“Quietly getting on with it”, is what would best describe 38-year-old passionate eco-warrior and nature-lover, Siphiwe Rakgabale, who owns and runs Tri-Eco Tours in Durban, he is also the WESSA Durban youth branch coordinator, and Green Corridors’ Litterbooms and Clean ups coordinator.
Siphiwe was one of the first nature and cultural guides mentored, trained and employed through Green Corridors ‘s sustainable development programme to empower young people in the enviro-tourism industry, with a view of them starting their own business in this sector.
Born in KwaNyuswa Pinetown but grew up in Soweto Zola 1 Johannesburg, Siphiwe’s early life was somewhat tough, as at an early age with his mother and two siblings found themselves homeless in Johannesburg. A Sotho family, the Rakgabales took his mother in and adopted the children. He was schooled at Eldorado Park then later St Paul’s, and then went to Dobsonville College to study engineering. But finances were difficult and he was unable to continue. So as a young adult, Siphiwe returned to KwaZulu-Natal to try reconnect with his Zulu family, and ended up working at the Hub in Durban’s West Street, in various departments over the years.
“I loved my jobs, and did well,” he enthuses, “But there was something missing and felt unfulfilled, and very frustrated. During my lunch breaks, I used to go for walks to the beach and loved listening to the birds, seeing the trees, the blue sky. It was here that I felt at peace.”
Feeling the pull of nature, and the natural environment, Siphiwe left and started volunteering for the Beachwood Mangrove clean-ups. Here he met former head of Green Corridors Gary Cullen, and others in the Umgeni Estuary Conservancy including Margaret Burger of WESSA. Here his passion for the planet was clearly evident, and the rest as they say is history. After working with Margaret planting trees and clearing trails for hiking and birding in the Umgeni Estuary Conservancy, he joined Green Corridors when the Green Hub (near Blue Lagoon) was formed ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Siphiwe was among the first people employed by Green Corridors and worked as an ambassador approaching companies for support. His enthusiasm and interest led him to train as a tour and nature guide through the Wilderness Leadership School. After working for Green Corridors for seven years. he left to pursue a sought-after retail position, but soon realised his heart remained in the natural environment. So in 2017 he established Tri-Eco Tours, a partnership with Bike and Saddle operating from Green Corridors offices, offering biking tours around Durban.
During his time at Green Corridors Siphiwe became interested in finding solutions for communities to clean up rivers and catchment areas and he connected with Bart Fokkens who had introduced the litter boom technology to the city. This interest led him to become a coordinator for Green Corridors’ litter boom programme.
In 2020 Siphiwe started offering bike hire, guided canoeing and bike tours for individuals and groups as well as school groups. His tours include a township vibe tour, cultural tours, a Cycle and Sip tour to Ushaka Marine World, a City Heritage Park tour, a Harbour and City Tour. Beach Cycle and a Cycle to Botanic Gardens Tour. Hard-hit by the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, Siphiwe’s business all but shut down that year.
“There were no enquiries, no leads. no bookings and no people to take out on walks, rides and trails. It was hard for all of us in tourism during the hard lockdown,” he says. “But I used the time to invest into my business and home life – I rebuilt my website, did some maintenance on my home and focused on beach clean ups and managing Green Corridors’ litter booms.”
Now that COVID restrictions have been lifted, Siphiwe’s tours are now fully operational with the necessary protocols in place.
In December 2020 Siphiwe became part of the Adopt-a-River clean- up management team. which, together with the Umgeni Estuary Conservancy collected around 1000 bags of waste in a week.
Going forward Tri-Eco Tours, is in conversation with both Safripol and Green Corridors to expand litterboom operations to the South Coast, as well as developing a bailing centre with the view to upsell waste collected. .
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I have been given to really stretch my wings in this enviro-tourism sector. I care deeply about our planet and am so pleased that I am able to now run my own business and create a sustainable living from all that I love.”
To book a cycle tour around the city ontact 031 322 6026 or 078 7264 890 Whatsapp
For advice/ support/ on recycling/ river waste etc – contact 0787264890
Siphiwe@durbangreencorridor.co.za
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