Cath joined our Cape Fusion Tours family in 2018.  I was so happy to meet Cath – her interests collided with all of ours – travel, food, wine, people, stories, a champion of small artisan businesses (she is one!).    After one cup of coffee … it was decided that she would join our guiding family.  Fate was definitely connecting us.   Today Cath is an incredible part of our team.   Her passion for the city and its people shines through.    She has a wonderful sense of humour and it is clear that she loves working as a food and wine tour guide!

Here is Cath’s Story:

I grew up on a farm in KwaZulu Natal, where school holidays were spent in the fields, harvesting fruit and vegetables, then grading and packing them for the market. Once my work was done, I was off fishing in the dams, or raiding the wild bees’ hives in the blue gum plantations.

I was always fascinated by winemaking, and so after completing school, I left home and set off to the Cape to spend time in the wine cellars of Stellenbosch, moving on to work in a small boutique hotel in charge of purchasing for their wine cellar.

The travel bug bit, and off I went backpacking around Europe, working in the French Alps, learning to snowboard and drink French wine! A season working on the yachts on the Riviera followed. I particularly loved shopping at the farmers’ markets for fresh produce, chatting to the rose-growers in Antibes to the fishermen in St Tropez taught me more than any book, and here I first realised the power of building human connections through stories.

On my return to South Africa, I decided to make my home in Cape Town as this was the place most likely to serve a decent cup of coffee… a theory I’ve been willingly testing since 1996!

I have a passion for old trades, and for oysters, and so jumped at the chance to open an oyster stall at the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in 2006. Since then, as owner of Mother Shucker Oysters I’ve shucked tens of thousands of plump West Coast oysters.  You can still find me there every Saturday. Many of my international customers return to visit and enjoy my oysters year after year!

Meeting Pam was fate, I believe. I am excited to join her team and be given the opportunity to share my curiosity and passion for connecting with visitors to our city. Eating food with people, and hearing about their lives as we visit Cape Town’s unique neighbourhoods and sights will open a window on the unforgettable stories and history of our Mother City!

My mission is to make a real contribution to your vacation, to help make happy memories that you will take with you when you say farewell.

Follow me on Instagram @mothershucker007