Big 5 Safaris in Cape Town: 15 Sorted by What You Get

1.Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,409 reviews · 9 hours · from $236Our pick

Travel from Cape Town through the Hex River Valley to Aquila Private Nature Reserve. After a welcome drink and buffet lunch, join a two-hour open-vehicle safari with an English-speaking ranger. Expect close views of lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and many bird species.

“5 stars all the way!! Habibi and Max were amazing, very social and made sure we were all comfortable. The logistics was the very smooth and everything was incredibly on time. The park is amazing and we managed to see animals from very close distances while still feeling very safe. I 100% recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 576 reviews · from $184

Travel from central Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve in the Karoo for a guided open-vehicle safari, buffet lunch, and welcome drink. You may see elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, and more than 170 bird species. Guides such as Denver, Mike, Josh, and Abriel are known for careful driving, animal facts, and warm service.

“Beautiful road from Cape Town in a comfortable vehicle. Timely pick up. Great lunch at the lodge. Amazing safari experience”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 526 reviews · from $155Top rated

Travel from Cape Town through Du Toitskloof Pass, the Breede River Valley, and Hex River Valley to Aquila Private Game Reserve. You’ll join a 2 to 3-hour safari drive, enjoy a buffet lunch with champagne, and return with hotel drop-off. Guides such as Mike, Werner, and Jamie are known for strong local commentary.

“Wow! What an amazing experience! Thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend highly! If you’re in Cape Town put this experience at the top of your list!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 278 reviews · 1h 30m · from $68Best value

From the V&A Waterfront, you’ll cruise for 90 minutes along Cape Town’s Atlantic coast on a luxury catamaran. Your English-speaking crew searches for dolphins, seals, penguins, whales, and sunfish while you enjoy views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Camps Bay, and the Twelve Apostles. Wildlife sightings depend on season and sea conditions.

“Unfortunately we didn’t see any whales, but we had a very fun time, and for that price it was absolutely worth it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Marine Big 5 Safari with transport from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 158 reviews · from $181

Travel from Cape Town to Gansbaai for a 2 to 2.5-hour boat search around Dyer Island. An onboard marine biologist, possibly Kelly, explains the animals and conservation work. Tea, muffins, soup, transport, safety gear, and a visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary are included.

“This was easily the highlight of my trip to Cape Town. We have a baby Southern Right Whale swim right up to the boat.. once in a lifetime experience. We saw a total of 6 whales, penguins, seals and sharks. 10/10”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Big Five Safari Experience with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 38 reviews · 9 hours · from $137

Spend about nine hours traveling from Cape Town to a private game reserve, with pickup around 8:50 a.m., a halal buffet lunch, and a 2.5 to 3-hour game drive. Guides such as Collen and Dudu add useful local insight. Expect a convenient introduction to safari, though the reserve feels more managed than a national park.

“Our trip to Aquila was better than we could’ve imagined thanks to our tour guide Collen. We were picked up promptly by Collen who introduced himself to us and was very witty and chatty. The whole drive to Aquila we felt very safe, Collen drove perfectly despite the long journey and during transport explained the plan of the day in depth, including top tips for us to get the maximum enjoyment out of our day. Collen shared such a mass of knowledge, about the animals, passing and lots about the general history of Cape Town which was so insightful. He really went above and beyond, tailoring his service to our…”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Sunset Safari at the big 5 Game Reserve All inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 30 reviews · 8 hours · from $280

Travel from selected Cape Town hotels to a private Big 5 reserve for an open-air 4x4 drive at dusk. Your guide explains local wildlife and plants as you watch for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, giraffes, zebras, and birds. English and French guides are available, including guide Enoch Mukidi Lokwa.

“Une activité que nous recommandons. Particulièrement en étant pris en charge à notre hôtel. Notre conducteur Enoch Mukidi Lokwa a été charmant. Il parle bien le français et c’est un excellent conducteur. Il nous a simplifié toutes les démarches une fois arrivés à la Réserve. Nous avons ainsi pu avoir une place privilégiée près du chauffeur lors du mini safari. Nous avons pu admirer la faune de très près !”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Explore the best Big 5 Aquila Safari Tour and Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $248

Travel from Cape Town with guide Paul Polano to Aquila Private Game Reserve for welcome drinks, buffet breakfast, a two to three hour open 4x4 game drive, and lunch. Finish with wine and cheese tasting at Fairview. Hotel pickup, transport, park entry, water, and meals are included.

“everything about the place was great we like we still aquila safari and comfortable service amazing experience Paul is best known legible”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Big 5 Safari One Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $227

Leave Cape Town early with a driver such as Martin or Emma, cross the Du Toitskloof Tunnel, and travel through the Breede Valley to Aquila Private Game Reserve. Your package includes hotel pickup, private transport, bottled water, and a buffet lunch, followed by a four-hour game drive in search of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.

“Our safari trip was spoiled by another guide translating German to guests every time the safari guide spoke it was very off putting we did see all the big five and the food provided was ok”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Big 5 Safari Aquila Full Day Private Return From Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 27 reviews · from $274

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide. Enjoy a 2 to 3-hour game drive, welcome drink, breakfast and lunch, and views through the Huguenot Tunnel route. Some departures may add a Paarl, Stellenbosch, or Franschhoek wine stop.

“We had an amazing day at Aquila Private Game Reserve. Our tour with Frank was fantastic! He was waiting for us when we got off he ship and gave us a lot of history on our 2 hour drive from Cape Town cruise port to the safari. The drive went by quickly! And once we got Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Big 5 Aquila Safari Full Day Tour and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · from $167

Travel from Cape Town to Fairview Wine and Cheese, then spend about six hours at Aquila Private Game Reserve. A 2 to 3 hour 4x4 drive with a ranger may bring you close to lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, zebras, and giraffes. Lunch is included, but the Aquila entrance ticket is paid separately at the reserve.

“The day was a good one. Started with visit to winery for tasting then to the Safari. Be prepared for a long drive. Richard was great. The Aquilla Safari is one where the animals are segregated so there isnt much mingling and it seems a bit unnatural but we saw Zebras, ElephRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Cape Town big five safari with transport lunch Excl park fee

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 14 reviews · 9 hours · from $84

You’ll travel from Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve for a guided 4x4 safari, lunch, pool access, and Karoo scenery. Guide Roland is known for his Cape Town history and easy humor. The reserve offers a convenient Big Five outing, but you must pay its substantial entry fee separately and confirm safari space in advance.

“Roland is a very good tour guide. He has lot of knowledge regarding history of Capetown. Also funny! Regarding the aquila, i think the animals there are not so many. With the price i think not really reasonable. Maybe can add more animals there. Anyhow all of the staff there were very helpful and kind. Thank you!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Big Five Safari Experience Near Cape Town ,South Africa

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 11 reviews · from $127

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve for a buffet lunch and a 2.5 to 3-hour ranger-led drive in search of lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo. Guides such as Reese and Martin have earned praise for friendly service. Pickup is available, but reserve entry costs extra.

“Superceded my expectations. The pick up and the service was excellent. Martin highlighted certain points if interest along the ride. The welcome at Aquila and lunch was excellent.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Private Full-day Big 5 Aquila Game Reserve Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 6 reviews · from $167

You’ll travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve with a private driver, then take a 2 to 3 hour 4x4 safari drive. Look for lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and antelope. The day also includes Fairview wine and cheese tasting, buffet meals, bottled water, and hotel pickup. Mark may be your attentive guide.

“Absolutely outstanding. Mark was a fantastic and attentive host from start to finish...worth it 100%”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · 9 hours · from $174

Travel from Cape Town through Du Toits Kloof Pass and the Breede River Valley, with a wine tasting or coffee stop before Aquila Game Reserve. Your day includes a welcome drink, buffet lunch, and a 2 to 3 hour guided game drive. Small-group transport, hotel pickup, and an English-speaking guide are included.

“Verry good. Our guide knows so much about the history and the surroundings during travel.”

Check availability →Read our full review