Whether you’re a seasoned safari-goer or a first-time adventure seeker, there’s a Big 5 safari tour near Cape Town that’s perfect for you.
So, you’re planning a trip to Cape Town, South Africa? Well, there’s two things you have to do when visiting Africa’s Mother City. First, you have to see Table Mountain, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Second, you HAVE to experience the raw and untamed excitement of a Big 5 safari.
With the Western Cape’s top-rated Big 5 game reserves just a short drive from Cape Town’s city centre, your dream of going on on a Big 5 safari adventure is closer than you think.
Cape Town, South Africa, is one of the top international tourist destinations, and for good reason. With its stunning landscapes, vibrant art scene, rich cultural heritage, and world-class accommodation and dining, the city has something for everyone. But what really sets Cape Town apart is its proximity to some of Africa’s top game viewing experiences.
Big 5 Tourism in Cape Town is a thriving industry dedicated to conserving and promoting the South Africa’s native wildlife.
Many conservation and rescue organisations across the Cape are working tirelessly to restore the region’s native wildlife, which has suffered immense losses due to centuries of colonisation, hunting, and habitat destruction.
These efforts include breeding and rewilding programmes, habitat restoration projects, and the protection of endangered species such as the Cape leopard, black rhino, and geometric tortoise.
We had an unforgettable experience at Aquila Private Game Reserve! Travelling as a family—with our 6-month-old baby—and everything went perfectly from start to finish. The safari experience itself was absolutely magical! Seeing the Big Five in their natural habitat was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The guides were knowledgeable and passionate, making the game drives both exciting and educational.
Jami Kureemun
February 2025
A 10/10 experience! I could not recommend this safari more. Everything was perfect – the staff were the friendliest people we met in South Africa, the game drive was a dream come true (seeing so many animals) and the accommodation was comfortable and clean. If you are looking for a safari trip, book this one!
Becky Christmas
December 2024
I took my UK friend over to do her first game drive, it was a great drive into the Karoo from Cape Town. We went on amazing game drives, saw one of the best encounters with lions and saw 4 of the big 5! The leopard is scarce and very hard to see. But as for the amount of wildlife we saw it was just great. Amazing food, great staff, beautiful location, really great Spa to relax!
Marcello Aucamp
March 2023
Absolutely stunning game reserve. Service is friendly, helpful and prompt. The location is obviously very isolated which is 90% of the charm. Just be warned due to that internet connectivity could be spotty. The rooms are fairly basic, but offer everything you need. The game drive was absolutely spectacular and we got to see 4 of the big 5 and even saw 3 of the big 5 together in one photo. Overall I definitely recommend it.
April 2024
Date
My family and I had a great day-trip to Aquila. The service and support team where all very friendly and helpful with both safari guides leading the way. Of p[articular note was Cheslin, the guy that took us on our quad-bike ride. He could not have been more helpful and enthusiastic. He took photos and videos of us on the bikes, made sure we saw all the available animals up close and personal, and made us feel welcome and wanted.
DFamily
September 2024
Small game reserve, but perfect for 2 days. Our Ranger Memory was an absolute stroke of luck. You can tell that he has his knowledge of animals and nature in his blood and has not learned it by heart. The rest of the staff were also totally committed and the food was completely sufficient and tasty. If you only have a few days and don’t want to spend too much money, you should definitely go there.
Julia
May 2024
The first safari experience my wife and I have had and definitely encourages us to visit more Game Reserves. Thank you Aquila Safari for the upgrade and making our honeymoon so special.
Matthew De Villiers
February 2025
We had an amazing stay, it was everything we had hoped for and had expected. The staff were very helpful and welcoming. Our ranger was very knowledge and went out of his way to try and make sure that we saw as many of the big 5 animals that we could in our time. The food was excellent and the service was very good. We enjoyed the starry night drive, we learned so much about the southern stars that we can’t see from out part of the world.
Audrey
March 2024
Copyright© The Aquila Collection, Cape Town, South Africa. 2025.
