South Africa · BIG FIVE GAME DRIVES IN CAPE TOWN

15 Big Five Game Drives in Cape Town to Build a Day Around

27 tours  ·  from $68

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 big five game drives in Cape Town worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch - The 8:20 pickup and the road through the Hex River Valley
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From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

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. Your small group joins an English-speaking ranger for a two-hour open-vehicle safari, with lunch at the lodge. Expect close views of elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and plenty of birdlife.

“Excellent day out. The host was really friendly, the safari itself was a fun experience - and was longer than we expected. Saw a lot of animals while we were in the truck too”

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Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour - Starting at The Great White House in Kleinbaai
Big Five Game Drives, Big Five Game Drives in Cape Town, Cape Town Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Shark Cage Diving, Shark Cage Diving in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours

Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

2.Marine Big 5 Boat tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 593 reviews · 2.5 - 10 hours · from $155

Set out from Kleinbaai with Marine Dynamics Whale Tours to search for the Marine Big 5 around Dyer Island. Expect a safety briefing, warm gear, about two hours at sea, a marine biologist on board, soup afterward, and an optional penguin sanctuary visit with Cape Town transfers.

“We could not hear well what the guide was telling us through the loudspeakers but we could ask her if we wanted to know something. Apart from that we saw whales for a lot of time (unbeatable experience), sharks, playful seals and penguins (from a distance). We are very satisfied and we highly recommend it”

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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town - The Cape Town departure and Karoo road
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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

3.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 an air-conditioned coach, then join a three-hour open-vehicle safari with an English-speaking ranger. Look for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, and more. A welcome drink and buffet lunch are included.

“Fantastic experience seeing the animals up close! I would suggest some padding in the tour vehicles as many people were hitting their knees on the metal seat supports from the very bumpy tracts we traveled on. Great guide (Habibi) who Read more”

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Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip - Du Toitskloof Pass and the first mountain views
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Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

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

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

Travel from Cape Town with guides such as Mike, Werner, or Jamie through Du Toitskloof and the Breede River Valley to Aquila Safari Reserve. Expect a buffet lunch, champagne, and a 2 to 3 hour group game drive, with a private safari vehicle available for an added fee.

“Werner my tour guide and driver was super! Fun, courteous, knowledgeable about the area and country. The winery was lovely and a good tasting. Aquila was great. I lucked out and had Jana as my guide. She is the conservationist for the reseRead more”

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Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive - The pickup and the long road east
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Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

5.Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 508 reviews · 9 hours · from $168

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve for a sunset drive in an open 4x4 truck. Expect a long scenic day, a wine tasting stop, welcome drinks and snacks, expert ranger commentary, and a real chance to see four of Africa’s Big Five. Guides such as Elda, Dona, Frank, and Willy vary by departure.

“It was an incredible experience, we seen 4 of the big 5 and had a very memorable day. Elda is a wonderful guide who made the day very interesting and enjoyable. She gave us lots of information and commentary on the way to Aquila about Cape Town and the local areas we passed through. The transportation was also very comfortable and driver very safe. Thank you!”

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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive - The sunset safari is the main event
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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

6.Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 350 reviews · 9 hours · from $167

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve for a sunset safari in an open 4x4 truck. Your day includes hotel pickup, a welcome drink, tea, coffee, snacks, an experienced ranger, and a strong chance of seeing lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and hippos.

“It was a very nice sunset game drive! We had a very good guide who explained a lot about the animals. I would always recommend to take the sunset drive because there is a very good chance to see a lot of animals (we saw 4/5 big 5‘s and from a very very close distance right next to the vehicle). We only had a little time at the reserve for using the pool and having lunch though, but the nice safari tour made that up!”

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Cape Town: Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront - Leaving the V&A Waterfront by catamaran
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Cape Town: Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront

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

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

Cruise from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront on a luxury catamaran with an English-speaking crew. Search for dolphins, seals, penguins, whales, and sunfish while passing Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, Clifton, and Camps Bay. Bring a windbreaker and keep your wildlife expectations flexible.

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

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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch - Welcome drink and buffet lunch at Aquila
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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch

8.Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 183 reviews · 8 hours · from $342

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve for a welcome drink, buffet lunch, and 3-hour open-vehicle game drive. Guides such as Djiby, Thomas, Collen, and Tina have led highly praised outings. Expect close animal sightings, Cape Winelands views, and a long road day.

“the drive was the safest and the very most comfortable drive we ever have had in cape town. the driver was very knowledgable about the history and culture of cape town and south africa, spoke perfect french as well and two and a half hours drive with him were like a pleasant breeze in his very very comfortable vehicle. we can highly recommend to make this safari light and elegant trip while in cape town- it is a wonderful preparation for kruger park or such safaris later on in life. the park tour was funny, witty, interesting and safe, with delightful welcome drinks and lovely lunch buffet. the day will…”

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Marine Big 5 Safari with transport from Cape Town - Two to two and a half hours around Dyer Island
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Marine Big 5 Safari with transport from Cape Town

9.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 Dyer Island boat trip led by a marine biologist and crew. Look for whales, sharks, seals, penguins, and dolphins, then visit the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. Expect an early start and a long road transfer.

“We were able to see Copper sharks, a few penguins, seals, and Southern Right Whales. The whales in particular were wonderful, and we were able to watch them from a close distance for a long while. The boat's crew was very professional and ran the trip well. Certainly, wilRead more”

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Aquila Game Reserve Safari with Park Fees, Transport & Lunch - Arrival, welcome drink, and buffet lunch
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Aquila Game Reserve Safari with Park Fees, Transport & Lunch

10.Aquila Game Reserve Safari with Park Fees, Transport & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · from $238

Travel from Cape Town through the Cape Winelands to Aquila Private Game Reserve. Guides such as Ray, James, Collen, and Ebby provide commentary on the journey, followed by a buffet lunch and three-hour open-vehicle safari.

“Tour was well described and lived up to all expectations. Lunch was very good. We saw 4 of the big 5 (leopards are very elusive midday) plus hippos plus many more. The guide was very knowledgeable & we learned a lot about the animals we saw.”

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From Cape Town: Big Five Safari Experience with Lunch - The 8:50 pickup and the long road south
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From Cape Town: Big Five Safari Experience with Lunch

11.Big Five Safari Experience with Lunch

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

Spend a full day at a private game reserve about two hours from Cape Town. Your English-speaking guide, possibly Collen or Dudu, handles transport and local commentary before a buffet lunch and 2.5 to 3-hour game drive. Expect Big Five sightings, but also a managed reserve rather than a wild 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…”

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Sunset Safari at the big 5 Game Reserve All inclusive - Arrival at a private game reserve
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Sunset Safari at the big 5 Game Reserve All inclusive

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

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

You’ll travel from Cape Town to a private Western Cape game reserve for a sunset 4x4 drive. Look for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, giraffes, and zebra while enjoying snacks and water. French-speaking guide Enoch Mukidi Lokwa is available on some departures.

“I think the Game Reserve is probably a bit Grand a name to describe this beautiful Hotel and animal Park. It felt like a private collection of 4, Lions we didn’t get to see, 4 elephants, 2 Giraffes and a baby we couldn’t get close enough to make out. And a handful, deer,Zebra, 4 hippos underwater and a handful of buffalo. That said the place is gorgeous and the Champagne Reception and buffet lunch is splendid. They also provide some live African music, while you wait for your slot. It’s a chaotic getting to the trucks. A lot of shouting and tourists confused. I think if we were allocated a…”

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Cape Town: Private Aquila Reserve Safari with Winery Lunch - Arriving at Aquila Private Nature Reserve
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Cape Town: Private Aquila Reserve Safari with Winery Lunch

13.Private Aquila Reserve Safari with Winery Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 20 reviews · 10 hours · from $185

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve for a 2 to 3 hour 4x4 safari, then visit Fairview Wine and Cheese. You may see lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and antelope. Hotel pickup, transport, lunch, wine tasting, and cheese are included, but the reserve fee is extra.

“Driver was friendly and took good care of us. Our visit to Aquila was disappointing though because we didn’t get to see a number of animals including lions and hippos.”

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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch - Welcome drink and buffet lunch at Aquila
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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch

14.Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 17 reviews · 9 hours · from $130

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve for a full-day safari with hotel pickup, buffet lunch, wine tasting, and an open-vehicle game drive. You may see lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, and leopards. English and French guides are available, including the highly praised Isidore.

“Very good day trip. Our tour guide, Isidore was outstanding. He ensured we were in the right places and the right times and explained a lot both ways on the trip.”

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Cape Town big five safari with transport lunch Excl park fee - Arriving at Aquila Game Reserve
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Cape Town big five safari with transport lunch Excl park fee

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

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

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve for a guided open-air 4x4 safari, lunch, and pool access. You may see lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, giraffes, zebras, and antelope. Guides such as Roland add local insight, while the reserve explains its conservation work.

“Roland is very polite and educated person, pleasant and knowledgeable guide. We ended up in a mini van alone so was really comfortable. The place for safari is fun in itself with the pool and kids playground. Safari nicely organised with 2.5h going around and listening to nice stories about animals.”

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New in Big Five Game Drives in Cape Town

★ 3.8Aquila Reserve Safari with Lunch and Winery VisitFrom $1233 reviews
★ 4.0Big Five Sunset Safari incl. TransportationFrom $2803 reviews
★ 5.0Early Morning Safari Big Five Experience Near Cape Town, SAFrom $3423 reviews
★ 3.3The Best Private Cape Town Safari Day Trip – Aquila Big 5From $3743 reviews
★ 4.1Self drive Aquila Safari Game Reserve Sunset Game DriveFrom $1244 reviews
★ 4.0Full Day Aquila Safari (German)From $3203 reviews

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