Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Cape Town, South Africa
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
Spotting the Big Five—lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo—is a priority for many visitors to South Africa and this tour is ideal for those with limited time. Travel from Cape Town by upmarket air-conditioned vehicle, enjoying views of the Breede River, Hex River Wine Valley, and Table Mountain along the way, then join a group safari drive at a private game reserve and enjoy some incredible wildlife-watching opportunities.
- Express tour from Cape Town: ideal for those short on time
- Guided game drive: maximize your chances of spotting the Big Five
- Delicious buffet lunch including a glass of champagne
- Round-trip transport from Cape Town by upmarket air-conditioned vehicle
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Transport in an upmarket vehicle
- Game park charge (R2365pp low /R2555 mid /R2785pp peak season - includes lunch & game drive)ZAR2,365.00 per person
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pick up and drop off from any hotel, guesthouse, vacation rental or private residence within 10km of Cape Town central. Additional charge for pickups outside of this area.
Start time.8:30 am
Itinerary
1
Cape Town Central
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Du Toitskloof
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Breede River (Pass By)
3
Du Toitskloof Wines
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Aquila Safari Reserve Directions
4 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
5
Du Kloof Lodge
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Cape Town Central
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infant seats available
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking (cost excluded)
- Infant meals not included
- Wheelchair/walker by prior arrangement only
- Wheelchair/walker by prior arrangement only
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Was first safari and went smooth. Squeezed it in from my cruise ship to a flight leaving that night. They worked with me on the logistics and cost was very reasonable. Tour guide and host Mr. Werner were excellent and very knowledgeable of the safati and surrounding area in africa and cape town. Got to see most of the big 5. Hippos come out early morning and late. Leopards are sporadic but otherwise most available. If the private tour is available I would recommend it. Its more intimate, you can ask questions, great views and sometimes closer views, more space, and more. Larger groups are still good and slightly cheaper but prefer private especially if you have a structured schedule. Buffet was really good as well. Everyone was friendly and worked with me on time so I made my flight. Also very safe. I was concerned due to activities in south Africa and also being military myself. All went smooth with no issues. I took my luggage with me and they looked after it while I took the safari. Left early, made safari which lasted about 2.5 hours and was early for flight check in. Highly recommend.
Reviews
4.8
based on 636 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Werner Klopper! He was incredibly kind, friendly, professional, and genuinely caring throughout the entire tour.
Werner made us feel comfortable from the very beginning, shared interesting stories and local knowledge, and made sure we had a fantastic experience. He was also very patient and attentive to everyone in our group.
We truly enjoyed the day and would highly recommend Werner to anyone looking for a great tour guide in Cape Town. Thank you, Werner, for making our experience so special! 🇿🇦❤️
A full day tour. A few stops on the way before the Safari to stretch your legs one of them a beautiful winery and the Safari stop exceeded our expectations absolutely incredible Werner was our driver for the day and very knowledgeable and friendly
Awesome experience at the Aquila Safari just about 2-3 hours from Cape Town. Enjoyed our safari where we saw Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Zebras, Giraffes, Hippos and more! The views on the way to the Aquila Safari were spectacular and the buffet lunch was amazing! Great tour!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Stephen,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your day at Aquila Safari and were able to see such a wonderful variety of wildlife, including lions, elephants, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, and hippos.
The scenic drive through the Breede River Valley is one of our favourite parts of the journey, and we're pleased that you enjoyed the spectacular views along the way. It's also great to hear that the buffet lunch and overall safari experience exceeded your expectations.
Thank you for choosing Born in Africa Tours. We hope to welcome you back to Cape Town for another adventure in the future.
Kind regards,
Michelle
Reservations Manager
Born in Africa Tours
Wonderful guide Werner made the trip so interesting - safari was fab lots of amazing animal encounters and a lovely buffet lunch included
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Denise,
We are delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful safari experience with Werner. It's great to know that his knowledge and enthusiasm made the journey interesting and enjoyable for you.
We're also pleased that you had fantastic wildlife sightings and enjoyed the buffet lunch. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, and we hope to welcome you back to South Africa for another adventure in the future!
Kind regards,
The Born in Africa Tours Team
Wonderful experience for the whole family. The winery was tranquil, bakery had great food and a playground for the kids to keep busy. The drive was serene the whole way. Safari was unbelievable, saw four of the big five within 30 minutes. Food was excellent and our guides were very friendly and outgoing. Amazing experience that I wish we had do earlier on our trip
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review, Matt!
We are delighted to hear that your whole family enjoyed the experience. It’s great to know that the winery, bakery, and playground provided something for everyone, and that you enjoyed the scenic drive through the beautiful countryside.
Seeing four of the Big Five within the first 30 minutes is certainly an exciting start to a safari, and we're thrilled that you had such memorable wildlife encounters. We're also pleased that you enjoyed the food and found our guides friendly and engaging throughout the day.
Thank you for choosing to tour with us. We hope to welcome you and your family back to South Africa for another adventure in the future.
Kind regards,
The Born in Africa Tours Team
Werner was our tour guide for the day and this tour exceeded expectations. We got to stop at a winery on the way and then proceeded to have lunch at Aquila before heading out for our game drive that we booked. We saw over 10 different animal species and 4 of the big 5. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience a safari but is limited on time
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear that Werner helped make your day such a memorable experience and that the tour exceeded your expectations. It's great that you were able to enjoy a winery stop, lunch at Aquila, and an exciting game drive all in one day. Seeing over 10 different species, including 4 of the Big 5, is certainly something special!
Thank you for recommending us to future travellers. Our safari day tours are designed specifically for guests who want to experience the magic of a South African safari while making the most of their time in Cape Town, and we're thrilled that we could deliver that experience for you.
We hope to welcome you back to South Africa again in the future!
Kind regards,
The Born in Africa Tours Team
The guide was excellent. The game drive was costly and disappointing compared to most game drives we have been on.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Craig,
This small private game reserve (10,000 hectares) will admittedly never be able to compete with its bigger brothers (e.g the Kruger National Park @ 2 million hectares), but it does offer the unique possibility of seeing the Big 5 in their natural habitat in one afternoon within driving distance of Cape Town. The reserve has won many international awards for conservation and are world renown for the re-introduction & re-habilitation of game in the Karoo area. Most of the animals were rescued from captivity and did not learn to hunt, so they are fed. It is also standard practice to remove rhino horns to prevent poaching.
We are pleased, however, that you enjoyed everything else about your day Jamie will be grateful for the praise, he truly is excellent!
This day safari outside of Cape Town far exceeded our expectations! We saw 4 of the Big Five, along with numerous other animals. It was so amazing to see them roaming in the wild. We opted for the private vehicle, which I would highly recommend! This was well worth the money and was amazing!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
HI Kathleen
Thank you for your fantastic 5-star review!
We're delighted to hear that your safari experience exceeded your expectations. Seeing 4 of the Big Five, along with many other incredible animals, is truly a special experience, and there's nothing quite like watching wildlife in their natural surroundings.
We're especially pleased that you enjoyed the private safari vehicle. It offers a more personalised experience and extra flexibility during the game drive, so it's wonderful to hear that you found it well worth the price.
Thank you for choosing Born in Africa Tours and for sharing your recommendation with future travellers. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable South African adventure someday!
Kind regards,
The Born in Africa Tours Team
It is a great experience with breathtaking views. I won´t give any spoilers, only maybe take a warm jacket and hat because it might get a little bit cold. Definitely a must do if you are in town.
Fantastic crew and the food was very good.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Karla,
Thank you for taking the time to review your experience we are so happy to hear you has a great day with Mike
Excellent communication from the tour operator. We recommend this tour provider because they facilitate you pre-paying for your safari to guarantee there will be a seat for you timed with your arrival at Aquila. We opted for the private safari vehicle, and thought it was worth the up-charge. We really enjoyed the wine/coffee stop on the way to Aquila. It nicely broke up the drive, and allowed us to get to know the other couple in our transport van (NOTE: private safari vehicle does not mean private transport from/to Cape Town). Our only wish was that we had more time for the buffet lunch...we were only allowed 45 minutes for bathroom and buffet before our safari departure (and with multiple safari vehicles going out at the same time, there were some lines). You should be aware this is a small game reserve with not a ton of animals. We were aware of this going in, but due to flooding rains during our visit, all of our other safari tours along the Garden Route were canceled, so we opted for the only day trip available from Cape Town. We saw some things on our private safari vehicle the other couple in our transport van did not see on their group vehicle. Not sure if it was just timing or if our private driver was able to alter his driving path better to see more. Our tour transport driver James/Jamie was on time, informative, and pleasant company on the journey.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Melinda
Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful 5-star review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your safari experience and that our team was able to help make the booking process smooth and stress-free. We understand how important it is to secure safari availability in advance, and we're pleased that our pre-payment system helped ensure everything was arranged for your visit.
It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the wine and coffee stop along the way and that it added to the overall experience. We're also glad that James made the journey enjoyable with his punctuality, local knowledge, and friendly company.
Thank you as well for sharing your experience with the private safari vehicle. While wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed and often depend on timing and animal movement, we're pleased that you found the private vehicle to be a worthwhile upgrade and enjoyed the more personalised safari experience.
We appreciate your feedback regarding the lunch timing. As the safari departures are scheduled directly by the reserve, the time available for lunch can vary depending on the day's operational requirements, but we understand your comments and appreciate you sharing them.
Thank you again for choosing Born in Africa Tours, especially under challenging weather circumstances that affected your other travel plans. We are honoured to have been part of your South African adventure and hope to welcome you back in the future.
Kind regards,
The Born in Africa Tours Team
Mike was an excellent driver and guide. He knew so much history and was fun! Recommend very highly to everyone!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Nichols
Thank you for your fantastic review!
We're thrilled to hear that you had an awesome safari experience and that Mike helped make your day so memorable. His passion for South Africa, extensive knowledge of the region's history, and friendly personality are qualities that our guests consistently appreciate.
We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Mike. He will be delighted to know that his efforts contributed to such an enjoyable experience.
Thank you for your high recommendation and for choosing Born in Africa Tours. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable South African adventure in the future!
Kind regards,
The Born in Africa Tours Team
Cape Town was hit by a very severe storm on Monday and Tuesday, apparently the worst for decades according to our tour guide. We checked on Tuesday evening that the tour was going ahead on Wednesday as there was heavy rain forecasted for the day of the trip and as we were going into mountainous terrain, it was pretty obvious to us that the accumulation of rainfall over 3 days was going to cause a lot of problems at lower levels.
After 30 minutes from starting the trip the guides were told that a tunnel was closed and they showed us a notification on their phone that virtually all major routes were also closed.
They made a call to Michelle at out of Africa and she was encouraging them very robustly to find another route. We then spent a total of 6 hours in a minibus and throughout this time we only made it as far as 40 minutes away from Cape Town with the Aquila game reserve being at least 2-2.5 hours further away. We have videos of the condition of the roads, it was treacherous, there were landslides, mud slides, fallen trees and extensive flooding on all routes.
When we finally stopped for a toilet break 5 hours after being picked up, the guide met a safari driver from Aquila who said that the reserve had closed and as he was at least 2 hours away from the reserve at the time we met him that means the reserve must have closed by 10am latest. This trip should have been cancelled the night before or at the latest by 10am on the day but instead we were subjected to a lengthy ordeal and were terrified we would not be able to get back.
The guide suggested we postpone the tour but as it was our last day we were unable to rearrange so instead it was suggested we visit a winery which no one wanted to do so we were taken back.
The passengers who did rearrange will have experienced the trip they booked for no extra cost and we feel it is very unfair that due to our circumstances we have lost over £400 and we are aggrieved that we had to endure the best part of the last day of our holiday being subjected to what I can only describe as a pretty frightening ordeal. The guides said they knew it would be worse than the previous day because of the rain water coming down from the mountains as it accumulated so why did they persist in going ahead, it was reckless and dangerous and in our opinion they were being forced by Michelle from out of Africa to continue with no real consideration of our safety, just wanting to make money!
Viator and out of Africa have offered us £87 in total back which is an absolute insult, what should have been the highlight of our holiday turned into a very expensive and frightening ordeal not to mention a complete waste of our last day!
Response from Host, May 2026
We do understand your frustration and disappointment and apologise that despite our best efforts we were unable to get you to the game reserve.
We checked the official traffic report on the morning of the tour and followed the route they advised. Unfortunately a river unexpectedly flooded the road on the way. Our guide and driver were instructed to put customer safety first and were told to turn back. We did offer you alternative activities for the rest of the day or the option to reschedule which you declined.
Our company does not offer refunds for a "force majeure". We did, however, give you a partial refund as a gesture of goodwill.
Sadly Mother Nature had her own ideas on this particular day.
Despite the most severe weather (gale-force wind, torrential rain - trees & high sided vehicles blown over) Mike our driver got us there & back safely, providing an informative & interesting commentary all the way. Mike was courteous & friendly and afforded us ample time a stops on the road and whilst on the safari.
Response from Host, May 2026
We are very blessed to have knowledgeable and experienced guides like Mike who put safety first, but still manage to give our guests a great day.
So glad you enjoyed the experience despite the storm !
We had an excellent trip with Born in Africa. The communication leading up to the day was great, with lots of detail so that we could prep properly for the trip. Jamie was great, telling us all about the region and history on the way to/from Aguila. We did the wine tasting, and enjoyed the wide variety of options included in the wine flight.
The Aguila reserve was incredible. We went from animal siting to siting, with very few gaps. Not only was our guide great at getting us close, he was very knowledge about the animals, their individual histories, and explained the care provided by the reserve. This was definitely a day to remember!
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Jennifer,
James will be thrilled to hear that you had an excellent trip with him. Thank you for the 5 stars!
Our guide James gave us a very informative tour about the region, very helpful and accommodating, and Adan our private safari guide was awesome and knowledgeable. If possible, get the private safari, it is well worth it.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Alejandro
hank you so much for the 5 stars! The Private Safari experience truly is so special, we are delighted to hear you had an Incredible experience with James.
We have done other game drives. This one was very good, we saw all of the expected animals. The guides was very knowledge. We had a great experience.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Stephen, Thank you so much for the 5 stars we are so happy to hear that you had a great experience!
James was great and very knowledgeable. He made sure that I was ok and made the perfect number of stops to stretch legs and have a comfort stop.
The game drive was the most luxurious I’ve had. The vehicles were new and I was surprised to make a stop halfway through for a refreshing beverage and bathrooms. I just wish it was longer.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Monica
Thank you so much for your lovely review we are so happy to hear you had an enjoyable day with James
Friendly and knowledgeable driver to/from preserve. Delicious buffet. High quality safari vehicle and driver. Good variety and quantity of animals on preserve. Pleasant refreshment stop at the halfway point of the safari. Beautiful facilities. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Solomon,
Thank you so much for the recommendation. We are delighted that you enjoyed your experience with us
Awesome, we enjoy the private tour, the guide was nice, the experience was there we seen the big four close enough
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Hemraz
Thank you for the 5 stars! We are so happy that you enjoyed your day with Jamie!
Super amazing day! We saw 4 of the big 5 as well as other animas like giraffe and zebra. Out guid mike was brilliant would highly recommend this experience
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Georgina
Thank you so much for the lovely review we are delighted to hear you had a Super amazing day!
Great day with excellent timing at every stop. Chesney was a great guide and made sure we didnt miss a thing.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Emily
Thank you so much for the kind review, Chesney will be so grateful for the 5 stars and your feedback!
It was a great way to see these big 5 without spending a ton of money on a larger safari. It was just right for us or families with children.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Lydia
Thank you so much for taking the time to review your experience with us. Your 5 stars are much appreciated!!
Unbelievable host so knowledgeable great day answered alll our questions just a nice man use this firm
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Ian,
Thank you so much, we are so happy to hear that you had a good day with Werner!
Can’t recommend this activity enough. We were picked up by our guide Mike first thing in the morning and he couldn’t have been more helpful.
We really felt the VIP treatment! We saw 4 out of the big five and we were driven home by ole tired but with memories for a lifetime.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Jack,
Thank you so much! Mike is such a talented guide and we are so happy to hear you enjoyed his VIP service!
A wonderful experience from start to finish. Our guide Chesney was engaging, knowledgeable, and incredibly attentive, making the day both enjoyable and insightful. Even though it rained and made parts of the safari challenging, it was still a fantastic experience. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Lara
Thank you for the 5 stars Chesney really is deserving of it! I'm glad to hear that you had a fantastic day despite the weather!
This was a very nice experience! Our tour guide Chesney was wonderful - very nice, with lots of interesting information, and always looking out for us. The first stop on our way to the safari, a wine tasting spot, was delightful. Lunch at the safari was good, and the actual safari, with tour guide Trevor, was so much fun! We saw lots of animals and Trevor had a lot of great information abou the animals. We are very happy that we took the tour. We can certainly recommend this for safari beginners.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Jo,
Chesney does it again :) thank you so much for the well deserve 5 stars, Chesney will be very happy to hear your lovely feedback
Would definitely recommend this trip, we had a great time and saw 4 of the big 5! Mike, our guide was very knowledgeable and made the journeys really interesting.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Tsambika
Thank you so much for your 5 star review we are so happy to hear you had a good time with Mike
Really fun experience with Werner and Sungani. We unexpectedly had a fun stop at a fabulous winery, and then spent a few hours at Aquila nature reserve. We saw lions, hippos, rhinos, baboons, zebra, elephants, and more! We had a private vehicle which was great. It does get expensive - there is this tour, but then entrance fees on top of that and a private vehicle (which probably wasn't necessary in the end). If you can't make it to a full safari (multi day) this is a great introduction, and our guide at Aquila, Abriel, was a real expert.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Carrie
Thank you so much for your detailed review we appreciate the feedback and the 5 stars. Werner and Sungani will be happy to hear you had such a good time with them
It was really nice , I was lucky enough to see all 5 😊 and the guide was fantastic.
The safari and wine tasting part of the day was wonderful however my driver to and from the location put a bit of a damper on the day. Melodie was an agressive driver with road rage. She also was not mindful of sharing her opinions about topics that may be offensive to others.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for taking the time to review your day with us. We were naturally concerned about your feedback, especially since Melodie always receives such high praise from guests. So we reached out to the other guests that were in the vehicle with you on the trip. They gave Melodie a glowing review and a five star rating. We are a bit confused but do apologize if you felt differently and are glad that the rest of your day was enjoyable.
We had a wonderful time with Werner on our tour! He was very knowledgeable, fun and entertaining. Would definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Janaya
Thank you so much for the 5 star review and the recommendation, Werner will be delighted to hear you had a fun and entertaining day with him
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per personWas $188.87(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip
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