About Khonaye Tuswa
As a Black Travel Founder in Africa, Khonaye is first and foremost a Xhosa, one of the largest tribal groups in South Africa, which has given rise to some of the famous philosophers, writers, and politicians the world has ever known (such as Mandela, Tutu, Sobukwe, Biko), but who nonetheless remain among the most marginalised on the planet.
Khonaye himself grew up in the Eastern Cape during apartheid but managed to gain a good education — in particular, a deep grasp of English — and this allowed him to get work in tourism, guiding visitors through what was then a deeply divided and traumatised nation.
Black Travel founder in africa
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My history...
I was born in the rural Eastern Cape, a place of rolling hills, deep-rooted traditions, and the nurturing care of my late grandmother, who raised me through my early years. It was under her guidance that I took my first steps in life and first steps in learning, surrounded by the rich culture and natural beauty of the countryside.
My journey into city life began in Johannesburg and Soweto, where I experienced the contrasts of township life and continued my primary schooling. Later, I found myself in Cape Town — the Mother City — where I first felt the spark that would become my passion for tourism. Living with an aunt who operated a small tour business from her home, I was exposed to the power of storytelling and the ability of tourism to connect people, cultures, and histories.
My schooling took me from Kokstad, where I attended boarding school, to East London where I reunited with my father. There, I graduated from high school and pursued a diploma in Travel and Tourism at East London College. It was during these years that I had the life-changing opportunity to travel internationally as part of an educational exchange to Denmark — an experience that deepened my appreciation for the value of cultural exchange.
Returning to Cape Town with fresh inspiration, I volunteered with the Tsoga Environmental Resource Centre in Langa, guiding visitors through the vibrant community and sharing stories often overlooked by mainstream tourism. This period shaped my understanding of how meaningful and responsible tourism could empower local communities and marked an early chapter in my growth as a black travel founder in Africa.
Eager to deepen my skills, I completed formal qualifications as a national tourist guide, and soon after, founded my first venture — Go Camissa, a township tour company dedicated to showcasing the resilience, creativity, and humanity of Cape Town’s communities, not just the hardships. Our tours quickly gained national recognition, winning awards for breaking away from the outdated and insensitive narrative of “poverty tours” and instead, highlighting the spirit of resistance, growth, and everyday life in the townships.
Few black travel founder in Africa stories begin with a grandmother in a rural village and lead to building a nationally recognised travel brand — but mine does. And that journey informs every itinerary we build today.
I later realised that the same stories of inspiration and triumph could — and should — be shared far beyond Cape Town. This vision led me to create Camissa Travel, offering travelers the chance to experience the rich cultures, untold histories, and breathtaking landscapes across all of South Africa — through the lens of a proudly Black-owned company. With every tour we lead, the aim is to redefine what it means to travel with purpose — a mission shaped by my lived experience as a black travel founder in Africa.
For me, Camissa is more than just a business; it is a continuation of a lifelong journey. From the hills of the Eastern Cape to the streets of Soweto, from Langa’s vibrant community to the national parks and coastlines of South Africa, I have always believed that travel is about connection, understanding, and sharing stories that matter. In this work, I carry forward the responsibility and pride that comes with being recognised as a black travel founder in Africa, committed to honouring local voices and rewriting narratives from within.
