Wildlife and Wine: A Mother City Tour Awaits

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The first glance you’ll have of the City of Cape Town is usually from the air.

Flying low as you come into the international airport, ahead of your Mother City tour, Table Mountain is the first attraction to catch your eye, and then, as you look closer, you’ll begin to see other famous places that are not quite as distinguishable from above.

Lion’s Head, a hiking spot that Capetonians and tourists alike flock to, Clifton Beach, Camps Bay, the V&A Waterfront, the network of busy roads, the big buildings, the colourful houses, and the windy beaches seen from your flight are a great introduction to a city that’s on everyone’s African travel bucket list.

But while a Mother City tour is certainly the best way to see the city, and her surrounds, these days, luxury travellers are yearning for so much more, which is why a tour that includes the best of Cape Town and a wildlife safari is quite possibly the most comprehensive way to see what South Africa is all about.

In this guide, we’re going to walk you through what a combination of a Mother City tour and a tour of the bushveld looks like, giving you a bit of background and helping you plan this unique experience.

Why is Cape Town known as the Mother City?

On the one side, there’s the iconic Table Mountain, one of the 7 New Natural Wonders of the World, and on the other, there’s the Atlantic Ocean.

Cape Town is surrounded by the kind of beauty that is impossible to understate or ignore.

But locals don’t call it Cape Town. Instead, they fondly refer to this Mediterranean-esque city as the Mother City.

The nickname Mother City comes from the city being the first European settlement in South Africa.

The area has also long been considered the gateway to the country, like a mother welcoming its children home, which is quite apt considering that many think Africa is the birthplace of humanity.

On a Mother City tour, travellers will usually spend some time exploring the city’s numerous historical landmarks.

Places like the Castle of Good Hope, the ever beautiful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, and Company’s Gardens, where the European settlers planted food, both to feed the settlement and to supply passing ships, can give you insight into what has made this such a popular and important city.

Cape Town is also known for having a great vibe, which is why it is such an attractive destination for locals and international travellers alike.

The cultures you’ll encounter here have contributed greatly to the city becoming what it is, and they are impossible not to fall in love with.

And much like the rest of South Africa, Cape Town also has geological importance.

The city’s surrounds are home to some of the world’s oldest wine farms, which thrive in the fertile grounds, ancient mountains and some interesting rock formations, like those of the Cederberg, a beautiful, rustic hiking spot.

The history, culture, and undeniably beautiful scenery make Cape Town the perfect starting or ending point for the most exciting South African itinerary.

Is this Tour Good for Families?

The tour we are referring to is the Safari, Wine and Mother City Tour, one of our most diverse tour packages that has been designed to take you from one side of the country to the other.

This tour includes luxurious safaris in the Timbavati, as well as a Mother City tour and time in the Cape winelands.

The rolling hills, gentle wildlife encounters, and spacious luxury lodges make our Mother City tour suitable for discerning families, while it is also the perfect getaway for solo travellers and couples.

Children and adults alike will thoroughly enjoy the guided walks through the Kruger-adjacent Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, where they can watch wildlife, including the Big 5, up close.

Cape Town’s city experiences, which include walking with the penguins at Boulders Beach and taking the most scenic drive along the Cape Peninsula, are also great fun for all kinds of travellers.

This tour also includes carefully chosen accommodation, like Kloof Street Hotel in Cape Town and Val Du Charron Wine and Leisure Estate in Paarl, where you’ll have comfort, space, and a touch of refinement that every generation will love.

What Makes this Tour so Good?

This tour is great if you are looking for a holiday that takes you to more than one place and includes wine, wildlife sightings, and so much more.

The itinerary takes place over 8 exciting days and includes Cape Town’s urban and best natural attractions alongside a full African safari experience.

It starts in Mpumalanga, at the Panorama Route, where you’ll see the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and the Three Rondavels, experiences that are as extraordinary as any safari sighting.

From there, guests head into the luxurious safari world of Timbavati, and they’ll also tour the Kruger National Park.

While in the wilderness, early morning bush walks and open-vehicle game drives will give you close-up encounters with elephants, lions, and other iconic wildlife.

And after time spent in safari country, guests arrive in the Cape for a Mother City tour that includes a Cape Town Table Mountain tour, a wander through Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, and time spent on the Cape Peninsula, photographing the cliffs and fynbos, and exploring the tranquil coves.

Combining city, vineyard, and savannah, this Mother City tour allows travellers to experience the best of South Africa without having to make the tough decisions, like which destination they have to miss out on.

What Makes South African Wine Famous?

The Cape Winelands are legendary for their unique terroir.

The sunlit valleys, fertile lands, cool, dry mountain air, and the more than 300 years of wine-making knowledge that has been passed down through the wine-making families who’ve worked these farms for generations, produce wines of remarkable finesse.

On a wine tasting tour in Cape Town, travellers can sample exquisite varietals at estates in Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch.

South African wines have a full, rustic flavour that is beloved by oenophiles the world over. They are also well-known for being of the highest quality and for being available in a huge variety.

A vineyard tour in Cape Town or one of the guided wine tours will introduce you to centuries-old winemaking traditions and contemporary techniques that have placed South African wines on the global stage.

How far is Timbavati from Cape Town?

The distance is about 1 922 km.

The journey from Cape Town to Timbavati Private Nature Reserve can be done by road or air, and it typically begins with a flight from Cape Town International Airport to Hoedspruit.

From there, it is the most stunning drive through the Lowveld savannah to Umlani Bushcamp, which is situated within the Timabvati, which covers an area of about 53 000 hectares of unspoilt bushveld, adjoining and sharing an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park.

The difference between the Cape and the bushveld in the north-east is astounding and can lead you to believe you’re no longer in the same country.

A Mother City tour will give you city sophistication, wine indulgence, and awe-inspiring wildlife.

Plan your journey today and experience South Africa the way it was meant to be seen, in style.