Aquila Safari from Cape Town: Big Five game drive with lunch

Two-hour game drive through the Klein Karoo to see rescued elephants, lions, rhinos and leopards

A full-day safari tour from Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve in the Western Cape, a two-and-a-half-hour drive inland, where you ride in an open-air 4x4 to spot the Big Five and other wildlife. The reserve specializes in rescued animals, including elephants and lions saved from settlement pressures, and operates a cheetah rescue and rehabilitation centre. The day includes welcome drinks, a two-hour game drive, lunch, and time to relax by the pool or fireplace before the return journey through the Klein Karoo semi-desert.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day safari tour from Cape Town

• Depart Cape Town early morning
• Drive through Ceres fruit region
• Arrive at private game reserve
• Enjoy welcome drinks on arrival
• Take two-hour open 4x4 game drive
• See the Big Five and other wildlife
• Visit cheetah rescue and rehabilitation centre
• Have lunch under trees or in boma restaurant
• Relax by pool or fireplace
• Drive through Klein Karoo semi-desert
• Return to Cape Town via Huguenot tunnel

The experience

Aquila Game Reserve sits far enough from Cape Town that you avoid the malaria risk of northern safari regions, yet close enough for a single day trip. You depart between 6 and 9 a.m., drive through the fruit-growing Ceres region, and arrive at the reserve for welcome drinks. The core of the day is a two-hour game drive in an open-air 4x4 where you move through the landscape at the pace wildlife demands, spotting elephants, lions, rhinos, African buffalo, leopards and giraffes: many of them rescued animals the reserve has rehabilitated. The cheetah centre, founded in 2001, is part of the same operation.

After the drive, you have lunch either under the trees or in the boma-style restaurant, then time to rest by the pool in warmer months or by the fireplace in winter. The return route takes you through the Klein Karoo, a semi-desert landscape that frames the day's wildlife against the region's geography. You pass back through the Huguenot tunnel and arrive in Cape Town by 5:30 p.m. The tour runs daily, and guides speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and several other languages. Hotel pickup is included in the price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport to Cape Town.
• welcome drinks on arrival.
• two-hour game drive in an open-air 4x4.
• lunch at the reserve.
• access to the pool or fireplace during downtime.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00, 07:00 and 09:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Infant (under 5)

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Czech and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats available

Operated by Matadi Africa And Travel Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see rescued Big Five animals and a working cheetah rehabilitation centre in a single day without the travel time or malaria risk of a Kruger-style safari. The early departure and full-day structure fit a schedule that can spare seven hours, and the open-air 4x4 puts you close to the animals without requiring a multi-day commitment.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Czech, Arabic and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (under 5).

What animals will I actually see on the game drive?

Aquila Game Reserve is home to the Big Five (elephants, lions, rhinos, African buffalo and leopards) plus giraffes and other wildlife. Many of the larger animals have been rescued and rehabilitated by the reserve after habitat loss from settlement and agriculture. The reserve also operates a dedicated cheetah rescue and rehabilitation centre founded in 2001.

How long is the drive from Cape Town to the reserve?

The reserve is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Cape Town, so you depart early in the morning and return by early evening. The route takes you through the Ceres fruit-growing region on the way out and through the Klein Karoo semi-desert on the return.

Is malaria a concern at Aquila Game Reserve?

No. Because the reserve is situated in the Western Cape rather than in malaria zones further north, you do not need to take malaria precautions for this safari.

What happens between the game drive and lunch?

After the two-hour game drive, you have time to relax at the reserve. In summer months, you can rest by the pool. In winter, there is a fireplace to sit by before lunch is served.