Meet the 2026 Bikes ’n Wines Interns: The Next Generation of Guides

Building on What Came Before

• Our internship program has been running since 2023, giving aspiring guides the opportunity to gain practical experience and become part of a working tourism environment.
  
  Since the program began, 18 interns have come through our training program, with each group bringing something different to the team and helping us continue to develop the program.
  
  The 2025 intake showed what that journey can lead to. All four interns successfully graduated, and all four went on to join our team. We also invested in their professional guiding qualifications, helping them take the next step from interns into qualified guides.
  
  We documented their journey in Meet the New Faces of Bikes ‘n Wines and later in our internship catch up, as they gained confidence and took on more responsibility as guides.
  
  We also looked at the bigger picture in Building Tourism Careers in Cape Town & the Winelands, and how practical training, qualification and employment can come together to create real career opportunities.
  
  The program is part of our wider commitment at Cape Adventure Brands of developing people within the tourism industry. But for the next few months, these five interns will be right here with us at Bikes ’n Wines, learning the ropes and getting stuck into the day-to-day reality of guiding.

Meet the 2026 Interns

• Chulumanco “Asi”
  Chulumanco, known as Asi, joins us from Lanquedoc in the Western Cape with a strong background in hospitality, tourism and guest experiences.
  
  Before joining the internship, Asi worked as a Senior Experience Guide at Boschendal Wine Estate, where he worked with guests from South Africa and around the world, facilitating wine, outdoor and lifestyle experiences.
  
  He now wants to take that experience further by developing his skills in cycling, hiking and adventure guiding.
  
  “I’m really looking forward to expanding my experience beyond hospitality and developing my skills in cycling, hiking and adventure guiding.”
  
  For Asi, one of the best things about guiding is being outdoors and sharing the Cape with people who may be experiencing it for the first time.
  
  From the mountains and vineyards to the coastline, there is plenty to explore, and plenty to learn.
  
  He’s also bringing his existing hospitality experience and a strong interest in guest interaction to the program.
  
  “I enjoy the interaction with guests and being able to turn an activity into a meaningful experience by sharing stories, knowledge and a genuine enthusiasm for the destination.”
  
  With existing guiding and tourism qualifications behind him, Asi already has a strong foundation. Now he gets to add cycling and adventure guiding to the mix.
  
  Jaydee Adams
  Stellenbosch local Jaydee Adams comes into the program with a pretty interesting mix of experience.
  
  He has played football his whole life and says sport played a big role in developing his love of being outdoors and connecting with people from different backgrounds.
  
  Jaydee holds a Higher Certificate in Economic Development from UWC and is also a qualified coded welder.
  
  For him, guiding brings together his love of the outdoors with something else he really enjoys - meeting people and learning from them.
  
  “I love learning and experiencing new people and actually helping them experience this beautiful country of ours would be great.”
  
  He also sees being outdoors as an opportunity to switch off from everyday life and be completely present.
  
  “Being outdoors forces you to be in the moment. You get to experience everything fully with your body, mind and soul.”
  
  That ability to stay present will no doubt come in handy when he’s out on tour.
  
  Dwayne George
  Dwayne is another Stellenbosch local joining the 2026 group.
  
  Friendly, positive and enthusiastic, Dwayne has spent the past nine years playing soccer and has also worked part-time at Bootlegger for almost two years.
  
  His interest in guiding comes from a love of being active, exploring new places and meeting new people.
  
  Now, he’s looking forward to learning more about the tourism industry and getting hands-on experience in guiding.
  
  “I’m most looking forward to learning more about the tourism and guiding industry, learning new skills and experiences.”
  
  For Dwayne, being outdoors is all about the sense of adventure and freedom that comes with exploring Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the surrounding areas.
  
  And he already knows what he wants to bring to the guest experience:
  “I want to bring positive energy, friendliness and enthusiasm to our guests.”
  
  We like the sound of that.
  
  Lizalise Badi Nohlaka
  Lizalise joins us from Stellenbosch with a strong formal background in tourism and guiding.
  
  He completed the PYDA Tourism Practitioner Course in 2025, including a Higher Certificate in Tourism Management (NQF Level 5) through PYDA in partnership with MANCOSA.
  
  He has also completed his Tour Guide qualification through SA Outdoor Academy and holds WSET Level 2 in Wines.
  
  Lizalise has already gained experience assisting with cycling tours, vineyard hikes and wine-farm experiences. Those experiences confirmed something for him: guiding is a career he genuinely wants to pursue.
  
  He has a particular passion for history and storytelling.
  
  “One of the things I enjoy most about guiding is being able to bring history to life through storytelling.”
  
  During the internship, he’s keen to build on that knowledge by learning more about the natural environment, including the plants, landscapes, wildlife and ecosystems of the Western Cape.
  
  For Lizalise, a great guide isn't just someone who knows the route.
  
  “For me, guiding is not only about showing people a destination; it is about helping them understand its history, culture, people and natural environment.”
  
  He’s looking forward to developing his cycling and adventure guiding skills, learning more about wine and the different wine regions, and becoming even more confident when working with guests.
  
  Tsebo Ronald Lethoba
  Tsebo joins us with a background in Tourism Management and practical industry experience from his time as a Tourism Assistant at Visit Stellenbosch.
  
  That experience gave him an interest in working directly with visitors, sharing local knowledge and creating memorable experiences.
  
  He holds a Higher Certificate in Tourism Management, Advanced Level 3 First Aid and is qualified as a Mountain Walking Limited Scope Guide through the SA Outdoor Academy.
  
  For Tsebo, adventure tourism brings together several things he enjoys: being outdoors, exploring new places, meeting people and working in tourism.
  
  During the internship, he’s particularly looking forward to gaining more practical experience and developing his skills in safety, guest management and professional guiding.
  
  “I’m also excited to learn from the team, challenge myself and grow in confidence as a guide.”

More Than Learning the Routes

• There’s obviously a lot to learn when you’re starting out as a guide.
  
  Our interns will spend time learning the routes, preparing bikes, assisting with tours and developing their knowledge of the places we visit.
  
  But being a good guide goes well beyond knowing where to turn.
  
  Over the next six months, they’ll also learn how to read a group, adapt to different personalities, communicate naturally, deal with unexpected situations and make guests feel genuinely welcome.
  
  They’ll be learning from the experienced guides around them, but they’ll also bring their own backgrounds and perspectives into the team.
  
  That’s one of the things we enjoy most about the internship program - watching different personalities develop their own style of guiding.

From Internship to Qualification and Employment

• The long-term aim of the program is to create a genuine pathway into tourism employment.
  
  The internship provides paid, hands-on training in a working tourism environment. Interns develop practical skills, gain experience and are assessed throughout the programme.
  
  For those who successfully complete the program and meet the necessary requirements, Cape Adventure Brands can then invest in their professional guiding qualifications.
  
  We’ve already seen what this can lead to.
  
  Of the four interns who completed the 2025 program, all four went on to join our team, alongside our investment in their professional guiding qualifications.
  
  That’s what makes the program about more than simply spending six months learning the ropes. It can be the beginning of a much longer journey with Bikes ’n Wines.

Creating Opportunities Through Tourism

• We’re proud of the fact that our internship program has grown over the years.
  
  Since 2023, 18 people have come through the program, each with their own reasons for wanting to become a guide and their own path to follow.
  
  Some arrive with tourism qualifications. Others bring experience from hospitality, sport or completely different industries.
  
  What they get here is the chance to put that experience into practice, learn new skills and see where a career in adventure tourism can take them.
  
  As Bikes ’n Wines continues to grow, we want the people who join our team to grow with us.

The Journey Starts Here

• For Asi, Jaydee, Dwayne, Lizalise and Tsebo, the real journey is only just beginning.
  
  There will be plenty to learn, new places to explore, early mornings, challenging days and hopefully plenty of good stories along the way.
  
  Over the coming months, we'll be following their progress as they move from the training environment onto tours, build their confidence and develop their own approach to guiding.
  
  And if the previous groups are anything to go by, we’re looking forward to seeing where they end up.
  
  Welcome to the team, guys. We’re glad to have you.