In this episode of I Am Tourism Stories, host Natalia Rosa sits down with Ron Mackenzie, a connector, entrepreneur, and the founder of Small Town South Africa.
Ron’s journey into tourism started with a bold move: showing up on the set of Blood Diamond to pitch a safari to Leonardo DiCaprio. That one fearless ask opened the door to Hollywood clients, embassies, and an unconventional career path that has always been about doing things differently.
Today, Ron is best known for his work championing South Africa’s small towns. What began as a Facebook group has grown into a movement with hundreds of thousands of followers, a forthcoming map and magazine, and a mission to put rural South Africa on the global tourism map.
In this conversation, Ron shares:
- How one bold ask changed the course of his career
- Why rural tourism is one of South Africa’s biggest untapped opportunities
- The role of community in both small towns and the wider tourism industry
- How storytelling and digital platforms can shine a light on hidden gems
This episode will leave you rethinking what it takes to succeed in tourism. Ron’s story is a call to be brave, to back your ideas, and to look for opportunity where others overlook it. For anyone in the industry, it’s a reminder that bold moves and fresh perspectives are what create real change.
🎧 Listen to the full episode above and discover how Ron Mackenzie is helping South Africa’s small towns take their place on the world stage.
