South Africa has so many beautiful adventures to offer locals and foreigners alike that it’s hard to pinpoint just one experience. If you are after a safari adventure and the chance to see the Big 5 Cape Town then we have you covered.
With this useful guide, you can explore and experience our rugged wilderness and get a chance to view some of the most beautiful animals around. If you aren’t sure what the Big Five consists of then here is a refresher:
- The African lion
- The African elephant
- The Cape Buffalo
- The Africa leopard
- The Rhino
The game reserves listed below are all in the Western Cape province, a malaria-free zone in South Africa.
Where to see the Big 5 in Cape Town
1. Aquila Game Reserve
Aquila Game Reserve is set in the beautiful Karoo highlands against the mountains. This game reserve is only two hours from Cape Town and has a variety of game. One of the biggest attractions, however, is the Big Five.
Enjoy a three-hour safari where you will be introduced to these magnificent animals all under the care of an experienced, knowledgeable guide. Sip on a refreshing welcome drink and take in your surroundings before you hop on one the Aquila’s traditional bush vehicles. This game viewing experience will leave you breathless.
Did you know: The Aquila Rehabilitation and Conservation Centre (ARC) is an outdoor sanctuary sponsored by the reserve that is dedicated to facilitating once doomed ‘canned lions’. These lions live out the remainder of their lives in the comfort and safety of lush one-hectare fenced camps. The ARC is also home to rescued leopard and cheetahs that are cared for as part of a cheetah breeding program.
The Aquila Game Reserve safari is an attraction included in your Cape Town City Pass.
2. Fairy Glen
Fairy Glen is an hour’s drive from Cape Town and it is tucked away at the foot of the famous Brandwacht mountains. This beautiful Big Five Game Reserve is surrounded by proteas and fynbos vegetation.
Your experience at Fairy Glen will be intimate and special as you can get up close and personal with some of the world’s most beautiful animals. Make sure you bring your camera because the photo opportunities are endless. Although the reserve is home to the Big Five, the mountain leopards of the area roam freely in Fairy Glen. The leopards aren’t seen often as they are quite shy and hunt mostly at night.
The experienced game rangers and guides will make sure that you enjoy every second of your time at Fairy Glen and they are more than happy to answer any of your questions.
3. Inverdoorn Game Reserve
This game reserve is filled with a variety animals and natural wildlife within the Klein Karoo just 2.5 hours away from Cape Town. Inverdoorn has made a significant contribution to sustaining the biodiversity of the region. This 10 000-hectare reserve is also home to the cheetah conservation centre.
This beautiful game reserve is not only home to the Big Five, but to a host of other beautiful animals like zebras, hippos, giraffes, wildebeest, springbok, and of course cheetahs. With exceptional wildlife encounters, breathtaking scenery and modern accommodation – you are in for a treat when you visit Inverdoorn Game Reserve. The experienced guides at Inverdoorn will make sure that your safari experience is one to remember.
4. Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve is situated less than four hours outside of Cape Town along the picturesque Garden Route. The 11 000-hectare Private Game Park is home to free-roaming Big Five, herds of eland, giraffe, hippos, cheetah, and zebra.
The setting of Gondwana is absolutely majestic and you will be spoilt with views of the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains in every direction. Aside from the beautiful animals that you will get a chance to see, the reserve is home to indigenous fynbos that covers the undulating valleys.
With magnificent views and the chance to see the Big Five this authentic African experience is one that you simply can’t pass up.
5. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is just a 3-hour drive from Cape Town and is situated in the heart of the Little Karoo along Route 62. What you may not have known about Route 62 is that it is the longest wine route. This gives you an opportunity to stop off on your way there and stock up on the region’s mouthwatering wine.
Situated at the foot of the towering Warmwaterberg Mountains this game reserve is situated on 58 000-hectares of beautiful, wild Karoo plains. What you may not know is that there are rare examples of San rock art that date back more than 3500 years.
Sanbona is much more than a safari and home to the Big Five – the vast landscape and raw beauty will take your breath away and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
Whether you want to have a quiet, relaxing getaway or embark on every experience possible at one of these game reserves, you will be spoilt for options.
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Waterfront Charters Sunset Champagne Cruise
Cape Point Explorer Tour
Groot Constantia Wine Tasting and Tour
Two Oceans Aquarium
Tandem Flight Co.
Marine Dynamics Shark Cage Diving
Great White Shark Tours
Drumbeat Charters Seal Colony Cruise
PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience
Mojo Market R100 Bar Voucher
Urban Oasis Eatery & Bar
Fish & Chips in Hout Bay
Enjoy a Free Burger & Chips in Camps Bay (sit down only)
Acrobranch Constantia
Acrobranch Stellenbosch
Ocean Experiences
Helicopter & Ocean Combo
Flying Dutchman Funicular
Zeitz MOCAA Museum
Mama Africa Restaurant
Circe Launches Seal Island Cruise
Cape Town Helicopters’ Twelve Apostles Scenic Helicopter Flight
Beerhouse on Long
PlayDate SuperPark
Gold Restaurant – African Dining Experience
Stellenbosch Vineyards
Aquila Game Reserve and Spa Afternoon Safari
Vredenheim Winery & Big Cat Sanctuary
Cobra Experience
Free Tasting at Woodstock Gin Company
Franschhoek Wine Tram Explorer Tour
World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park
City Sightseeing Bo Kaap Walking Tour
Spier Wine Farm
Shimansky Rockwell Diamond Experience
Iziko South African National Gallery
Bo-Kaap Museum
Iziko South African Museum
Norval Foundation
Iziko Slave Lodge
Franschhoek Adventures Historical Village Walk
City Sightseeing LaGuGu Township Tour
The Franschhoek Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Pienaar and Son
Cape Town Diamond Museum
The Diamond Gallery
Cape Wheel
Avontuur Estate Farm and Wine Experience
Le Bonheur Reptiles and Adventures
SUP Cape Town (Stand Up Paddle Boarding)
City Cruiser Bicycle Rental
Dyer Island Cruises Whale Watching
Castle of Good Hope
Alpaca Loom Barn Tour & Coffee Shop
Rush Trampoline Park
Simonsig Wine Estate
Franschhoek Winelands Luxury Cycle Tour
Stellenbosch Winelands Luxury Tour
Cape Peninsula Pedal
Stellenbosch Half Day Winelands Cycle Tour
Stellenbosch Vineyard Meander
Stellenbosch Adventure Ride
City Sightseeing Historic City Walk
City Sightseeing Imizamo Yethu Township Tour
Eagle Encounters
Waterfront Charters Harbour Cruise
South African Jewish Museum
City Sightseeing Harbour Cruise
City Sightseeing Canal Cruise
Heart of Cape Town Museum
Waterfront Charters Harbour & Bay Cruise
Cape Side Cars Chauffeured City Tour
Cape Town Holocaust Centre
District Six Museum
TOKARA Wine and Olive Farm
Scratch Patch
Lovane Boutique Wine Estate and Guesthouse
Cave Golf
Honest Chocolate
Tanzanite International
Diamonds 27
Sport Helicopters Huey City Hopper Flight
Cape Explorer: Wine Tour & Tasting Full-Day Excursion
City Grill Steakhouse
Wharfside Grill at Mariner’s Wharf
Moyo Restaurant, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Cape Town Tandem Paragliding
Two Oceans Aquarium Diving and Penguin Encounter