Safari

From Cape Town: Full-Day Big Five Safari Experience with Lunch at Aquila Game Reserve

Name: From Cape Town: Full-Day Big Five Safari Experience with Lunch at Aquila Game Reserve
Start: 2026-07-26T08:30:00
End: 2026-07-26T18:30:00
Location: Cape Town

Duration

10 hrs

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 3 days before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Transfers available

Pickup available

Meals included

Indulge in a sumptuous meal as a part of your experience

Swap a day in the city for a wildlife adventure, with a full-day visit to a nearby reserve that focuses on close animal sightings in nature.

Start your day in Cape Town as you meet your group and ride out of the city to the reserve, watching the skyline fade into wide open country.

Hotel transfers, entrance to Aquila reserve, minibus transport, an open-vehicle game drive with an English-speaking ranger, and buffet lunch are included.

Out on the reserve, scan the bush for Big Five wildlife and birdlife, hear stories about the ecosystem, and pause for photos at memorable sightings.

Entrance ticket to Aquila Big Five Game Reserve

English-speaking local expert game ranger

Buffet lunch

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned minibus

Open-vehicle game drive

TOTAL DURATION9 hours 30 minutes - 10 hours
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Van
Timeline
Map
Start point
Cape Town
Get direction
1. Aquila Game Reserve
Tickets included
7 hr
1 activity
Guided tour, Photo stop & Vehicle tour
Located in the southern Karoo, Aquila offers a chance to experience a Big Five safari without travelling deep into the bush. The reserve combines wildlife viewing with semi-arid landscapes, giving visitors a glimpse of South Africa’s conservation efforts in a convenient day trip from Cape Town.
Things to do
Guided wildlife spotting
Included in price
Buffet lunch
Included in price
End point
Cape Town
Get direction
Your ending point would be same as your start point

You can cancel these tickets up to 3 days before the experience begins and get a full refund.

101 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Jun 2026
one of the highlights of the cape town trip honestly. the drive out is beautiful once you get into the karoo landscape. on arrival lunch is served first which is a good move because you're hungry by then and it's a really good spread. the game drive after lunch was about 3 hours, our ranger was very funny and really good at spotting animals. saw everything - lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, a couple of leopard sightings in the distance. bring a hat and sunscreen, the open truck means you're in full sun
Jun 2026
came to cape town not knowing if we'd have time for a safari and so glad we made time for this. 2 hours from the hotel, lunch on arrival, then 3 hours on the game drive in an open truck. our ranger was one of those people who are just brilliant at what they do, really passionate about the animals and great at keeping 20 people engaged. we saw everything including a rhino very close to the vehicle which was pretty intense. there's a stop halfway through the drive to take a breather which is welcome
Jun 2026
this was one of the best days of the whole south africa trip. from the hotel pickup to the drop off everything was smooth. the drive through the karoo is actually beautiful, very different landscape from what you see around cape town. lunch on arrival was really good quality. game drive was around 3 hours and our ranger was fantastic, kept everyone engaged and found animals we wouldn't have spotted ourselves. saw all big five. bumpy tracks are part of the fun
Jun 2026
did this as part of a bigger cape town trip and it stood out as one of the highlights. everything is organised for you from pickup to drop off which is really easy as a visitor who doesn't know the city. drive out is 2 hours but it's a smooth coach and the landscape changes nicely. lunch first on arrival, very good spread. then the game drive - open vehicle, a bit bumpy, brilliant ranger, lots of animals. all big five spotted. highly recommend
Jun 2026
good day out, wouldn't say it's the same as a big national park safari but it's a really convenient option from cape town. we saw rhinos, elephants, hippos, zebras, lots of birds and a lion from a distance. ranger was good. the drive from cape town is about 2 hours each way - just be aware of that. lunch was a proper buffet and pretty good. open vehicle gets very hot in summer so go prepared with sunscreen and water. overall recommended

Visit Aquila Big Five Game Reserve on a guided day trip from Cape Town with an open-vehicle game drive and buffet lunch.

Getting started

Begin your day with hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Cape Town city center and nearby hotels, using round-trip transportation by air-conditioned minibus. After collection, travel from Cape Town to Aquila Big Five Game Reserve, where your entrance ticket is handled on arrival. You then meet your English-speaking local expert game ranger who outlines the day and your upcoming game safari drive in an open vehicle.

Aquila Big Five Game Reserve

What to expect

Spend your day at Aquila Big Five Game Reserve, a wildlife destination where you join a structured safari experience led by a ranger.

Features

The core of your visit is a game drive in an open vehicle through the reserve, giving you clear views across the landscape and direct exposure to the sights and sounds of the bush.

Throughout the open-vehicle game drive, your English-speaking local expert game ranger helps you spot wildlife, explains behavior, and answers questions so you understand more about what you are seeing.

During the middle of the day, sit down to a buffet lunch at the game lodge, with the option to share any dietary requirements in advance so the team can plan accordingly.

Your booking includes the entrance ticket to Aquila Big Five Game Reserve and round-trip transportation by air-conditioned minibus, with hotel pickup and drop-off from designated Cape Town CBD, Waterfront, Green Point, Sea Point, Camps Bay, and other listed hotels.

What to bring

Clothing: Dress in comfortable outdoor layers suitable for an open-vehicle game drive.

Footwear: Wear closed, comfortable walking shoes for the game reserve.

Dietary needs: Contact the operator in advance if you have any dietary requirements.

Additional information

Dietary requirements: Buffet lunch can cater to dietary needs if you inform the operator in advance.

Hotel pickup area: Hotel pickup is available only from selected Cape Town City Centre and nearby hotels.

Pickup locations: Pickup covers CBD, Waterfront, Green Point, Sea Point, and Camps Bay hotels.

Outdoor experience: The game drive takes place outdoors, so you should dress for changing weather conditions.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.