Living Xhosa Culture – Feature
Velile “Veza” Ndlumbini is not just a tour guide – he is a cultural ambassador for the Eastern Cape, a province known for its deep traditions, rich history, and warm hospitality. As the founder of Imonti Tours, based in East London, Veza has spent more than two decades offering tourists a closer, more personal look at life in this often-overlooked part of South Africa. Through tours that go beyond sightseeing, he gives travellers a rare opportunity to experience the heartbeat of Xhosa culture – not in museums or curated displays, but right in the villages where people live, cook, work, and celebrate life daily.
One of Veza’s most memorable offerings is the Eastern Cape Cultural Experience, a tour that takes visitors into rural Xhosa villages where tradition is still very much alive. Travellers get to live among the community, sleep in traditional mud homes, take part in daily routines, and share meals around open fires. It’s a far cry from commercial tourism. Here, guests are not treated as outsiders looking in – they’re welcomed as temporary members of the community, with all the responsibility and warmth that comes with it. From learning how to cook traditional meals to making your own beadwork with local women, this experience is a full cultural immersion that leaves a lasting impression.
The Eastern Cape, South Africa’s second-largest province, is home to a majority Xhosa-speaking population. In many parts of the region, especially the rural areas, families still maintain traditional ways of living. While urban life continues to modernise, these communities hold fast to values and practices that have been passed down through generations. It is this everyday authenticity that Veza wants visitors to witness – not as tourists ticking off destinations, but as curious people looking to understand and connect. That connection is at the heart of what Imonti Tours offers. Whether it’s helping fetch water with your host family, sitting with elders as they share stories, or joining in local customs, visitors leave with far more than photos – they leave with a piece of Eastern Cape soul.
Veza’s work has not gone unnoticed. He was recognised at the Buffalo City Metro’s Lilizela Awards, which honour excellence in the tourism sector. He also believes in continuous learning and regularly travels overseas for training, sharpening his communication and service skills to ensure that he not only represents his province well, but also creates experiences that are enriching and respectful to both guests and hosts. His other well-known tours include the Township Tour, which explores the daily life and resilience within South African townships, and the Nelson Mandela Early Childhood Tour, a personal journey through the places that shaped South Africa’s first democratic president.
What makes the Eastern Cape Cultural Experience especially meaningful is that it is built around real human connection and direct community benefit. The women who host the cooking and beadwork sessions, the families who open their homes, and the children who teach you isiXhosa words – all receive income from the programme. It’s tourism with a purpose, helping to preserve culture while creating new economic opportunities in areas where jobs are limited. It’s also a space for shared learning – where the hosts learn about the world from their visitors, just as visitors learn about Xhosa life from their hosts.
Velile “Veza” Ndlumbini understands something very important: people don’t remember facts – they remember how a place made them feel. With Imonti Tours, he has created a platform where visitors feel welcomed, informed, and inspired. His work doesn’t just promote the Eastern Cape – it protects its stories, honours its people, and offers travellers a rare chance to not just see a place, but truly feel it.
To book this once-in-a-lifetime experience or learn more, visit www.imontitours.co.za, call +27 (0)82 464 8786 or email info@imontitours.co.za
