Dlala Nje Wins Silver at Global Responsible Tourism Awards in London
Dlala Nje’s inspiring story of sustainable transformation and youth empowerment through tourism recognised on the world stage with a silver for responsible tourism at the International Centre for Responsible Tourism awards in London. We now set our sights on Cape Town.
Dlala Nje has been awarded Silver in the category of “Increasing Local Sourcing & Creating Shared Value” at the prestigious Global Responsible Tourism Awards at the World Travel Market (WTM) conference in London.
Founded in 2012, Dlala Nje began with a bold idea — to challenge the stigma surrounding Ponte and Hillbrow by inviting the world to visit our home and walk our streets, meet our people, and hear our stories. Over the years, our inner-city walking tours have grown into one of South Africa’s leading examples of responsible tourism — one that creates jobs, celebrates diversity and invests directly in the community.
Judges praised Dlala Nje’s commitment to “empowerment through storytelling” and its success in turning tourism into a platform for justice, inclusion, and shared value.
Co-founder Nickolaus Bauer, who travelled to London to accept the award, called it “a victory for Hillbrow – one of the most forgotten parts of Johannesburg.”
“We sustainably transformed Africa’s first vertical urban slum into a world famous tourism destination. Never let anybody tell you something is impossible,” Bauer said.
“When we started out people laughed at what we were trying to do. But we’ve shown the world that Hillbrow’s greatest strength is its young people — their resilience, creativity, and determination. This award belongs to them.”
Dlala Nje’s impact goes far beyond tours. Its Youth Champions Programme has supported more than 500 young people since 2012 through mentorship, excursions, and education — offering exposure and opportunity to those growing up in some of Johannesburg’s most challenging environments.
Among those whose lives have been transformed is our very own CEO Grant Ngcobo, who first walked through Dlala Nje’s doors as a teenager on its opening day in October 2012. Today, he serves as the organisation’s leader and taken Dlala Nje to the pinnacle of tourism prestige.
“This award is deeply personal,” Ngcobo said. “I started as one of the kids we aimed to help. Now I lead the team. It shows what happens when young people are trusted with responsibility and given a chance to lead.”
Looking ahead, co-founder Michal Luptak is spearheading Dlala Nje’s expansion into Cape Town, one of the world’s most competitive and saturated tourism markets — but also one in dire need of responsible, inclusive development.
“We will replicate what we did in Hillbrow — identifying local changemakers who can lead authentic experiences and ensure that tourism’s benefits flow back into the communities that need them most,” Luptak explained. “Cape Town doesn’t need more tours; it needs more purpose.”
From the streets of Hillbrow to the halls of London’s World Travel Market conference, Dlala Nje’s journey proves that tourism can be a force for good — when it tells real stories, creates real jobs, and shares real value.