When Ziintsikelelo Nconjana first started working at Lebo's Soweto Backpackers, which also offers biking tours through Soweto, she couldn't ride a bike.
The 26-year-old has a diploma in civil engineering but couldn't find work in her field. She started out as a receptionist at the hostel, but was quickly bored.
A colleague noticed and arranged for her to try out leading walking tours.
One year on, now proficient on the pedals, she is having the time of her life - mainly because she so loves this place of her birth and sharing its stories.
She says people visit from all over the world - but hardly any South Africans. Why?
"There is a misconception about Soweto," she says. "People are afraid to come but it's not what they think it is.
"This is not slum tourism. I don't know what a slum is. We have areas that need development but we are constantly upgrading. We just need to give it time."
She points out that some of SA's wealthiest stars choose to stay here when they could live anywhere. In this place, rich and poor, ubuntu is alive and well. "We are a group of hybrids and we make it work."She loves to take her camera to informal settlements to shoot portraits. "People there are always happy, with the most beautiful faces."
Ultimately, Soweto has a spirit like nowhere else because it is genuine.
"Imagine a person who impresses you by preparing themselves: they dress up, they learn fancy quotes, they try. Now imagine a person who impresses you just by being themselves - that's Soweto."..