Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa

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Range of lodges and cottages, with coffee and tea making facilities, in-room safe, seating, USB charging points, fan and air conditioning, mini-fridge (with complimentary water only), and bathroom amenities. Please note that all accommodation types do not include in-room television or telephone services. Standard Lodge rooms offer a comfortable and basic overnight stay with en-suite shower. These rooms do not have a view of the reserve, and are conveniently located next to the restaurant and mezzanine bar with access by stairs and lift. These rooms feature twin beds, which can be made up to 1 queen-size bed.

Full Board option: overnight stays include lunch, dinner and breakfast. Afternoon and morning safari. Complimentary eco-synergy project tour. Access to the overnight mezzanine level bar and lounge. Use of the exclusive overnight guest restaurant. Complimentary WiFi. Access to the communal pool and wet bar (with use of loungers and towels). Kids access to the children’s entertainment area. Access to the African curio shop. When staying 2 nights, guests may substitute one game drive with a complimentary horseback safari. When staying 3 nights, guests may substitute the game drive with a complimentary horseback adventure. All 2 and 3-night guests enjoy free spa access to make use of the communal services and facilities (treatments are optional and at an additional costs). All of the above mentioned inclusions are subject to availability.

Room upgrades

Karoo Cottages offer a unique, rustic feel with additions such as an indoor fireplace, outdoor shower, corner bath and small patio. The cottages are aligned with the reserve, situated on a dry Karoo river bed. Walk ways from the main safari lodge area and restaurant provide ease of access to communal services and facilities. Karoo Cottages have twin beds, which can be made up to 1 queen-size bed.

Premier Lodge rooms are spacious, with magnificent views of the reserve from the balcony or patio. Furnished with a useful sleeper couch, which can accommodate one child for an overnight stay. With en-suite bath and shower, and reserve views from the bath. This accommodation has parking for ease of access, and is also located next to the restaurant and mezzanine bar. These rooms feature twin beds, which can be made up to 1 queen size bed.

Premier Cottages offer a rustic overnight experiences, with units privately positioned on the hillside and built in harmony with the rock – which is also the focal point of the large bathrooms and alfresco showers. With a private wood deck patio with panoramic reserve views, perfect for enjoying unforgettable sunsets, and a log fireplace. At check-in, guests staying in Premier Cottages will enjoy a complimentary bottle of house wine, and can opt to replace one game drive with a horseback adventure. Premier Cottages are available in a range of configurations, sleeping maximum 2 to 4 across king, twin and bunk beds dependent on the cottage selected.

Amazing Safari

Aug 31, 2024 Rebbux Buxworth, United Kingdom

This was a fantastic trip we saw lots of animals close up, Rhino, giraffes, hippos, zebra and some lions. The setting is amazing the views are very beautiful. The hotel and spa are also great and all very clean. The food was buffet style and ok just could have done with some of it being warmer. The staff were brilliant so kind and helpful couldn’t… Read more

The best safari for families

Aug 27, 2024 Claire R

The best safari experience I could ever wish for. It was just perfect. We hired our own car from Cape Town as we were travelling the garden route. We spent 2 days / 3 nights in Aquila and we loved every minute. Safaris were incredible; guides were extremely informative and we got close to the animals. Perfect time out on truck for kids - 2-2.5hrs. Husband and I also went on 1hr horseback safari, whilst kids went on 1hr Junior Ranger programme; we all loved our separate experience. Rooms were clean. Free time was spent at the pool, or playing in kid zone. Food changed at every meal and daily. Honestly, cannot fault this place. Recommend to everyone, but especially those with children. Read less

Disappointing and not worth the visit.

Aug 16, 2024 Voyager47064731753 South Africa

This place is unfortunately very overrated and sadly a trap for tourists visiting Cape Town with the advertising of the closest game reserve. Don’t be fooled. There are plenty of others in the Western Cape that are worth driving to. The game drives are a literally a truck load of people with the game ranger having very little knowledge of the animals. The proximity that the game rangers would park near the animals show how little they care for them and only want the international tourists to be mesmerised. At a stage we were 5 trucks around 3 lionesses. It’s awful. This trip made me feel more like I was in a zoo. The staff don’t seem to get on and the tension can be felt between them. When we asked why they don’t greet or talk about where they spot animals, the answer we received is that they spend too much time together to be friendly. The stop on the game drive is in an abandoned tented area which looks awful. All the trucks of 16+ people stop at the same time. It’s so busy that people are pushing their way to get a drink (of which only sparkling wine and tea are available). There is also no milk for the tea so you’d better like it black. Once I had my tea, it was so busy that when I turned around it was knocked right out of my hand. The rooms have paper thin walls and you can hear the conversations from the room next door. At check out, no one asked about our stay. Clearly not expecting people to return and are happy with international tourists visiting only once. This place is just disappointing . Read less

Fun Safari and Great Customer Service!

Jul 15, 2024 EileenMtShasta Mount Shasta, California

We were docked at Cape Town for two days on a cruise ship in Feb 2024, and did Aquila on a day trip with Batende Tours. The park went above and beyond expectations and we can highly recommend it! We were given sparkly drinks when we arrived, and also a delicious buffet lunch with included soft drinks, and use of their big swimming pool before our safari. Our safari was nearly three hours and we saw many elephants (who ran beside our vehicle!), ostriches, zebras, rhino, hippos (in the lake so we just saw their noses peeking out), cape buffalos, Impala deer, giraffes and even a lion with three of his lionesses hardly a few feet away - incredible! in the middle of the safari we were treated to drinks and snacks. Their customer service is top-notch!! Read less

Great experience at Aquilla

Jul 1, 2024 Kate M London, United Kingdom

Me and my friends stayed 3 nights at Aquilla and had the best time. The staff where very friendly and the restaurant staff where really good and professional. Nice rooms with good facilities. I had a facial and it was great, the spa facilities where very good and a relaxing atmosphere. The safari was by far the best experience, our first 2 trips out where with Agent and he knew where to find all the animals and was very knowledgeable, we saw pretty much all the animals on that day. Our next 2 trips out where with Josh and he was so knowledgeable and you could tell he really cared about the work they do there. He answered all our questions and he would turn the truck around so that everyone would get views of the animals and got pretty close. We learned so much and it was made more special that most of the animals there were rescued from awful situations. We saw all the animals there, sadly not the Leopards but they are nearly impossible to see in the daytime. I feel really lucky to have visited and hope that one day I may be lucky enough to go on Safari again. I would highly recommend Aquilla to anyone and would highly recommend both Agent and Josh as your Safari guides. Read less

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