Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers: Community, Culture, and Connection
SATSA Member: Lebo's Soweto Backpackers - 1665
Website: www.sowetobackpackers.com
Integrated into the heart of Soweto, Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers offers a unique and community-driven experience for both local and international travellers. Here, guests discover the warmth of township hospitality in a place that feels less like a business and more like a home.
The Story of Lebo
Founder Lebo Malepa began his entrepreneurial journey in the early 2000s, selling crafts at the Hector Pieterson Memorial site, now a museum and one of Soweto’s most significant heritage landmarks. Watching tourists stop briefly for souvenirs and photos made him realise that township tourism was missing something vital: authenticity and connection.
Determined to change the narrative, Lebo transformed his great-grandmother’s home into a backpackers lodge where the people of Soweto could tell their stories in their own voices.
A Vibrant Traveller Hub
Over 20 years later, the seed Lebo planted has grown into a thriving travellers’ hub and a destination in its own right. Guests can choose from private en-suite rooms, simple twins and doubles, shared dormitories, or a campsite.
Experiences extend far beyond accommodation. Visitors can cycle, walk, or explore by tuk tuk, and mealtimes are an event in themselves. From traditional potjies cooked over the fire to Shisa Nyama shared under the stars, dining at Lebo’s is always accompanied by music, storytelling, and community spirit. Cooking tours with the resident chef invite guests to roll up their sleeves and explore South Africa’s food culture firsthand.
Evenings bring another layer of connection with Storytelling Nights. Around the fire, locals share their lived experiences - the hardships of the past, the challenges of the present, and their hopes for the future.
Built with the Community
Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers is not just rooted in the community; it actively builds it. The business supports greening projects, clean-ups, children’s education, and youth employment initiatives. Local entrepreneurs are prioritised when sourcing supplies, ensuring that the township economy benefits directly.
One of the clearest examples of this ethos is the transformation of a former dumpsite into a thriving community park, which is now a gathering place for yoga, music, storytelling, and social connection.
The Lebo Legacy
The passing of Lebo on Christmas Day 2021 was a heartbreaking loss, both for his team and the tourism industry. Yet his legacy continues to thrive. Team Lebo has carried his vision forward, rebuilding after the challenges of Covid-19 and reaffirming Soweto as a vibrant, must-visit destination.
As the team explains, Soweto is more than a township. It is Johannesburg’s heartbeat and South Africa’s storybook — a melting pot of communities, cultures, and histories. To truly understand the country, travellers must experience it here, where resilience and spirit shine brightest.
Team Lebo remains committed to sharing Soweto with the world, keeping alive the founder’s dream of spreading township love, hospitality, and connection.
Visit www.sowetobackpackers.com or call 011 936 3444 / 081 524 2918 (WhatsApp) for more information or to book.
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