Phajas Travel and Tour reaches new heights
Pfariso Mphadzha's love for exploring nature and climbing mountains got the better of him and couldn't control it.
LIMPOPO – Pfariso Mphadzha is a well-known, self-taught hiking and tour guide from Khalavha village.
Growing up in the village as a young boy, he always dreamed of exploring the beautiful mountains that surround the Nzhelele valley.
Although his parents forbade him because of the dangerous wild animals in the mountains, Pfariso silently held on to his heart’s desire, and today he gets to live his dream to the fullest.
He officially started his own tour-guiding business, Phajas Travel and Tour, in February 2021.
“My love for exploring nature and climbing mountains got the better of me. I couldn’t control it. But then I always had that fear that was instilled by my parents that a mountain is a dangerous place. That’s when I decided to recruit others who enjoy being out in nature like me, and before I knew it, Phajas Travel and Tour was born,” said Mphadzha.
His business has taken him to many beautiful places, including the Tshirovha Waterfall, the sacred Thathe Vondo Forest, Mount Azimbo Lodge (a hiking site outside Louis Trichardt), the Dzimauli Waterfalls, Tshapasha Waterfalls outside Thohoyandou, and other hiking and camping spots around Vhembe.
He said that when he first started, he never expected that so many people would support him.
“I grew up in a community where people go to the mountains to fetch wood. I never thought that they would understand that you can also go to the mountains to connect with nature or just to enjoy the beautiful views. I was surprised at how many people I have recruited,” he said.
He said that being born and raised in Vhembe was a privilege for him. “I don’t have to travel far to see the beauty of nature. We are surrounded by so many beautiful places that are also rich in history. It is a blessing to be from this area,” he explains.
