Have you ever finished a book and felt like you’d just visited another world? At BOOKED Trips, that feeling is what we curate – unforgettable travel experiences inspired by the stories you love. Our next adventure takes you to the vibrant city of Cape Town, South Africa, guided by the captivating world of Mohale Mashigo’s “Intruders.”

But before we pack our bags (and our well-worn copies!), we sat down with Mohale Mashigo herself. As you’ll discover, Mashigo isn’t just an author – she’s a weaver of worlds, a voice that transcends the page. “Being called an author felt incomplete,” she reveals, “until I realized I am a storyteller, and I come from a family of storytellers.”

This passion for narrative is the lifeblood of BOOKED Trips. We believe the stories we consume shape our world. Mohale’s words echo this beautifully: “My storytelling does not only live on the page.” In this interview, Mohale delves into her creative journey, the evolution of her writing, and the stories that keep her up at night. We’ll also discover her personal Cape Town recommendations – her favorite hikes, hidden restaurant gems, and the perfect weekend itinerary (complete with wine tasting!).

Please introduce yourself. What parts of your identity and the way you show up in the world feel most important for people to know?

I am Mohale Mashigo. A huge part of my identity is being a storyteller. I didn’t always know why being called an author felt incomplete until I realised that I am a storyteller and I come from a family of storytellers.

Depending on what the story needs, I pick the “voice”. So, will a story best be told using music or will it require moving bodies and voices (screenplay)? These are all things I consider when a story comes to me. It is important for people to know that my storytelling does not only live on the page.

Tell us a little bit about your work and how it has evolved, shifted, or deepened since the publication of your short story collection “Intruders.”

With regards to writing, my work has evolved a lot since I first dared to write something (for real) in 2006. Back then I didn’t know what I was doing; which is why my first novel (The Yearning) took ten years from inception to being published. Since then I have written comics, short stories, screenplays, children’s books etc. I feel more comfortable in my (writer) skin.

What has your attention right now personally and professionally? What compels you and keeps you up at night?

Professionally, I am the Narrative Director of a game dev studio (working on a not yet announced game) and that is taking up the bulk of my time during the day. In the early hours of the morning and late at night, I’m being kept awake by a story that is shaping up to be my next novel.

Describe your perfect weekend in Cape Town. What are your favorite things to eat, see, and do?

Perfect weekend: waking up early to go to the beach or on a hike with my dog. Cape Town has beautiful beaches and hiking trails. If my friends are up for it, we will either spend time wine tasting (in Franschoek or Constantia) in the afternoon and be back home in time for supper. we don’t do that a lot (because weekends are for errands ha ha) so it’ll probably be sundowners followed by dinner at one of Cape Town’s many restaurants. This city never disappoints when it comes to food. Ask me for a recommendation.

At BOOKED Trips we bring travelers from the pages of some of our favorite books to the places they’re set in. What’s a book that transports you to a specific place in the world that you’d recommend to others?

That’s a tough one. Right now I’m reading Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez and I really wanna go anywhere her mind takes me. In fact I would love to meet the many places Mariana calls up in her stories. I’m drawn to the ordinary and the darkness of her mind. Guess that’s not really a great travel recommendation lol. Shubnum Khan’s The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years is a gorgeous novel and it takes place on the coast of South Africa. I reckon I would visit the places (real or fictional) described in that book because I love her mind.

Ready to experience Cape Town, South Africa like never before? Follow along our on April 18-25, 2024 Cape Town, South Africa trip on Instagram. We will also release the dates for our 2025 trip soon so make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter to be the first to know when trip spots become available!

Looking for a 2024 experience? There’s one more spot available for our BOOKED Trips Accra, Ghana experience around Yaa Gyasi’s book “Homegoing”