Booking choice: The Big Five day trip, from $185 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Day safaris from Cape Town are sold in two ways. Some operators sell transport and a guide, and you pay Aquila's game park charge on the day for the lunch and the game drive. Others bundle everything into one price.
Below are the live Viator prices and the operators' published park charges for 2026, so you can compare like with like. Prices move with the season and the rand; the checkout price is the one that counts.
The quick answer
Transport-and-guide tours start from about $136 to $185 per adult, plus Aquila's park charge of R2,365 (low), R2,555 (mid) or R2,785 (peak season), roughly $140 to $170, which covers lunch and the game drive. All-inclusive tours start from about $234 to $305. Drinks and tips are extra on every tour.
How much is an Aquila safari day trip in 2026?
Between about $136 and $305 per adult on Viator, but only the dearer tours include the park charge.
The table compares the main options. Rand figures are the park charge the operators list as not included; in dollars they come to roughly $140 to $170 depending on the exchange rate.
| Tour | From | Park charge | Real cost per adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Five day trip (flagship) | $185 | Extra: R2,365 to R2,785 | About $325 to $355 |
| Budget safari transfer | $136 | Extra: R2,365 to R2,785 | About $275 to $305 |
| Private trip with wine | $179 | Extra: from R1,890 listed | About $290 and up |
| Aquila safari with lunch | $234 | Included | $234 |
| Private full-day safari | $278 | Included | $278 |
| All-inclusive Aquila safari | $305 | Included | $305 |
Want the guide guests praise and the winery route? The flagship lets you pay the park charge on the day.
Check dates for the Big Five day tripWhat does the park charge cover?
The game park charge pays for the reserve itself: the buffet lunch at the lodge and the game drive in an open vehicle with a ranger.
The flagship listing describes the lunch as a buffet with a glass of champagne. Other drinks are sold at the lodge bar. The charge is set by season: R2,365 per adult in low season, R2,555 in mid season and R2,785 in peak season, according to the operators' listings.
Why are some tours so much cheaper?
Because they leave the park charge out of the headline price; you pay it at the reserve, so the real gap is far smaller than it looks.
One reviewer on the flagship put it plainly: there is the tour, then entrance fees on top. That is not a scam, and the listings do say it, but it is easy to miss on a phone. Read the "Not included" line before you book.
Is the all-inclusive tour better value?
Usually about the same in total; you are paying for certainty and one transaction, not a cheaper day.
The flagship plus the park charge comes to roughly $325 to $355 per adult; the all-inclusive tours are $234 and $305. Where the flagship wins is the guiding (4.8 from 637 reviews), the winery stop and the scenic route. Where the all-inclusive wins is simplicity: nothing to pay on the day except drinks and tips.
Prefer one price with no surprises? Transfers, lunch, park fees and a three-hour drive are included.
Explore the all-inclusive Aquila safariHow much do children pay?
Less than adults on most tours, but the rules differ: the flagship has a child rate for ages 3 to 11 when sharing with two paying adults.
The Aquila safari with lunch only accepts children from 8, and the all-inclusive tour has a child band for ages 4 to 11. Aquila's own site lists 50% off for children 4 to 11 on traditional safaris, so the park charge for children is lower too. See Cape Town safari with kids for the details.
Is a private tour worth paying for?
If you are a family or group, often yes: you set the pace, skip other pickups and can add a wine farm.
The private full-day safari is from $278 per person with lunch and the drive included; the private trip with wine and cheese is from $179 plus the park charge. One flagship reviewer took the private game-drive vehicle upgrade at the reserve.
Travelling as a group? Check dates for your own car, driver and game drive.
Check dates for the private full-day safariWhat else should you budget for?
Drinks at the lodge, tips for your driver and ranger, and anything you buy on the winery stop.
Bring a card or some rand. Pickup outside central Cape Town (beyond about 10 km on the flagship) costs extra, and infant seats on the flagship are available on request (cost not included).
How far ahead should you book?
A few days ahead is enough most of the year; book earlier for the December to February peak and school holidays.
Most tours cancel free up to 24 hours before, so booking early costs nothing. The exceptions: the Aquila safari with lunch needs 3 days' notice and the 2-day Inverdoorn trip is non-refundable.
Dates fixed? Check availability for the Big Five day trip with free cancellation.
Check dates for the Big Five day tripFrequently asked questions
Do you pay the Aquila park fee in cash?
You pay it at the reserve on the day; bring a card or rand. Your operator will confirm how payment works when they confirm the pickup.
Is lunch included on an Aquila day safari?
Yes, lunch is part of the park charge. On transport-only tours you pay it on the day; on all-inclusive tours it is already in the price.
Are tips included?
No. Tips for the driver and the ranger are extra on every tour listed here.
Why do prices change between seasons?
Aquila sets low, mid and peak season park charges, and Viator prices move with demand and the exchange rate.
Ready to book
Choose your safari
Most options cancel free up to 24 hours before; check each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Big Five Safari & Breede River Valley Day Trip
- Professional guide and an upmarket vehicle
- Hotel pickup within 10 km of central Cape Town, 8:30 AM start
- Stop at Du Toitskloof Wines and views over the Breede River Valley
Aquila Safari with Buffet Lunch, Fees Included
- Round-trip hotel pickup within 10 km of the city centre, 9 AM start
- Three-hour group safari in an open 4x4 with a guide
- Buffet lunch, welcome drink, bottled water, park fees and taxes
Aquila Big Five Safari with Lunch
- Round-trip hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Open-vehicle game drive with an Aquila ranger
- Breakfast, lunch or snacks, depending on the departure you pick
