Michael Wilcox is an all round adventurer with years of experience in the outdoor space.
His introduction to hiking and the love for nature happened at the early age of five when he started joining his father on fishing trips to the coastal regions of the Cape of Good Hope section within the Table Mountain National Park. This included hiking through the fynbos to reach fishing spots at the water’s edge. He remembers playing in the rock pools of the intertidal zones as well as catching “klip vissies” (small rock fish) there.
In later years he went on to join a swimming club, become a water polo player and a lifeguard. The aquatic activities further expanded his love for the ocean. In fact, he spent over 25 years of his life volunteering as a beach lifeguard along the False Bay coast, as well as volunteering as a crew leader on the Cape Town Helicopter Surf Rescue service.
Soon after getting married, Michael and his wife Bridget embarked on an extended backpacking venture across Europe and the Middle East. Over time the two of them have been fortunate to travel to and experience 25 different countries around the world.
It is this love for nature, the outdoors, hiking and travel that made for perfect ingredients to become a Cultural Guide, an Overnight Off Trail Mountain and Adventure Guide, and to register a Tour Operator business called Tusk Adventures & Tours.
Here are some of Michael’s achievements over the years:
Be out and be safe
Itinerary:-
Join us for a historical overview of Cape Town.
Learn about the indigenous Khoisan people and their lifestyle prior to colonisation.
We’ll touch on how and why the Cape of Good Hope came about. Going on to be the first Europeans to reach our shores. From the Portuguese to the first and second Dutch periods, to the first and second British periods, to the Apartheid era, and finally the New Democratic South Africa.
We’ll start the tour at Greenmarket Square, then move on to St. Georges Mall (which is like the Las Ramblas in Barcelona Spain).
You’ll get to learn and see how the naturally available rock was used in the construction of buildings and other features.
Since Cape Town was the first place in Southern Africa to be developed into a city, most of the old buildings were the first of its kind in the African Sub continent. Like the first, Government, hospital, church, police station, fire station, banks, cathedral, jail and many more other buildings.
We touch on the Flower Market and how it came about.
Visit the ruins of the oldest structure that was built by Europeans in Southern Africa.
See artefacts that were unearthed during the construction of modern buildings, and how first world influences can be seen in the architecture of structures and buildings as well.
The British influence is quite apparent in the streets, and even see where the reigning Queen Elizabeth II of England celebrated her 21st birthday.
We will learn about the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest building (still in use) in Southern Africa. Guests will get a sense of what life in the settlement of the Cape was like, almost 400 years ago.
The dark side of the Cape Colony has to be the system of slavery. And likewise, the dark side of South Africa has to be the system of apartheid. You’ll have an opportunity to learn more about how these practices impacted the Khoisan and the mixed race people of this region.
The influence of leaders like Nelson Mandela was able to achieve the birth of the New South Africa whereby freedom for all is possible. As a result, the country could open up to the world and this includes welcoming millions of visitors to our beautiful city year after year.
The tour finishes back at Greenmarket Square where one can enjoy refreshments at one of the many restaurants there.
Service ends
This tour is ideal for:
Visitors
Locals
School excursions
Youth groups
Clubs and organisations
Family and friends