Aquila Game Reserve
- Address: Cape Town, South Africa
- Hours: Open Daily
- Admission: Day trips start at R1,950.00
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Must-Do Experience
Aquila Game Reserve Reviews
We've found 28 Aquila Game Reserve reviews from Viator.com travelers and members: what they loved, what they liked and what they think could be improved. It's all here to help you make the most of your next trip.
Review by Professor H M, May 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
We had a great time. We saw all of the Big 5 close up and personal, especially the elephants, their clash with the rhinos (the rhinos the winners), and finally the lions at feast. There were also the hippopotami in and out of their pool, and in the latter situation getting very nervous when a delicate little impala came tripping up to the water for a drink. The guide could have been clearer for the folk at the back of the truck, apparently, but we were seated up front, which was a great listening as well as viewing platform. Good breakfast and lunch at the hotel, and really the only criticism is the length of time we had to wait after breakfast was over for the tour to start; a bit wearing when we had made a very early start indeed from Cape Town (2 hours away). The drive through the Franschhoek mountains and the Heck valley was beautiful both ways.
Review by DAVID K, March 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
First the down side--there are still not a lot of animals at Aquila. The Game Reserve is only 13 years old and is still stocking up. They also lost a few animals to poachers. Now, the up side--everything. The 2-hour ride out of Cape Town to Aquila was beautiful and showed scenery not seen in Cape Town. At arrival, we had champagne and an excellent breakfast and then some free time before the driving began. While in the open buses, we got very close to the "Big 5" and spent a lot of time seeing them. Very exciting. The guides tried to give you a lot of good angles and viewing points for pictures. We saw an "argument" between and elephant and two rhino (elephant won). The game reserve is fairly large in size and the guides had an idea where the wildlife was and drove you to the animals. Stopped half way in the middle of the drive for champagne and to stretch outside the bus. Finished with a good lunch. We didn't have time to get to Kruger--thank goodness we took this tour since I feel like we would have really missed something critical if we got to South Africa and didn't see the animals in their native habitats.
Review by Dawn G, March 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
If this is the only safari trip you have ever been on then you will enjoy it. It is more like a drive round a huge wildlife park than I imagine a safari to be. Having said that you are practically guaranteed to see loads of animals wandering around (and some rescue ones in pens). The breakfast and lunch were very good indeed and the place itself is stunning. Worth a visit but don't expect "Wild at Heart".
Review by Emma W, February 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
The driver that collected us to the hotel and then took us to the game reserve didn't speak to us and tell us the timings of the day which was annoying as to begin with we felt that we were in the dark about where to go and what to do. The game reserve trip itself was excellent and breakfast and lunch was delicious.
Review by John W, January 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
An outstanding day trip, not a safari but if you only have a short time to see animals in the wild this is great. Hospitality and food was superb.
Review by Dominique G, December 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
If only one tour is done this is the one ! Nice drive punctuated with stops to take pictures. Welcome at the reserve exactly as promised, breakfast delicious and the safari itself was exceptional, we saw all the promised and spent lots of time with the lion ! a must to do in your lifetime.
Review by Karen S, September 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
I booked this tour after I read the reviews and it was not as good as the reviews had said. I was incredibly disappointed with the game drive part of it because it was very artificial instead of what a natural game drive is really supposed to be. The guide knew exactly where the animals would be and the lions were kept behind a gate in a different section of the park. While the land is big and the animals are roaming free, some of them are fed and it wasn't a game drive experience that seemed very authentic to me. If it was the only game drive I did on my trip, it would've been disappointing that this is the only way that I saw African animals.
Having said that, the pickup was on time and the driver was really nice. The game drive driver was very knowledgeable about animals and was really good. The food at the lodge is incredible as well, almost worth it just for the food - but not for that price.
Review by Geoffrey T, Australia, August 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
A very good tour, on arrival we were met with a glass of Champagne and a lovely big breakfast, on our tour drive we saw Hippo's, Rhino's, elephants, lions and Giraffe's as well as ostrich, Gnu, eland and springbok, halfway through the tour in a cool area the tour company had set up a table with ice cold soft drinks and champagne a very civilised idea, when the sightings were over we went back to the main building for a delightful lunch, I would thoroughly recommend this tour
Review by Sarget, May 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
If you want a nice day out with a comfortable bus ride, good buffett lunch and friendly guide then you wont be dissappointed, however if you want to see native animals in their natural environment then I would say this reserve is not for you.
The actual grounds and scenery at the reserve is stark and barron. The animals stand around within the very large grounds basically waiting to be fed and have tourists gawk at them.
Very dissappointing have seen better at my local zoo and especially Singapore zoo.
Review by George, April 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
Very wonderful tour, despite the distance to get there. Saw the Big Five and was very much worth the effort. Tour guide was very informative and knowledgeable.
Review by Sarah B, United Kingdom, March 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
A good option if you can't get to Kruger or the Serengeti. The reserve is in its infancy, but we saw hippo, rhino, elephant, zebra, ostrich and lion. The food is excellent. Didn't do the ostrich farm so can't comment.
Review by Steven G, January 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
Wish there were more animals to see.
Review by Alissa, January 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
An African safari was on my "bucket list". I was in Cape Town on business and only had 1 day. Aquila proved to be a very good option. We saw all but one of the big 5 without having to look very hard. The food at lunch was fine but there was no where to sit and the ostrich farm was an utter waste of time but overall a good day.
Review by Fiore L, Italy, December 2011
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
beautiful excursion with the good and nice driver of the Spingbok
Review by Frank M, October 2011
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
Very satisfied.
