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Guide · The reserve
Aquila game reserve: the Big Five near Touws River
The Aquila game reserve is the nearest big-animal reserve to Cape Town and the one most day trips visit. Here is what the place is, what you can see and how a visit is run.
Check availabilityfrom $230 · cancel at no cost
Editorial team, cape-town-safari.comUpdated October 26, 2026read in 7 minutes42 sources
At a glance
What kind of place the reserve is
The reserve describes itself as a 10,000-hectare wildlife conservancy home to the Big 5, set between the Langeberg and the Outeniqua Mountains in the Western Cape.3 That is how big the Aquila reserve is: a broad valley of Karoo scrub and rocky slopes, large enough to fill a drive of a few hours. The landscape is dry and open, with low bushes and red earth rather than tall grass.
Its history explains the setting. The reserve traces its origins to 1999, when its owner Searl Derman set out to bring large wildlife back to the Western Cape.8 It says it reintroduced the Big 5 to the province and calls itself the first official Big 5 reserve close to Cape Town.9 That matters because, by the reserve's own account, the Big 5 had all but disappeared from the region around 250 years ago.10
Today the place is part safari, part resort. There is a lodge with a 35-metre infinity pool and a poolside bar.11 The reserve was named continent winner for Africa's luxury private game reserve at the 2024 World Luxury Awards.12 Day visitors may use the outdoor pools and the communal lodge areas, so a swimsuit is worth packing even on a day trip.13
The site tour
A day from your hotel to the reserve and back
-
Around 8:20
Pickup in Cape Town
Hotel pickup in the city centre, Sea Point, Green Point or the Waterfront.
-
2.5 hours
Minibus to the reserve
An air-conditioned minibus up the N1 into the Karoo.
-
1 hour
Buffet lunch
Lunch at the reserve is included; drinks are extra.
-
2 hours
Game drive
An open safari vehicle with an English-speaking ranger.
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Around 18:30
Back at your hotel
After 2.5 hours on the road home.
The animals you can look for
All of the Big 5 live on the reserve: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.4 The name comes from early African hunters, who used it for the five animals hardest and most dangerous to hunt on foot, and today it simply marks the most sought-after sightings.4 Alongside them the reserve lists giraffes, caracals, zebras, hippos, ostriches, black eagles, springboks, Cape foxes and wildebeest.5
The leopard is the exception you should expect. The reserve says leopards are rarely seen and that camera traps have confirmed Cape leopards on its land.14 The site tour's own record makes the same point: leopards are rarely seen by day. A clear view of lions, elephants or rhinos is a more realistic hope, though the reserve is careful to add that no sighting can be guaranteed.15
The way animals are found is worth knowing. The reserve does not use trackers or collars on its wildlife; rangers rely on what they know of behaviour, plants and the time of day.16 That keeps the animals undisturbed and makes each drive genuinely uncertain. Birders get a bonus too: the site tour's record gives up to 172 bird species, including the black eagle.
Ways to visit
Tours to the reserve compared
Our pick
Late light
For driversDecision helper
Which visit suits you?
Find your own situation among these lines
Lunch and a drive
Hotel pickup, lunch and a 2-hour drive are included.
Sunset drive
It spends 3 hours at the reserve around the evening drive.
Afternoon on site
It meets you at the reserve; transfers are arranged separately.
Book the reserve directly
Horseback safaris need riders aged 16 or more and up to 95 kg.19
Sightings of the Big 5 at Aquila cannot be guaranteed. The animals roam freely across the reserve, and their visibility depends on time of day, season, weather, and natural behaviour.
How the day programmes are timed
The reserve runs its own day visits in several shapes. The early morning safari runs from 07:00 to 12:00, the afternoon safari from 12:00 to 16:30 and the sunset safari from 15:00 to 19:00, while the full traditional day lasts from 09:00 to 16:30.17 Horseback and quad bike safaris are offered too, for guests aged 16 or more.19
Whichever slot you choose, the game drive itself is typically 2 to 3 hours long and includes a halfway stop for the bathroom, photos and refreshments.6 Horseback and quad outrides usually last 1 to 2 hours.6 Most day packages include welcome drinks and a buffet-style meal, and a complimentary eco tour shows how the reserve recycles, composts and runs on solar energy.202122
Not every slot comes with a ride from the city. The reserve itself runs no transfers for its early morning and sunset day trips, so those suit drivers.18 Tour operators fill the gap: the site tour picks you up in Cape Town around 8:20 and has you back around 18:30, with lunch and a 2-hour drive in between. Sunset tours from other operators run similar long days built around the late drive.
Map
Where the safari reserves near Cape Town lie
First the Western Cape from Cape Town to the Garden Route, then the coast at Gansbaai where the boat trips leave.
1Cape Town2Worcester3Touws River4Aquila5Montagu6Sanbona7Albertinia8Garden Route Game Lodge9Hermanus10Gansbaai
9Hermanus10Gansbaai11Kleinbaai12Dyer Island
- 1Cape Town
Where the day trips start; Aquila gives its reserve as about 175 km away, under 2 hours by road.1
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Worcester
The N1 runs past Worcester on the way to Touws River; one sunset safari listing places its reserve near here.2
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Touws River
The town where the N1 drive to Aquila ends; from here the signs lead to the reserve.2
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Aquila
A 10,000-hectare Big 5 reserve, which it places between the Langeberg and the Outeniqua Mountains.3
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Montagu
A Route 62 town in the Little Karoo; Sanbona lies outside it.23
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Sanbona
Sanbona spreads over 62,000 hectares, about 270 km from Cape Town.2324
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Albertinia
The town nearest to Garden Route Game Lodge, on the way to Mossel Bay.2526
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Garden Route Game Lodge
A malaria-free Big 5 reserve 3.5 hours from Cape Town with day-visitor drives at 11:00.2527
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Hermanus
On the N2 and R43 road from Cape Town to Gansbaai.28
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Gansbaai
About 2 hours by car from Cape Town; Shark Alley lies a few kilometres south.2829
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Kleinbaai
The harbour village where the Marine Big 5 boat trip meets, at The Great White House.
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Dyer Island
Some 50,000 Cape fur seals live here, and a resident pod of humpback dolphins.3031
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
For a day at the reserve
01
Bring
- A warm jacket, even in summer
- Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
02
Know before you go
- No self-drive inside the reserve
- No outside food or drinks
- Spa, quads and horses from age 167
03
On the site tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Buffet lunch included
- Drinks are extra
Cost calculator
Price a visit for your group
Enter your group size to compare tours to the reserve.
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Total from$459
pp from $230
Check availabilityfree cancellationMultiply your group by each from-price; we convert it with the European Central Bank figure of the day, and checkout gives the final sum.
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A private game reserve safari near Cape Town
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Rules for visitors and for children
Some rules surprise first-time visitors. You cannot drive yourself inside the reserve: cars stay in the car park by reception, and every drive is guided in an open safari vehicle.32 Guests may not bring their own food or drinks.33 On the site tour, lunch is included but all drinks are extra, so budget for what you order at the bar.
Children are welcome. The lodge and the traditional game drives have no minimum age, while the spa, quad bike safaris and horseback outrides need guests aged 16 or more.7 Horseback riders must weigh no more than 95 kg and quad riders no more than 150 kg.19 Swimming must always be supervised by an adult of 18 or older.34
For families staying longer, the reserve's children policy describes a Junior Ranger Programme for children aged 12 and under, while its day-trip FAQ gives ages 4 to 12; both it and a childminding service from 09:00 to 21:00 cost extra.3536 Children aged 3 and under go free, those aged 4 to 11 pay half the adult day or overnight rate, and from 12 they pay in full.37 Our family safari page compares these rules with the other reserves near the city.
Getting there from Cape Town
The reserve's day-trip FAQ gives its distance as about 175 kilometres and the drive as less than 2 hours; its general FAQ puts the distance slightly higher.1 The most direct road is the N1 towards Touws River; drivers leave it at the R46 turnoff for Ceres and find the entrance on the left.238 There are no petrol stations between Cape Town and the reserve, so fill up before you leave.2
Allow for traffic. The reserve advises adding 2 hours to the journey in peak periods, when the main road out of the city clogs up.38 The drive itself is part of the appeal: wine valleys and mountain passes give way to the dry, wide Karoo, and the light changes completely after the tunnel.
If you would rather not drive, an Aquila safari from Cape Town with transport is the easy option. The site tour includes pickup from city centre hotels, Sea Point, Green Point and the V&A Waterfront, an air-conditioned minibus, the reserve ticket, lunch and the game drive, from $230. Changes made 7 days or less before travel cost extra, so fix your date early.
Health, seasons and what to wear
The reserve states that it is malaria-free, as are Cape Town and the Western Cape, but mosquitoes and other insects are still around, so bring repellent.39 That is one reason the reserve is popular with families and with travellers who want to avoid antimalarial tablets on a short trip.
The Karoo is a land of extremes. At the NOAA station in Laingsburg, further east in the Karoo, January days average a high of 34.7 °C, while July nights fall to an average low of 3.6 °C.40 No month there averages more than 2 days of at least 2.5 mm of rain.40 A summer drive can be hot in the middle of the day, and a winter drive can be properly cold in an open vehicle.
Dress for that range. The reserve asks guests to bring a very warm jacket in winter and spring, with a beanie and gloves for winter game drives.41 The site tour's packing list adds comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, a jacket and a camera. Bring swimwear if you want the pool after lunch.
Choosing between the tours that go there
Several operators sell the trip, and the differences are in the hours, not the place. The site tour is the lunch-and-drive day: pickup in the morning, lunch at the reserve, a 2-hour game drive and home by early evening, free to cancel until 3 days ahead. Its rating is 4.57 from 2,620 reviews and starts from $230.
The sunset drive suits travellers who want the late light. It spends 3 hours at the reserve around an evening drive in an open 4x4 truck, with a welcome drink and light snacks first, and its record gives the reserve as 10,000 hectares. It is rated 4.54 from 804 reviews, starts from $155 with no cancellation fee until 24 hours ahead.
If you have a car, the afternoon programme meets you at the gate. Its record sets out the timetable: a welcome drink at 12:15, a buffet lunch at 12:30, the game drive at 13:30 and departure at 4:00 PM. A coach day from the city centre is also sold, with 4 hours at the reserve and a 3-hour game drive named in its record, from $301.
Your safari day
Lunch, a game drive and home by evening.
Choose a date, get collected at your hotel, free to cancel until 3 days ahead.
You ask,we answer.
How far is the reserve from Cape Town?
About 175 km. The reserve gives about 175 kilometres and a drive of less than 2 hours, via the N1 towards Touws River.12
How big is the reserve near Touws River?
10,000 hectares. It describes itself as a 10,000-hectare conservancy between the Langeberg and the Outeniqua Mountains.3
Are all of the Big 5 there?
Yes, all five. Lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo live there; leopards are rarely seen.414
How long is a game drive?
Typically 2 to 3 hours. The drive includes a halfway stop; the site tour lists a 2-hour drive after lunch.6
Can young children go on the game drive?
Yes, at any age. The traditional game drives have no minimum age; children must be with an adult.742
Is the reserve in a malaria area?
No. The reserve states it is malaria-free, like the rest of the Western Cape, but advises insect repellent.39
Can I bring my own picnic?
No. Guests may not bring their own food or drinks into the reserve.33
Sources
Sources and evidence
- 1Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila's Big 5 Day Trip Safari FAQ↩
- 2Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila's Big 5 Day Trip Safari FAQ↩
- 3Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)About Us↩
- 4Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Wildlife FAQs↩
- 5Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila's Big 5 Day Trip Safari FAQ↩
- 6Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila's Big 5 Day Trip Safari FAQ↩
- 7Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Children at Aquila↩
- 8Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)About Us↩
- 9Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila Private Game Reserve: Big 5 Safari, Cape Town↩
- 10Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Meet The Big 5↩
- 11Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)About Us↩
- 12Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)About Us↩
- 13Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila's Big 5 Day Trip Safari FAQ↩
- 14Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Wildlife FAQs↩
- 15Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Wildlife FAQs↩
- 16Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Wildlife FAQs↩
- 17Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila Private Game Reserve: Big 5 Safari, Cape Town↩
- 18Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 19Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 20Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila's Big 5 Day Trip Safari FAQ↩
- 21Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)About Us↩
- 22Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)About Us↩
- 23Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (official site)Sanbona Wildlife Reserve: Luxury Safari Near Cape Town↩
- 24Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (official site)Location↩
- 25Garden Route Game Lodge (official site)Garden Route Game Lodge: Luxury safari, Big 5 game reserve↩
- 26Garden Route Game Lodge (official site)Day Visitors↩
- 27Garden Route Game Lodge (official site)Day Visitors↩
- 28South African Tourism (southafrica.net)Shark Alley: get up close and personal on a marine safari↩
- 29South African Tourism (southafrica.net)Shark Alley: get up close and personal on a marine safari↩
- 30South African Tourism (southafrica.net)Shark Alley: get up close and personal on a marine safari↩
- 31South African Tourism (southafrica.net)Jubilation in the waves: dolphin spotting in South Africa↩
- 32Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila's Big 5 Day Trip Safari FAQ↩
- 33Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila's Big 5 Day Trip Safari FAQ↩
- 34Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Children at Aquila↩
- 35Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Children at Aquila↩
- 36Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Aquila's Big 5 Day Trip Safari FAQ↩
- 37Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Children at Aquila↩
- 38Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 39Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 40↩
- 41Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 42Aquila Private Game Reserve (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
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