She broke new ground not only by being a successful female entrepreneur, but an entrepreneur in the saturated Cape Town tourism industry. Samantha lets us in on how and why she did it:
What inspired you to start a company in the tourism industry?
My passion for the industry and love for township communities motivated me to start Go Camissa Travel, a company whose primary focus is township tours. Township life is very unique, yet not all tourists experience this. I believe they should, so through my tours, I take visitors to townships to experience the way our people live.
What does Go Camissa mean and how did you choose the name?
Camissa, or the place of sweet waters is an indigenous Khoisan word that was used to describe the area around Table Bay, known today as the City Bowl. Camissa referred to the fountains, springs and streams found around Table Mountain. I chose the name because Cape Town is beautiful; and like Camissa, it’s a fountain of beauty.
What does the average tour at Go Camissa entail?
Tours include an African cooking experience, township gospel tour, township diski (social soccer) tour and lots more. At Go Camissa, it’s all about cultural experience and illustrating the way of life in the township.
Did you study anything to be better equipped for your current position?
I did a six-month entrepreneurial development course at the Raymond Ackerman Academy (RAA) at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life because I already had a background in tourism management as a tour guide on Robben Island.
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Don’t let your situation deter you. As Raymond Ackerman, founder and sponsor of RAA, says: “it takes 90% guts and 10% capital to start a business”. So, anyone can do it.
What challenges have you faced as a businesswoman in the tourism industry?
It is not always easy for smaller companies to get a foot in the door, but the business ha
