By Mzukona Mantshontsho
NOLU TRAVEL and TOURS is a tour operator, everything revolves around tours Eswatini and beyond.
The MTN Bushfire, Africa’s largest multicultural festival, globally infused, authentically African and proudly Eswatini happening in May, I recently spoke to Nomalungelo Nokulunga Mkhonta from NoLu Travel and Tours about her personal, professional and entrepreneurial journey thus far.
I hardly use the full second name but prefer Lunga so the name NoLu Travel and Tours comes from the first 2 letters of my first name “Nomalungelo” then the first two letters of the second name “Lunga”.
The theme for 2024 is “FIREWORKS”, representing Fire at Work. It manifests fire as action, dynamically presenting festivalgoers, partners, sponsors, and traders with the opportunity to bring their fire for sustained positive impact and legacy for the communities we live in.
Every year, MTN Bushfire presents a theme that reinforces the spirit of Bring Your Fire. So, in the spirit of Bring Your Fire, FIREWORKS is about active service and through it, we reaffirm that fireworks when we come together to be part of the solution.
Tell us about your early life to your role today
I did my primary school at Nkwalini Primary School then went to St Marks High School for my upper education. After finishing school, I went to Limkokwing University to study architecture. When my younger sister was doing form 1, I had to drop out of university so that my mother can pay for her, see, I didn’t get scholarship from the government so my mother had to pay for my fees.
After dropping out, I had to look for a job so to be able to pay for my university fees, I worked at Ngwenya Glass as a waitress for about three years then got another job at a lodge. Ngwenya Glass is a tourist attraction place; this is where I was introduced to tourism, while I was still working there, I did my tour guide course then a few years later I did my second tour guide and tour operator course.
What does your role of Managing Director mean to you?
The position of a Managing director is never one to take lightly, this position means a lot to me. Wherever I go I have to wear the jacket of NoLu Travel and Tours, even when I am off duty.
What are the most critical resources for your successful leadership?
My leadership comes from advice, I ask for advice from other business owners more especially the touring business who have been in the industry for a longer time than I have. I also read books and research about other things. Lastly, I do the work, fail then learn.
What can we expect from you going forward?
I have been in the industry for at least six years, but the company is only 4 years and going forward we intend to improve community or village tourism so that we help the community to be known and get some sort of development from the tourists coming in.
What are your words of advice for young people, particularly women to start community projects and small businesses?
Women are the strongest creatures and can persevere through anything, so starting a project as a women might not be easy, but it is possible and when you do start the project tell yourself you’re not giving up, claim yourself worth; do not ever doubt your capabilities. Lastly, say yes to challenging projects so as to learn. Two things that made me not give up was my love for tourism and I would always remember the reason why I started the business and how far I’ve come to give-up out of the blue.
What are your thoughts on Covid-19 in terms of small businesses, what measures should businesses owners to protect their businesses?
Covict-19 killed a lot of small businesses and left a lot of people jobless. A good business owner knows when he or she is helpless and knows when to ask for help. Since I am in the business that was mostly affected during this time, what I did was to go look for a job just to get me through covid. I put the business aside for a while, but I kept on making travelling packages. I never lost my dream.
What is the legacy that you would want to leave when you retire?
I want every woman in the industry not to fear going to the field. Most women prefer doing office work and let men be the tour guides and drives, I want to change that. Women are as capable to do men’s jobs as perfect as men do it.
How does your team contribute to the community?
With every itinerary that we make we make sure we include community or a township tour. These tours go around villages visiting destitute homes with the hope that the tourist will leave something for the family. When going to the family we also buy a few groceries to sometimes cook and have lunch with the family. When doing the township tour, we make sure there is food tasting, street food or traditional food that we buy from the women selling on the roads instead of going to restaurants.
What have been your highs and lows of your business career?
Being recognized not only by Eswatini Tourism board but also recognized by both South African and Mozambican Tourism Boards as tour operators, was a HIGHLIGHT!
The lows can be not getting bookings and having a lot of cancellations even on busy seasons in the country. There was a season where we suffered a lot of cancellations in a way that we carried our expenses for the next month.
When you not at work, what do you get up to, and where can people follow you or your business online?
I am a mother and thinking of other ways of bettering the business, being the founder means there is no day off and or leave from work.
Please follow us on social media on the following:
- Facebook – NoLu Travel and Tours
- Instagram – NoLu tours
- YouTube – NoLu tours
- Google Business Account – NoLu Events and Tours