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How Heinrich Hafeni connects Tourists with Local Communities in Townships

Meet Heinrich Hafeni, the founder of Hafeni Tourism Namibia a business focusing on Cultural township tourism

Or as Heinrich puts it taking tourists to townships and introducing them to the real Namibia.

Heinrich grew up in a township himself and then worked his way up from dish washer to waiter to cook and finally overland tour guide in 14 African countries before he set out to start his own enterprise.

In the interview he shares:

  • How his mom and grandmother inspired him to become someone that contributes to the community
  • Which difficulties he ran into in the beginning when he organised the first township tours and how he overcame them
  • And how he uses tourism as a platform to uplift local businesses and create jobs and income opportunities in townships

He also shares how his passion for developing his community drove him to create a local restaurant and a hotel to enhance the cultural township tourism experience.

As Heinrich says “when you go to a township, you want to feel the rhythm of the township, you want to feel the heartbeat of the township.”

So we hope that this interview gives you an idea of how Heinrich helps to create that experience.

And now, without further ado, enter Heinrich Hafeni.

Thomas

Thomas is initiator of Africax.org, co-founder of ecological sanitation company EcoToiletten, digital automation agency Strandschicht and the non-profit tackling youth empowerment YES Founders Foundation. He co-authored a book on Youth-led Changemaking and coaches entrepreneurs on resilience and mental well-being.