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A voice for the seekers. A compass for the sensitive. A balm for the quietly breaking hearts.
The Soul Mechanic Diaries is a tender voyage into the unseen. Part journal, part confessional, part cosmic toolbox. This podcast is where stories meet spirit, and pain becomes poetry.
Hosted by Ryan Koriya, a first-generation Zimbabwean artist, VIP holistic life coach, consultant, seasoned nomad, and investigative soul.
This series invites you to eavesdrop on the lived experience of someone navigating identity, intimacy, polarity, creativity, trauma, and the long road back to inner alignment.
Co-create real moments, reflections, honest riffs and raw memories that spark unexpected clarity. Through the lens of emotional alchemy, relational truth, and human design, you may find your own story between the lines.
This is a space for the bold, the brave, the sensitive, the neurodivergent, the seekers, and the silent strugglers. Whether you're an artist, a coach, a misfit, or a quiet rebel trying to feel more at home in your skin…
The Soul Mechanic Diaries reminds you that you're not broken. You’re being recalibrated and re-ignited in these unprecedented times.
Come as you are. Mask off. Armour down. Heart Open.
Here, your sensitivity is your superpower, your wounds are welcome, and your unfolding is your revolution.
Ryan: Okay, here we are. It's Friday, so as we say in the hood, "Woza Friday". People get very happy when Friday, comes up. Although I'm not sure about the two people I'm talking to today. So Rudi and Thabang, do you guys even have a Friday? 'Cause it sounds like you are running the clock hard to make magic happen.
So please, let's dive straight in. Could we start with who you guys are and what you are about to unleash into the world, especially into the world of tourism and hospitality? Let's start with Rudi, since you're on my left.
Rudi: Okay. I feel very honored. Ryan
Full disclosure, I look back at this journey that started on the 24th of June. Thabang and myself went on this wild journey to demo software that could connect the tourism world in Africa with time zones across the globe. And the major brick wall that we ran into was event software that would open the doors twenty-four/seven, [00:01:00] and we didn't want that.
So we brought to the market Africa's virtual pop-up tourism village in travel. And I am deeply proud of the work that Thabang has done alongside myself and our small group of volunteers since the 29th of June when we launched publicly to the world, making a video... Adele, who supplies our PR, with a cat walking behind us and hadedas making noise.
And I'm just astounded if I look at all the work that's happened. And Ryan, that additional layer that you brought into the space- Mm-hmm. Yeah ... I cannot begin to describe how it frightened us initially because you said, "You cannot be working twenty-four/seven." Look, we're still working twenty-four/seven-
but it's a different twenty-four/seven.
Thabang: Yeah.
Rudi: Putting in the hard work, bringing our virtual assistant Gogo to life, that was born from the last [00:02:00] sentence of our new tourism village's terms and conditions: "Treat everybody as you would want your grandmother to be treated." And then when AI couldn't get us a voice, and Thabang's mother just sat and she read the script, and she helped us bring Gogo to life.
To me, I know that what we've built is not perfect. I mean, as I'm sitting here, you can probably see on my face that I'm nervous. Mm-hmm. And unfortunately, in this world, sometimes if I go to some of the big trade show floors out there, it is way more complicated.
Mm-hmm. There's no Gogo.
Thabang: Yeah.
Rudi: There's me searching before the world of AI, working through Google documents and websites. Mm-hmm. Gogo is now there to be your virtual assistant. But don't come and sit here, throw your hands up in the air and go, "Oh, it's so difficult." Life is difficult, and tourism in Africa is even more difficult-
because I've got people that turn around to me and say, "The work that you do is not brain [00:03:00] surgery." Yes, it's not, but we are playing with people's time- Mm-hmm ... the most valuable commodity in modern day life. And if someone says, "I'll trust you with your time to go onto a destination," and you don't deliver on a holiday that is spectacular It's gonna take effort to understand what goes into putting together a holiday to the remote corners of Africa that we've just done with our collaboration with Africa's DMCs.
So Ryan, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for bringing Gogo to life, for giving her a persona that's larger than life, and it comes from you. You are a larger than life guy. So I hope it answers your question. You can see that I'm sitting here slightly nervous- ... and I'm speaking honestly and truthfully because, Thabang, that's why I said switch off, switch off your phones because these messages are just popping in, and I don't know how, how to direct them.
Ryan: Amazing, and we are in and we're hot. I love it. That was such a great- Yeah ... start of the [00:04:00] conversation. So I want to just touch on a few things you just said, Rudi, because what we're talking about here is international tourism and, you know- I find it fascinating that concept of... 2026
when they say it's too complicated, whether they're talking about the process or the event that you're putting on. And as you spoke, all my mind could imagine was, like, 60 years ago when someone would have to get on a plane, maybe even a ship- Yeah ... and travel for many days to go somewhere to hopefully meet other people in a trade.
In fact, I as a musician and an entrepreneur used to do that. In 2009 was the first time. I would save up, fly all the way to Los Angeles, and go to a conference. 'Cause those days you couldn't just go to conferences in London or whatever- Mm ... as easy, or Europe. But in a room with people who had worked with Beyoncé, in a room who, you know, with producers that produced songs we grew up to.
Literally face to face saying, "You wanna learn how to be a musician in the music business? This is what you do, this [00:05:00] is what you don't do. In fact- Mm ... talk to this person." That's what we're talking about. But this is now all I need to do is book 20 minutes of my time within the next couple of weeks- Yeah
and meet someone who might be that person I need to speak to bring business into my ecosystem, and that apparently is a lot, and hard, and complicated. That is mind-boggling. Right? And Gogo, as you said, there's a digital assistant that goes, "How can I help you? Hit me with any question. Are you lost? Are you confused?
Are you trying to find someone in West Africa? Ask me and I will tell you who Around Africa has got in that region by name", and you can even go and search for them in the platform which is already built for you by these wonderful people. Mm. So that for me I think is what we're essentially talking about here.
You guys have brought something so new, like I have. 'Cause what I built is emotionally intelligent, human-like virtual assistants- Mm ... that feel like the business they represent. So people check into the business way [00:06:00] before they've taken a trip. Because they're on their sofa and they're on your website, that's when they check in.
They can feel Rudi's vibe- Mm ... and enthusiasm. They can feel Thabang's wonderful warmth, including her mother's own voice. This is what we're doing, people. So- ... onto that, like, please, Thabang, tell me about, yeah, you and your journey on this wonderful sort of escapade that we're on, and then let's just go from there.
Thabang: Wow, what a rollercoaster ride it has been. My goodness. So, you know, Rudi and I have, have been in this, um, entrepreneurship game, together since COVID, and I, I admire Rudi a lot. Um, I believe he's a visionary and a mover and shaker for our industry, and what an absolute honor to be walking this journey with him.
So, when he approached me and he was like, "Thabang, how about we do this?" I was like, "Why not give it a bash?" You know? Why not do something different [00:07:00] for, for the smaller guys as well? You know, Rudi and I are small, independent, sales representative, owners, and we know how it feels to start from the bottom.
We know how it feels not to have a budget to attend a trade show or not being accepted at a trade show, et cetera. And, Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo has been an answer for a lot of, um, smaller,companies similar to ours. So when you came into the picture, Ryan, and you- Ah. You basically told us about this magical world that you live in and what you create.
It just ... I don't know. Everything just, just fell into place, you know? When you mentioned this concept, I was like, "Is this another glorified chat box?" But no. As you say you've added a human element to it, and Gogo is, relatable. She's warm. Mm. You know, the [00:08:00] programming that you do behind actually makes the, persona so relatable.
So, congratulations for what you're doing. This is amazing. And what an amazing time to be alive because we're doing this as an in- inaugural, you know, setup. And we're doing something different, never done before. I've never heard of a trade show that has introduced someone like Gogo to a platform like this.
So I think, I think we should, we should be proud of what we've accomplished so far- Mm ... in such a short period of time. Yeah.
Ryan: Absolutely. Again, well said. So what I'd love to do is can both of you, one by one, just give me, like, your sort of- Sharp, short description of like what we're talking about here, what you guys have built, who is it for?
So if someone's out there and they're watching this and it's like, "Oh my gosh, I need to pay attention right now, this world they're building, this future they're inviting me into, that's for me." And can you also in [00:09:00] that breath talk about why these people should be interested? Because we're talking about bringing change or helping businesses.
Like what, what does that look like? 'Cause as we said, people are busy, so I'm keen on these little sound bites to go, "If you are this, this, this, this is why you should care," and go from there.
Thabang: Mm.
Ryan: So let's go again, Rudi.
Rudi: So for me, what we've created with Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo is an absolute turnkey solution for the independent hotelier that is putting their client's next move at the center of their next step.
If you've got a absolute dedicated product owner that's created a barefoot luxury eco lodge away from the hustle and bustle, not with contemporary design and glass and marble. That's one thing you see more increasingly in the big world of tourism in Cape Town. We're becoming far more known as the South of France of Africa.
Thabang: Oi.
Rudi: All the hotels are [00:10:00] starting to become representations or replications of each other. And to me, that sense of authenticity where you've got a client that is every morning delivering on that breakfast service, that is taking their guest onto a special tour into a special location, an eatery, a wine estate where there's not volumes of people.
And to me, those individual hospitality professionals that are delivering on these once in a lifetime experiences do not have the time for the airport before the airport, the taxi before the taxi, the hotel room before the hotel room, the showroom floor before the showroom floor. They are dedicated to their craft.
Where Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo says there's 20 little pop-ups you can join and dip in at your own pace, see it as a gym membership that we're giving you access to a gym room floor. But you cannot go to the gym and squash everything into 24 hours and have the most incredible [00:11:00] workout that is intense, and at the end of the day it doesn't shift the needle.
Rather go to the gym for 20 minutes a day over a period, weave it into your everyday life, still be dedicated to that guest experience that you are so passionate for, and join us on the showcase floor. And where I absolutely wanna salute the African tourism industry is the big established brands that said, "We see what you wanna do."
Mm. And they've joined us. Brands like Rovos Rail- Mm ...ENVI Lodges, Asilia Africa, Hemingways Collection. Mm. The fact that they've joined our little ensemble to me is like, wow.
Thabang: Mm.
Rudi: And that they've turned around and said, "We will sponsor a booth for an African tourism business that cannot have a seat at the table."
Mm. To me, that has shifted the needle hugely because in this world you only rise by, by raising others.
Thabang: Mm.
Rudi: And I'm, I'm so proud of what this tourism village has done virtually for each [00:12:00] other and in recognizing that I do not operate myself in a little silo. Mm. But there is an ecosystem where everybody benefits from working together.
Mm. And, and that's, that's where I feel Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo is for. Also, that travel designer that's curious, we've got a whole ensemble of the off the beaten track destinations that's joined us under the Africa's DMC pavilion. Mm. And that travel designer that's got two small children. For him or her to travel to Africa means babysitter, dog sitter, house sitter, flight, airport before the airport-
transfer before the transfer. They now don't have to do that. Mm-hmm. They can do that at an extremely affordable price point- Mm-hmm ... invest their time and their craft, and have access to something that has, in my opinion, the discussion we've got in this round robin grab-a-seat format, I haven't seen it before.
Mm-hmm. And I've been in this industry long.
Ryan: So good. So many [00:13:00] things. I love that gym analogy because that says it so well. Mm-hmm. And I want to add on top of that, 'cause as someone who works with self-development and helping people really better themselves, not just in industry and in business, but personally and in relationship, it's one of the things that I think a lot of people, forget and are really undermining, and it comes up in the themes we've talked about when people talk about things like, "I don't have time", is- Yeah
when you go to the gym and you do that intensive, it's actually not the most important part. The most important part is the space in between. It's the fact that your body and your mind get to integrate what you've done, and this is what you're mirroring when you can have a conversation with someone for 20 minutes or whatever it is, and you talk and you connect, and you leave space.
Even if it's another three days or a week before you meet someone else, you are processing that conversation and going, "Oh my gosh." Mm-hmm. It sinks in, then you have more leverage, and I think that's something we need to highlight here, is like you guys are inadvertently doing that. You're allowing people to grow bigger [00:14:00] muscles by doing less.
That's how I want to put it, using your metaphor. Yeah. Right? And the other thing that's so interesting is how when you describe that the community's coming together and the more, even in, I'm gonna say, like Gogo brings that to the table, right? The elders- Mm-hmm ... in the industry are reaching down and saying, "Hey, let's help the little guys" is amazing.
And I believe- Mm-hmm ... that to me is a testament to the energy you guys are bringing to the table, 'cause that's your ethos, that's your vision, and someone says, "I can get behind that", they wouldn't if they didn't believe in the car you're trying to move through the savanna, right? And the most important thing about what you've said as well, to end off with this, is with regards to the excitement I have because there are so many...
And I work with some independent, you know, service providers in the, in the tourism industry in southern Africa, is that there are such wonderful people out there doing amazing work who are just not visible. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. And what you've said as well is the fact that these people, once they get a bit of, an invitation to the room, to the table, to [00:15:00] the pavilion, are bringing such a different experience that is authentic and different
and I've seen some of the properties that are in your, and destinations that are in your portfolio, and I just get homesick. Oh my goodness. Some of these that- ... are like, you can go on a safari at 9:00 PM if you want with just you and your family, and you're not competing for traffic, you know, on the savanna or whatever it is, is incredible.
And kids and all sorts of things, so I'm just so excited. Like, please, Thabang, tell me about your take on that topic. Who is this for? What should they know about this whole, project?
Thabang: Mm. Well, I mean, just to add to what Rudi has mentioned, I think, I believe it's also for, you know, um- People or, like travel designers that are still new in the game, um, because we were very inspired by the fact that with the previous trade show that we attended, there were a lot of new faces that are not [00:16:00] familiar with different destinations, different places to recommend.
So, you know, Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo really offers a new platform where people can learn about different destinations and accommodation options that they wouldn't have necessarily have learnt about. So we are-- this is almost like a, um, a new academy of some sort, you know? And it's done at a very relaxed pace.
You know, there's no pressure. it's authentic. We keep it real here. So it's for those new buyers that are new or travel designers that are new to the industry that would like to learn about, you know, the different places that are available in Africa. But it's also for the new, sales representation companies or even established representation companies that are looking forward to attracting new, buyers from across the globe.
So it's a fantastic opportunity to engage with [00:17:00] people outside your comfort zone, uh, which is, you know, something unique. I'm also equally excited about Africa DMCs that's on the platform because there are some places in Africa that I've never heard about, and we have experts under that consortia, under Africa DMCs, that will be there, you know?
Um, yeah, so that's what Africa, Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo is about. Um, we're exploring Africa together and we are... There's no judgment here. it's authentic, you know? And, and it's exciting. And also are opening up, opportunities for people that don't necessarily go to trade shows because they can't afford to.
It's reasonably priced, for exhibitors, and it's completely complimentary or free for buyers. so, you know, it's something different. It's something fresh in that regard.
Ryan: Absolutely, I agree, and I love it so [00:18:00] much because what we're doing here is taking our piece of the future, and I think, I don't know why Afrofuturism came to my mind 'cause I'm interested in it.
And it's like that thing if you look at sci-fi, a lot of what we watched growing up in the '70s, '80s, Knight Rider, Star Trek, it's now here. Mm. It's insane, right? We've got Gogo, literally digital computer that we talk to and whatever, that helps us have our day be a lot more, you know, um, not just productive, but help us bring people together.
So that's one thing I will say quickly as well is the way that we want Gogo to help people is not just on the platform and understand how it works and to get them all set up, but also- Mm ... to find the people that they may not even know they need. They make... They can even say, "This is who I am. This is where we're struggling with our business.
How can this event help me?" And Gogo might say, "Oh, maybe you need a DMC in this region, and have you thought about that? And by the way, here are the people," or, "These are the people you should book into your calendar over the next few weeks." Wow. And so it's made everything feel so much more [00:19:00] just cohesive and built- Mm
from the energy of what we're doing. So what I'd like to do now is talk about people out there that go, "Oh my gosh, I'm in. Let's go."
What do they need to know? What do they do next? Like, how can they get involved, and what can they look forward to? And this time we'll go first with Thabang.
Thabang: Yeah. So if you are interested, um, you know, and you- you're in the industry, let's say you are, a sales representative like Rudi and I, all you gotta do is go onto our website.
There is a section where you can register as an exhibitor. So we have a couple of options available. Uh, we have the shared economy option. So with the shared economy option, you basically have an opportunity to have your own booth. You have an opportunity to have your own calendar where you can block out dates when you're not available, dates and times and, um, you basically get to own [00:20:00] your, your time and meet with people at your own pace.
So we have the different pop-up, days that we've highlighted there. Um, and with the shared economy, what's lovely about that is that this is where we also recommend... Well, where you recommend 10 of your, trusted buyers and that way you get to basically include your circle of trust into our village and you basically make them part of our little village because this is not about us, it's about the community.
It's about the village, you know? So that's the shared economy booth. That's only 4,700 rand. So it's not 4,700 rand every week. No, it's a once off 4,700 rand available for the five weeks that Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo is running. So guys, it's cheap, 4,700 rand to meet people around the world. Are you kidding me?
That's not even [00:21:00] a flight to Europe, you know what I mean? So, um, people need to take advantage of that. So that's the first booth option. The second booth option- So that one is 7,400 rand. But with this one, it's for a newcomer that doesn't even have buyers.
You know, you're new in the game and you're like, "Ooh, where do I start? I don't know people." So you basically get your own booth, and we basically guide you as to how to go about blocking out your diary and making appointments. But what's lovely is when you have, registered for this, you're also able to you know, select what you would like to benefit from the platform.
So, you highlight what your interests are, who you would like to meet, and this amazing platform matches you up with people of the similar interests as you. So it's quite exciting and engaging in that regard. And I will leave the rest to Rudi. [00:22:00] But those are the main two booth options, for anyone that would like to exhibit.
and we're available if you have any questions, but we believe that our website has all the necessary information. But I'll play tag team here. Ruds, do you wanna add on?
Rudi: Yes, I'm going to rephrase that-
Thabang: Mm ...
Rudi: because Ryan is, is saying the people that says, "We're ready to go. We're ready to sign up."
Thabang: Mm.
Rudi: I think for me, the, the hardest reality is, and as a business owner, they are also the challenges Mm ... are those who think, "I'm busy on the 24th of August. I can't join Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo because my calendar's already full." And I think this is where we really wanted to place the spotlight on the fact that this is something that runs over the next five weeks, where if you sign up for the final week, just that final week where we're gonna be popping up around the world, you will still derive the benefit from the platform.
You've never missed the bus [00:23:00] here. It is an opportunity for you, like Ryan said, to train those muscles- Mm ... and get the benefit of those endorphins that goes hand-in-hand with it. It's also really important to me that exhibitors that are out there should not be scared when they look at the dates and think, "I can't sit behind a computer day and night."
Mm. That's not why we've conceptualised this. Those little pop-ups pop around the world. You go into your schedule, you'll see where you can have meeting pop-ups. But to me, the absolute beauty of what we've created is the flexibility.
Thabang: Mm.
Rudi: You can go onto the attendees list, you can click Show Online Attendees, and immediately, if we look at the platform now, we've got 28 live availability attendees, tourism professionals that are on the platform.
Send them a little ping and say to them, "Let us have a village hangout like we've got now or a coffee corner hangout," and it's an opportunity to connect in real time. No one has to schedule a meeting. No one has to [00:24:00] go and schedule a Zoom link and then accept it and retry and get another, um, opportunity to connect.
There's an opportunity to just hang out in these little huddle rooms together and to me, that's the beauty of what's been created here, is the opportunity- Mm ... to have little pop-ups. So for those that are... And I'm gonna be bold, Thabang. Mm. Those that are curious, come and talk to us. Yeah. We'll give you a special visitor's access pass.
Thabang: Mm-hmm.
Rudi: And this is where my mind has been blown with- ... Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo. One of those curious visitors, um, Thabang, I haven't even shared this with you because they have a mandate-
Thabang: Mm ...
Rudi: They are not allowed to solicit business publicly but what this individual in our tourism village has done has gone and dipped through the exhibitor's list and said, "Okay, we're looking for eight individuals wanting an immersive dynamic experience unlike anything else."[00:25:00]
Now, a lot of our small players on here are not available on the big online booking platforms. So you, for instance, have a private game reserve-
Thabang: Mm ...
Rudi: where the owner is allowing you to cycle with giraffe and wildebeest and zebras. If you go to a lot of the commercial safari experiences out there to go and cycle with those wild animals, it means indemnities and permissions.
And-
Thabang: Oh ...
Rudi: booking it exclusively just is not gonna happen. And here- Mm ... we've got one of those products through Jembisa Bush Home at Around Africa. The owner got a ping from this individual, and it's almost like we've now got a, um, a virtual reality show, like spot the, the potential out there. And to me, that person would never have gone through a traditional trade room floor because they would've had to go through all these layers of compliance.
But through trust in our village, I had [00:26:00] one of the village exhibitors come to me and say, "This is one of my best connections, my most valued connections."
Thabang: Mm.
Rudi: But they are super influential in that little network. Mm. And to me, this is where the beauty of Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo really came to light.
Because if we went through the bog standard, "Sorry, you don't meet the following compliance. Sorry-" Mm. "... your business is still new," and I'm again going to say this boldly, someone like Teena that's part of our volunteers corp, her business is new. Mm. So she's helping us build profiles after hours- Yeah ... and it allows her to have a presence, and she's doing it- Mm
with such poise and grace and professionalism. Mm. There's a lady on our platform called Jolene Finn. She's launched something called Authentic South Africa. She's gonna be streaming a little recording that she's doing for us on our tourism stories event feed, and I'm so proud of the work [00:27:00] that Jolene's done because she's taken that leap of entrepreneurship.
Mm. And when I spoke to her just before this meeting, you could just feel the excitement. She's been given a platform. She has a voice. Mm. Yeah.
Thabang: Um,
Rudi: Angus Begg one of the celebrated journalists in our land- Mm-hmm ... who left one of our first community tourism shout-outs- Wow ... creating a voice for a small business that does cycle tours in Langa.
Mm. And I think the problem that we've got is so many of these small guys doesn't have all the, the certifications and accreditations that- Mm ... big businesses need. They just- Yeah ... do what they do with love and dedication. And for them to move the needle, how do you do it if- Mm ... their every day just consists out of being dedicated?
Mm. And that's why Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo has thrown the doors open wide, And our take on it is, if you don't wanna meet with him- ... don't, don't accept the meeting. Then don't.
Thabang: [00:28:00] Exactly.
Rudi: That is totally within your power to say, "I do not accept this meeting," and move on.
Thabang: Mm. Mm.
Rudi: But if you are curious, none of us has got the time to go and sift through who's new, who's emerging... And I'm, I'm gonna use this as an example.
Thabang: Mm-hmm.
Rudi: And she will forgive me. One of our mentors in our industry, and I'm gonna say this, this boldly- Adele Wise, when I met her the first time 30 years ago, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, I walked through her office.
And because she was the matriarch in that business-
Thabang: Mm ...
Rudi: a lot of the big tourism businesses walked through her door, and they had the Stanley Cup as a gift and the bottle of reserved red wine as a gift. And Adele said she always felt so special but in the corner of her business was her new intern, [00:29:00] which a lot of the big brands did not take note of.
Thabang: Mm.
Rudi: And she said to this day, she remembers how she felt when someone arrived with a special gift and there was nothing for her.
Thabang: Mm.
Rudi: Today, that young individual is one of the most influential product managers who to this day kicks doors open for me because- Mm ... she remembered how I made her feel- Mm ... when she was still an intern.
And I will always be proud of that relationship that has been nurtured over years.
Thabang: Mm.
Rudi: And whoever is not significant today will be significant in 20 years if they're dedicated to their craft. Absolutely. Never discard someone that today cannot open- Mm ... the big grand ballroom doors for you-
Thabang: Yeah ...
Rudi: because they will grow up at some point- Mm
and they will remember that you chose to ignore them, and that to me is what is so significant. And I'm not saying this with grand [00:30:00] joys and... I have been so incredibly privileged throughout my career to have- Mm ... been given opportunities. In my 40s, I was going on sales trips through some of the most celebrated European cities.
I remembered as a child that grew up in a household where no one flew overseas, and for me to go overseas and do sales calls for the Eiffel Tower in my backdrop- Mm. It
Thabang: was a big
Rudi: deal. It felt like I was... It felt like I was having the gap y- the gap year all the- Mm ... all the, like, privileged kids were having in their 20s.
I was having that in my 40s. Mm. And I, I always stand in awe getting onto my first European train trip and, and someone serves you a meal and you're like, "Wow, look at this. The train's going at 800 kilometers an hour." If you cannot have a sense of appreciation for that, then- Mm
then something's wrong. And I will, again, tour operators, someone like André Thomas, where on my- Mm ... first trip to [00:31:00] Europe, I said to my employer at the time, "Give me more time." So I went to Europe for eight weeks, but I didn't have the budget to extend that trip for eight weeks. So someone like André let me sleep on his couch and took me seeing, rented a car, off we went.
I mean, those memories I can never put a price tag on. And it's because- Mm ... of these people in our tourism industry that opens their doors that Thabang and myself wanted to open these doors- Mm ... because they need to be opened
Thabang: Hmm. Oh, Rudi, that is so special.
Ryan: You've
just opened more than doors. Love. That's like such a heartwarming sharing.
Ah, so good. So good. So good. Yeah. And s- I really ... I'm just privileged to have met you guys, I really feel, and shout out to Kirsty Alexander, 'cause she's in the industry, and she said, "You guys- Oh ... need to meet." And I've been- Oh ... you know, working with her on the ground as well, and that's my point, and I think that's what we're coming round to here, is like the industry's about the people [00:32:00] in it.
And to have people who ... What you've just said Rudi explained what I believe is the heart of hospitality, is like- Absolutely ... you're welcoming spirits and souls into your village, and it's not about whose and what's. It's like you don't know who pe- Mm ... And I ... That's one, one of my biggest things, to be honest, is like I really move through the world knowing that everybody's a gem, and I'm about uncovering those gems.
Mm. So we live in a world- Oh ... where you don't know who you're talking to. And a lot of the wealthy or, you know, very well-off people are ... don't want to be seen, so you might be surprised sometimes how when you treat people differently ... I mean, I remember in Victoria Falls, where I like to stay in Zimbabwe, a guy from New York, who looked just like one of the locals went back completely mind-boggled,
Like, that's not hospitality. We need to meet people- Mm ... where they're at, and that's what I love about the Digital Concierge approach and the Gogos in the world that I'm building, is like that piece of technology is giving the Rudi and Thabang treatment to every single person who speaks to it, no [00:33:00] matter who they are, what their bank account looks like, and what they drive.
And that's what I want to bring to our industry. Mm. It's ... That's what is hospitality. That is what African optimism and inclusion and ubuntu is. So I just would love- Yeah ... to say thank you, guys, so much for this conversation and for this project. We're just getting started. And anything- ... that you would like to end off with that you want people to know about or anything from your heart?
There's no agenda as to what it should be, but just, yeah, let's see what comes up, but I'd love to just thank you guys so much, and anything you think we should include while people listen back.
Thabang: Wow
Rudi: Miss Rapotu, do you want to go?
Thabang: Wow. Um, you know, I'm a woman of, little words. so for me, Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo is our way... It's almost like, our gift to, the tourism industry. So as Rudi mentioned, you know, we are where we are today because of the opportunities that we've been afforded by other people.
... and [00:34:00] it's been such a, such an honor and privilege to, to walk this journey with all the diff- I'm getting a bit teary-eyed, but I shall breathe. But it's our way. It's, it's almost like, um, a love letter to the tourism industry to thank them for how far we've come, you know? And, whoof. Yeah, people matter.
Ryan: Wow.
Thabang: This village is for everyone that doesn't have a voice, people that want to learn about this industry at an affordable price with the best technology. As authentic as it gets. Yeah, and to make it feel like a community, like a village, like home. It's a digital village
With love from Thabang and Rudi and this amazing team that we have. That's it. [00:35:00]
Rudi: Shoh
Thabang: Yeah ...
Rudi: Thabang, how do you, how do you add something to that? But from my end, we wouldn't be where we are today. A: Thabang, I will celebrate you from the rooftops. You work your fingers to the bone. I see that every night.
People don't fully appreciate you being based in Johannesburg in the Highveld with the temperatures where it is, and I see you 3:00 at night with your mittens and your mussie, and we work. And Adele that believed in us, and she was willing to put her name and her stamp onto this, and she opened doors for us that no one in this industry could open doors.
A feature on VoyagesAfriq, Tourism Update, VoyaPress. How do you say thank you to that? Tracey, that just came on board- Yeah ... and [00:36:00] started helping us with the accounts behind the scenes. How do you say thank you to that? Teena and this is maybe gonna be something different, but who came and who said. "I've driven here and I know I've been sent to you.
And I've seen when you shuffle with your little, your little teaspoon, it makes a difference when everyone else brings their spades and we start shuffling together."
Thabang: Yeah. Yeah.
Rudi: And T’Neal, this 23-year-old South African youth-
Thabang: Mm ...
Rudi: more than double my age- ... that just... When we said to her. "T’Neal, give us a, a video of how you see Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo playing out," and she sat in Loom.
And the way she spoke, it's like she had, she was in our heads, and I just wanted to go. "T’Neal, if that's the youth in South Africa today- "That's the
Ryan: youth. Yeah "...
Rudi: [00:37:00] we are alive with possibility," and how she's just gone and said we're gonna make this happen. Yeah. And Roxy you've listened to this craziness with Gerhard from Boompow, and you came.
Thabang: Mm.
Rudi: And you've built a website that one of the biggest tourism brands in the industry had gone back to Roxy and said. "We want a website like Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo." Yeah. And I just sat there and I went-
Thabang: Yeah ... "
Rudi: Are you serious?" Like, "Where does this come from?"
Uh- Yeah ... how can something that we've built in three weeks' time be recognized by someone else? Like- Mm ... this do- this doesn't make sense. And Paul from Wetu Who just said. "Guys, what do you need? Let's help you. We believe in this." And, and you sit there and you're just speechless. Jason from S.A. Airlink [00:38:00] who signed up.
Jarat Tours- Yeah ... you signed on the dotted line. Sandy Pollard. It's like we all interwoven. Thabang used to work with Sandy when she was at the Cape Grace. Now Sandy's with Jarat. Richard Hime that, that is taking that Jarat business onto the next level. And they, they trust us with a headline sponsorship.
And you sit there and you go, "Where, where do these tourism professionals come from?" Yeah. Yet they are willing to invest in helping us take the next step forward when it's daunting and we're doing it afraid and we're doing it messy. And, you know, we've had some big brand that signed up with us and then they turned around and said. "Ah, you know, life is tricky."
Um- No ... "We'll look at it. We'll come next year." And Thabang just says. "Rudi, it's okay. If we're gonna love each other, then it's okay. They'll come back. [00:39:00] And if they don't come back, some others will come." And she's been right. So out of disappointment grows something beautiful. And would I have wanted this easier?
No. Would I have wanted it better? It's perfect as it is, and the doors are opening on Monday, and it is going to be Kigali in a marketplace- ... where we will have Gogos and we will have brothers and sisters, and we'll have that- Yeah ... high-end tourist with a fancy air-conditioned vehicle together with the one on a tuk-tuk and a bicycle- Mm
and the one doing a walking tour, and the one that's with a historian, and the one that's willing to eat street food, and the one that has got dietary requirements that runs out from here to the back of the door. And we are going to go into this hot melting pot of African tourism, and we are going- Mm ... to try and accommodate all the flavours.
And together- Mm ... we are gonna [00:40:00] sit at the same table, and I can see us starting to drink each other's beer and each other's wine- Mm ... and each other's whiskey. And we will have palates that will be refined and palates that will be exploring, and it'll just gonna be something unlike anything else. So thank you for trusting us.
Thabang: Thank you. Shoh.
Ryan: Beautiful.
Rudi: Yoh, what a conversation, right?
Ryan: Beautifully said. Now, now you guys experience why I call myself the soul mechanic. That's the real work. Yeah, sure. We go deep. We want to just... 'Cause that's what these Digital Concierges are about. It's, it's we want to show people the soul of the business- Mm
and feel the soul of the business. And the more you guys talk and the more you guys do what you do, that's what people understand. They go. "Oh, I don't know who I'm dealing with. I feel who I'm dealing with." And that cannot be replicated. Mm-hmm. So really a big well done to both of you and to the team and the wonderful community you've already named by name because this is the future and it has [00:41:00] been the past.
It has always been a togetherness. So well done for taking your, you know, own- roles in the matter because one thing I always say is when someone has a problem that they have in life, it's like why not be the one to solve it and solve it with people around you 'cause then you solve it for everybody else.
So that for me is the village mentality and thanks again to both of you for this and I'm really looking forward to next week as we open the doors as Rudi has said. And yeah, let's send a wonderful energy out there to everybody. As you said, everyone is welcome wherever they may be, in whatever stage their lives or their businesses are, that's the whole point of the village.
Even if you're just coming through to hang out in the corner and just be a part of the vibe or you are coming through because you have intentions and particular needs or desires, it's all welcome. So we'll see you guys in the virtual village. Thank you again for taking the time and with all of that, one last African word to leave everybody [00:42:00] with. What would that be?
Thabang: Hmm. One African word.
Ryan: Or phrase.
Thabang: Sheesh.
Ryan: It can be a phrase.
Thabang: Hmm.
No, I think, um, Ubuntu, I am because you are. Um, Botho, I am because you are. You know, this is what Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo is about. That's it from me.
Ryan: Wonderful.
Thabang: Yeah.
Rudi: Guys, I'm just gonna be true to my roots. Yeah. I grew up in Benoni, so just be lekker because
Thabang: it's gonna be lekker. It's
Ryan: gonna be lekker, man.
So good. Both are so good, and both of these will definitely translate across and are known across the world. So thank you guys so much. You're awesome. It's been such a pleasure to come in and join you, and I, for one, am very excited. So we will see you on the other side.
Thabang: See you.
Rudi: Thank you, everybody. Bye.
Ryan: Okay. Speak soon. Bye-bye. Ciao.
[00:43:00]