In this episode of I Am Tourism, host Melissa Foley speaks with Maria Malepa, Manager of the award-winning Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers, one of South Africa’s most respected community-based tourism experiences. What began more than 20 years ago with her late husband Lebo selling crafts outside Hector Pieterson Memorial has grown into an internationally recognised cultural hub rooted in authentic township storytelling.

Maria shares how they transformed his great-grandparents’ home – and the rubbish dump across the street – into a vibrant park, guesthouse, tour centre and safe space for locals and travellers alike. From cycling tours to poetry slams to shared meals with neighbours, everything at Lebo’s is designed to connect people meaningfully with Soweto.

This episode goes beyond business. It explores what responsible travel looks like when it centres community ownership and why it’s time for international travel brands and local DMCs to stop using Soweto as a tick-box experience… and start treating it as a destination worth staying for.

Key Takeaways

Maria Malepa:

• “It used to be a dump site. Today it’s a park. It’s not business for us – it’s just space where the community can feel safe.”
• “You can feel when you get into these spaces – you can feel that it’s not made up.
• “Please do not visit a school… there are so many good projects doing great for children and youth, but do you have to go see that firsthand?”
• “We’ve seen how tourism can transform a community.”