Safari from Cape Town: Big 5 Game Drive, Wine Valleys & Meals

Summary

Big 5 safari adventure near Cape Town with meals & guide

You’ll leave Cape Town early for a full-day adventure through wine valleys and dramatic mountains before reaching Aquila Game Reserve for your Big 5 safari. With local guides leading your game drive, hearty meals included, and moments to relax by the pool or bonfire after spotting wildlife up close, you’ll come home with memories that stick around longer than you expect.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I was nervous the night before our day trip to Aquila Game Reserve. Something about leaving the city behind and heading out into those wild valleys made me feel like a kid again. We left Cape Town just after sunrise, the air still chilly and the Table Mountain shadow stretching long behind us. Our driver, Sizwe, had this easy laugh that made everyone relax. He pointed out Paarl Rock as we passed — apparently it’s one of the biggest granite outcrops in the world (I’d never even heard of it). The road wound through vineyards and then into these dramatic mountain passes where the light kept shifting. I remember rolling down the window just to smell that cold, earthy air.

The drive itself felt like its own little journey. We went through this long tunnel built by Italians ages ago — Sizwe joked about how many times he’s counted every tile on his way through. After Worcester, the landscape changed again: more open, with those fynbos shrubs and grapevines everywhere. At some point I lost track of which valley we were in; they all sort of blur together but in a good way. There was this moment when we stopped for coffee and I watched a farm worker wave to us from across the road — just a small thing but it stuck with me.

Aquila Game Reserve is bigger than I expected — 4,500 hectares if you want numbers. We got welcome drinks (sweet juice) and then breakfast before piling into an open 4x4 for the game drive. Our ranger, Nomsa, had sharp eyes; she spotted rhinos before any of us did. Seeing elephants up close is something else — their skin looks almost blue-grey in that morning light. The lions were lazing under a tree, barely glancing at us. It’s quieter out there than I thought it would be; you hear birds and sometimes nothing at all except your own breath.

Afterwards there was a buffet lunch (I tried bobotie for the first time — kind of spicy-sweet) and people either lounged by the pool or sat around a bonfire depending on the weather. Someone started telling stories about their first safari and suddenly everyone was sharing little moments from their day. On the drive back to Cape Town I kept replaying that silent moment with the elephants in my head — you know when something just lingers? Anyway, if you’re thinking about a Big 5 safari from Cape Town, this one really does give you that feeling of being somewhere different for a day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Drive and Safari at Aquila Reserve

• Drive from Cape Town through wine regions
• Pass Paarl Rock and historic wine areas
• Drive through Du Toitskloof pass tunnel
• Drive through Breed River catchment area
• Drive through Hex Valley wine region
• Arrive at Aquila Game Reserve
• Enjoy welcome drinks and buffet breakfast
• Go on 3-hour Big 5 game drive
• Return for buffet lunch
• Swim or relax by pool or bonfire
• Drive back to Cape Town

Top questions

How far is Aquila Game Reserve from Cape Town?

Aquila Game Reserve is approximately 180 km from Cape Town, about two hours’ drive each way.

Is breakfast included on this Big 5 safari tour?

Yes, both breakfast and buffet lunch are included before and after your game drive at Aquila.

Do I get picked up at my hotel in Cape Town?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in this tour package.

How long is the game drive at Aquila?

The guided game drive lasts up to three hours in an open 4x4 vehicle.

Will I see all of the Big 5 animals?

The reserve is home to all Big 5 species; sightings depend on animal movement but most guests see several during their visit.

What should I bring for this safari day trip?

Bring comfortable clothes for changing weather; bottled water is provided on tour.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are allowed.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Cape Town, entry to Aquila Game Reserve with welcome drinks on arrival, both breakfast and buffet lunch before and after your three-hour guided game drive in an open 4x4 vehicle led by a qualified ranger. Bottled water is provided throughout—plus there’s time to relax by the pool or bonfire depending on season before heading back home.