Around Africa a home, a voice and an identity we can be proud of.

You have truly helped us build more than a platform. You have helped us open another door for African tourism.

Thabang Rapotu
Co-Founder, Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo

Joy Strydom, the CEO and founder of JJRS Consulting Services with over three decades of luxury travel experience – including helping launch Rovos Rail – specializes in promoting small, passionate, owner-run properties to maximize their bookings. Her current portfolio features Rogge Cloof, a stargazing and cheetah-conservation destination in the Karoo; Siviti, an intimate game lodge in the Greater Kruger National Park’s Thornybush Reserve; and Travessia Beach Lodge, an eco-conscious coastal getaway in Mozambique. This follows a highly successful track record of driving massive booking growth for prestigious past clients, including a 15-year tenure with Cape Town’s 5-star Ellerman House, a seven-year partnership with Legend Lodges, and the successful trade introduction of Babylonstoren.

Greetings from our new Around Africa virtual tourism village. This Around Africa Tourism Community Spotlight shoutout was submitted by award-winning storyteller, photographer and safari designer Angus Begg, in recognition of Mzu Lembeni, the inspiring founder of iMzu Tours in Cape Town. Mzu’s journey is one of extraordinary determination. Growing up in Khayelitsha, he discovered a passion for tourism and turned that passion into a career, building a business that shares the stories, culture and remarkable spirit of Cape Town’s township communities with visitors from around the world. Through iMzu Tours, guests are invited to move beyond the familiar postcard views of the city and connect meaningfully and respectfully with local people, entrepreneurs, community projects and everyday life. This shoutout recognises not only the tourism business Mzu has built, but also the opportunities he continues to create for others and the hope he brings to his community. Have you experienced exceptional service from someone in our tourism community? Leave a shoutout for them by completing the form on our website. Here in our virtual tourism village, we believe that you only rise by raising others.

Today, we are proud to introduce Ronelle Wright and Cellar to Screen as our first Tourism Community Spotlight feature.

Ronelle is a roving wine expert bringing virtual, on-demand wine guidance to lodges, hotels and hospitality teams – offering expert support without the cost and logistics of flying someone in.

A beautiful example of how innovation, expertise and connection can travel further when we open the platform to more voices.

To connect with Ronelle:
Email: ronelle@lebarrique.co.za
Mobile: 083 252 8770