[Image: Instagram /ABCD Concepts]
For ten years, Khayelitsha-based travel agency ABCD Concepts has been flipping the script on township tourism, serving up immersive, no-filter experiences for both locals and foreigners.
But it’s not just about snapping vibey pics and ticking “township tour” off a bucket list. They’re fighting back against the tired stereotypes – you know, poverty porn, crime scares, the whole lot – by giving visitors a proper taste of township life, from next-level kasi (slang for township) cuisine to cultural deep dives.
Founded in 2015 by Khayelitsha locals Buntu Matole and Ayanda Cuba, ABCD Concepts was born out of a need to shake things up.
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Unemployment? High. Crime? A reality. But tourism? A game-changer.
“We saw an opportunity to teach people about Khayelitsha,” Matole said via News24.
“The township was often negatively represented, but we wanted to shift the narrative and showcase our home’s vibrancy, entrepreneurial spirit, and culture.”
Khayelitsha, Cape Town’s biggest township and South Africa’s second largest, has its challenges, no doubt. But it’s also alive with hustle, creativity, and community. And that’s what ABCD Concepts is all about.
Their tours aren’t your usual hop-on, hop-off sightseeing gig. They craft proper, curated experiences that throw visitors straight into the heart of kasi life.
That seems to include Khayelitsha Wine and Siki’s coffee, among the more traditional things like a roadside braai of walkie-talkies (chicken feet) and Inyama yenhloko, colloquially known as a smiley, with a side of pap, if you’re lucky.
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The world took notice when Airbnb came knocking, making them the first township-based experience hosts in SA. From just three visitors in year one, they now host over a thousand guests annually – 98% of them from overseas, eager to ditch the tourist traps for something real.
Operating out of Lookout Hill, a popular tourist spot, the company also spreads the love (and the rands) by guiding visitors to township hotspots like Kwa Ace, Spine Road Lifestyle, and Rands Cape Town. And while some might clutch their pearls over crime concerns, Matole isn’t having it.
“We operate on main roads where law enforcement is visible, and we’ve built strong relationships with the communities we engage with. People understand the opportunities tourism brings.”
After a decade of grinding and growing, ABCD Concepts is still pushing boundaries, showing the world that Khayelitsha is more than just headlines—it’s home, it’s heritage, and it’s happening.
Book your tour over here.
[Source: News24]
