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Sephiwe knew he wanted to start his own business but did not know what steps to take. This led him to enrol in the Socionext 5-day training programme.

He didn’t know what to expect, but he credits the programme with really opening up his eyes and shifting his mindset as an aspiring entrepreneur. From the lessons he learned in the workshop he was able to focus his actions on clear goals that he knew would help him start his dream business, an eco-tourism business.

A key lesson Sephiwe took away from the workshop was to use what resources you have access to, instead of being stuck in a mindset where you can only move forward if you get access to funding.

From this understanding, Sephiwe began engaging local Durban tour operators, to build relationships with them so that they could help support his fledgling business by directing their customers his way.

This strategy worked incredibly well. Sephiwe’s current customers are predominantly foreigners who come to him at the recommendation of other tour operators.

Sephiwe operates around Blue Lagoon in Durban where he offers bike tours, canoeing, city tours, township tours and a newly added, and very popular, village experience.

He is also very involved in community work and organises beach clean ups and litter booms on the river. He has a dream to help make Durban one of the most eco-friendly cities in the world and sees his work as an important part of this.