Cape Town Shore Excursion: Big Five Game Reserve from Cape Town

Recommended by 94% of travelers

Cape Town, South Africa

9 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Make sure you have a ‘wild’ time while stopping in Cape Town thanks to this 12-hour safari-themed shore excursion to Aquila Private Game Reserve. Scout for Africa’s ‘Big Five’ animals plus more than 170 species of birds as you travel aboard an open vehicle amidst this 24,000-acre (10,000-hectare) wildlife park. An included buffet lunch helps keep you hungry for more adventure.

Enjoy a wildlife safari during this shore excursion from Cape Town
Experience the sprawling 24,000-acre (10,000-hectare) park of Aquila Private Game Reserve
Spot 'Big Five' African animals like elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo
Scout for other animals like giraffes, zebra, and more than 170 species of birds
Included buffet lunch back at the lodge
Great way to ensure a 'wild' time during a shore excursion in Cape Town

What's Included

Return Transfers from Radisson Red Hotel with English speaking driver only
Experienced game ranger on game drive
Open vehicle game drive (non private)
Lunch

Buffet lunch

All Beverages
Souvenir purchases at curio shop
All extras not mentioned above.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Radisson RED Cape Town V&A Waterfront
Silo parking close to terminal, 6 Silo Square, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.9:00 am

Itinerary

Receive a pickup from the Cape Town port timed to your ship’s arrival, and transfer along South Africa’s N1 Highway for two hours through the Hex River Valley to reach Aquila Private Game Reserve. When you arrive at the reserve, you’ll pair up with a game ranger and an open-top vehicle to explore this sprawling wildlife park.

Keep your eyes peeled as your safari vehicle passes through the reserve’s more than 24,000 acres (10,000 hectares), scouting for the famous “Big Five” African animals (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo). You’re also likely to come across other species like giraffes, zebra, ostriches, baboons, gemsbok, klipspringer, jackals, and more than 170 species of birds.

As you ride, listen to commentary from your game ranger, who will share enticing stories and numerous facts about this thriving game park. Finish your adventure by enjoying an included buffet lunch back at the game lodge before heading back to Cape Town for a drop-off at your ship.

Touwsrivier

5 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
Ship to arrive the night before or early morning and guests need to be disembarked by 08H00
At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time

Guests may be travelling with other guests from the same cruise ship
Minimum 2 guests required and maximum 20 guests.
Even though the tour has a maximum 20 guests limit , the reserve can however accommodate more than 20 guests.
The game drive at the reserve will be conducted with other guests that are not part of the Cruise ship.
Cullinan Guided Journeys strictly follow the SA Government approved TBCSA Health and Safety COVID-19 Protocols. Should guests present COVID-19 symptoms, COVID testing and quarantine will be at their own cost. We recommend that you ensure that your guests take adequate personal travel insurance cover before departure from home.
Ship departure time should not be before 20H00
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Cheryl_S

Due to our long and many days of rescheduling, we were unable to attend. But we had fantastic support from our tour operator the whole time. Thoroughly recommend viator and we have several more trips planned with them.

Reviews

4.6

based on 17 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Customer service

Cheryl_S, Jun 2025

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Good Afternoon Thank you for taking the time and providing us with your feedback.

Our ship was late getting...

David_K, Mar 2025

Our ship was late getting into port but we were pleasantly surprised that the tour company waited almost 2 hours past pickup time to allow guests to meet up. The safari itself was great with so many photo opportunities. Buffet lunch was varied and good.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Good Afternoon Thank you for taking the time and providing us with your feedback.

Aquilla shore excursion on a fog day

denisemyers, Mar 2025

Our ship was delayed getting into Port. Abraham, our driver waited for us to arrive before departing for Aquilla. He also waited for another couple for a very long time as they were two hours late he had to depart for the safari to get us there in time for lunch and was successful even though he was dealt a bad hand by weather. Vino was a wonderful tour guide at Aquilla. He was very knowledgeable and got us excellent views of all the animals. We enjoyed our safari jeep ride. The lunch was very good and we enjoyed our sparkling sauvignon upon arrival .

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Good Morning Thank you for taking the time and providing us with your feedback

If you have the time and...

JMRM_N, Jan 2025

If you have the time and money to visit Kruger Park, you can skip this tour. The Aquila Private Game Reserve is actually a very large zoo without cages, where they feed some animals. The advantage is that the animals are easy to watch. During our visit we saw hippos, giraffes, ostriches, lions, Cape buffalo, springboks, rhinos and elephants. It is a two-hour drive from Cape Town. You will lose the entire day from 8:30 - 17:00 for two hours of safari. If this is the only safari you can do in South Africa, definitely participate. Expect a fairly massive activity.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Good Morning Thank you for taking the time and providing us with your feedback.

Recommended for sure!

Fjodor_D, May 2024

Amazing tour, small group and we even saw all big 5 animals. What an experience! Quite expensive, tbh, but it really is something special!

A definite tour experience from Capetown

Julie_T, May 2024

Despite the ship arriving late, & immigration taking for ever, the tour company waited for us, & managed to show us a great experience . We were especially thankful as the ship had cancelled their tour due to the late arrival. I would thoroughly recommend this tour

Review Aquila Safari

James_R, May 2024

Great day with an excellent driver, after zero visibility for cruise ship to port we had a late start bit still enjoyed the day at Aquila

Wonderful experience

Heather_K, May 2024

We had a fantastic day. Cullinan tours were wonderful. Our ship was delayed arriving into Cape Town due to fog. They kept in contact with us for the entire time via email. They waited until we finally disembarked and went through Immigration. Which was 3.5 hours later than the original departure time. We were still able to do the tour, including a very late lunch and safari. We were so greatful that they were able to continue with the tour. Aquila is definitely worth visiting to see African animals in their natural environment. It is a very professionally run park.

Aquila Safari Park.

Jane_S, May 2024

The best trip ever. Would recommend this trip. Anwar was a brilliant guide. We were late off the ship and they waited for us.

Aquila Game Safari

Catherine_F, May 2024

This is a wonderful experience. Firstly, they waited even though our ship docked a couple of hours late. The bus was new, clean and a smooth quiet ride. Our driver was very good and we felt safe the whole journey. At the game park, there was no sense of rushing us through. We had a full experience and the guide, Anwar, gave detailed explanations of the animals and their behaviours. Could not have asked for better. Thank you so much.

Very enjoyable

Ines_C, Apr 2024

We really enjoyed our time at Aquila. Our driver Denver was friendly and professional. The lunch at the game reserve was very nice and the drinks were moderately priced. Pity they announce they are a big 5 reserve but have no leopards. That being said we did see lots of animals! The transportation provided is not the most comfortable but that’s understandable in a safari park.

Lots of animals in a small space

Caleb_P, Mar 2024

Plenty of opportunities to see the various animals on this game drive. Most will be seen within a very short drive. They definitely cut the tour short however as the second part of the drive is spent on refreshments. It is a beautiful place and the food for lunch was great. Our only complaint was with the driver for the company that transported us to and from Cape Town. His driving and use of foul language made us a bit uncomfortable/unsafe on the drive to and from the safari.

Aguila Safari

Anne_W, Mar 2024

Our driver took us to an area where their were rhinos. The dominant male wanted to mate with a female. She wasn't having it and her baby was trying to support her. Chaos ensued with the male rhino attacking her and her baby on and off for quite awhile. It was fascinating. We got close enough to see it all without interferring. The guide was very knowledgeable.

Aquila Reserve was really...

Joyce_T, Mar 2024

Aquila Reserve was really very well kept. Animals were visible except for the leopard which we were told was sleeping during the day. Guide was very informative and made sure we all got a good look at the animals.