When twin sisters Busi and Gugu Ngcelwane planned a birthday trip to Cape Town in November 2021, they had no idea it would spark the launch of something extraordinary: their very own adventure tourism business, Twin Venture.
During their getaway, quad biking at the Atlantis Dunes was one of the activities they were excited to try. The idea of cruising across white sand with epic views was too good to miss. But everything was fully booked.
Not letting the opportunity pass by, they returned every day that weekend until they experienced this one-of-a-kind activity. In fact, they loved it so much that they spent all their saving to buy four quad bikes to start their own adventure business. Fast forward a few years, and Twin Venture is now one of the leading women-owned tourism brands in the Mother City.
Making Moves
Starting a business from scratch in a new city meant diving headfirst into research. The twins had to learn everything: the tourism industry, operating on the dunes, and how to build a business remotely (at first, everything was handled digitally).
There were plenty of bumps in the sand: from losing (and retrieving) their first fleet of bikes, to finding trustworthy guides, learning the dune routes, and building connections with local agents, hotels, and adventure networks. They packed up their home in Johannesburg, bought a one-way ticket to Cape Town, and within weeks, they were up and running in time for the summer rush.
“It hasn’t always been easy, but we embraced every challenge as part of the adventure,” says Busi.
“As women and twins, entering a male-dominated space, we knew we had to let our work speak for itself. We’ve shown up, worked hard, and proven that we’re just as capable. One of our core mottos is: We are equal to the best.”
“We’ve had our fair share of setbacks, from bike breakdowns, tricky repairs, you name it, but each obstacle has only made us stronger,” adds Gugu.
Girl Power
Twin Venture offers 30- and 60-minute quad biking tours and sandboarding, available on its own or as a combo. For those who want to take things to the next level, they also offer skydiving experiences over Cape Town for a once-in-a-lifetime view of the city.
“We love giving people unique ways to connect with the landscape and push their limits.
“All our guests are guided by trained team members who provide a safety briefing before the ride. Our guides also help capture the experience with photos and videos, so travellers don’t have to worry about missing the moment,” says Busi.
The sisters have also figured out how to make working together… well, work. Busi runs operations and logistics, while Gugu handles marketing and represents the business at industry events and trade shows.
“Believe it or not, we disagree often,” Gugu laughs. “But we always find common ground and keep moving forward. That’s the beauty of working with someone who truly gets you.”
Giving Back
Empowerment and community are at the core of Twin Venture. As their business has grown, Busi and Gugu have created local job opportunities and built a team skilled in customer service and outdoor guiding. They also regularly distribute food packs and fresh fruit to children in nearby communities.
“It’s our way of staying connected and supporting those around us.”
Going Forward
Next up? Expansion.
The sisters have big dreams to grow Twin Venture across South Africa with new branches in top adventure destinations in the country.
“We’re just getting started. The goal is national -even global- growth. We are here to stay,” the twins add.
Contact Details
To book a tour with Twin Venture, please visit their website www.twinventure.co.za or email info@twinventure.co.za
