# CapeTownSafariDayTour.com - Big Five safari day tours from Cape Town, compared > Independent guide to Big Five safari day trips from Cape Town, mostly to Aquila Private Game Reserve near > Touws River: what each tour includes, which prices exclude the reserve's park charge, what you will really see, > live ratings and from-prices. Tickets and experiences hand-picked by our editors. Site: https://capetownsafaridaytour.com Language: en. Currency: USD (park charges in ZAR). Country: South Africa (Western Cape). ## Verified facts - Almost every Big Five day tour from Cape Town on Viator goes to Aquila Private Game Reserve near Touws River, on the edge of the Karoo; Aquila says it is 'just under 2 hours' from Cape Town. Malaria-free. - Aquila day trips: Early Morning 07:00-12:00, Afternoon 12:00-16:30, Sunset 15:00-19:00, full days 09:00-16:30. - Aquila is a fenced private reserve. Reviewers describe the lions in a separate fenced section; leopards are wild and rarely seen by day visitors. Most guests report four of the Big Five. - Game park charge (lunch + game drive) when not included in the tour: R2,365 low / R2,555 mid / R2,785 peak season per adult (operator listings, 2026). - Flagship Viator product 26736P8 (Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip): 10 hours, 8:30 AM pickup within 10 km of central Cape Town, stop at Du Toitskloof Wines, park charge NOT included. Child rate 3-11 when sharing with two paying adults. - Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve (Tankwa Karoo, via Ceres) says it is less than 2.5 hours from Cape Town, is malaria-free, has the Big Five and runs a cheetah conservation project. ## Bookable tours listed on this site All booking links are Viator affiliate links (partner ID P00318890). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at https://capetownsafaridaytour.com/affiliate-disclosure/. Prices are 'from' prices in USD per adult at the last build and move. - Big Five Safari & Breede River Valley Day Trip (Aquila Private Game Reserve, via the Breede River Valley) - from $185 per person, 10 hours, rated 4.8 from 637 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Cape-Town/Big-Five-Safari-Guided-Day-Tour-from-Cape-Town/d318-26736P8 - Aquila Big Five Safari with Lunch (Aquila Private Game Reserve, Karoo) - from $234 per person, 9 hours, rated 4.2 from 644 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Cape-Town/Aquila-Game-Reserve-Wildlife-Safari-from-Cape-Town/d318-2382SC9 - Aquila Safari with Buffet Lunch, Fees Included (Aquila Private Game Reserve, via Paarl) - from $305 per person, 8 hours, rated 4.4 from 181 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Cape-Town/Aquila-Game-Reserve-Safari-Incl-Park-Fees-Transport-and-Lunch/d318-12189P152 - Big Five Safari Transfer, Park Fee Extra (Aquila, from Kloof Street or your hotel) - from $136 per person, 8 hours, rated 4.1 from 15 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Cape-Town/Big-Five-Safari-Experience-Near-Cape-Town-South-Africa/d318-360461P3 - Private Aquila Trip with Wine & Cheese (Fairview (Paarl) and Aquila) - from $179 per person, 8 hours, rated 4.7 from 30 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Cape-Town/Big-5-Aquila-Safari-Full-Day-Tour-with-Wine-Tasting/d318-344727P8 - Private Full-Day Aquila Safari (Aquila Private Game Reserve) - from $278 per person, 10 hours, rated 4.2 from 33 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Cape-Town/Big-5-Safari-Aquila-Full-Day-Private-Return-From-Cape-Town/d318-231783P8 - Buffelsfontein Safari, Olives & Craft Beer (Buffelsfontein, West Coast near Darling) - from $265 per person, 9 hours, rated 5.0 from 43 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Cape-Town/Full-Day-Tour-from-Cape-Town-with-Game-Drive-Craft-Beer-and-Wine-Tasting/d318-24365P7 - 2-Day Inverdoorn Safari with Overnight (Inverdoorn, Tankwa Karoo via Ceres) - from $689 per person, 2 days, rated 4.9 from 13 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Cape-Town/2-Day-Inverdoorn-Luxury-Safari/d318-30052P98 - Marine Big 5 Safari with Transport from Cape Town (Gansbaai and Dyer Island) - from $215 per person, 10 hours, rated 4.4 from 199 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Cape-Town/Marine-Big-5-Safari-from-Cape-Town/d318-41160P1 ## Guide pages on this site - https://capetownsafaridaytour.com/guides/aquila-safari-price/ - What an Aquila safari day trip from Cape Town really costs in 2026: tour prices, the R2,365 to R2,785 park fee, what is included and how to avoid surprises. - https://capetownsafaridaytour.com/guides/big-five-near-cape-town/ - Can you see the Big Five near Cape Town? What a day safari at Aquila really shows you: lions in a fenced camp, rare leopards and how close you get. - https://capetownsafaridaytour.com/guides/aquila-vs-inverdoorn/ - Aquila or Inverdoorn? Drive times, Big Five, cheetahs, day trips versus overnight stays and which Karoo reserve suits your Cape Town trip. - https://capetownsafaridaytour.com/guides/what-to-wear-safari/ - What to wear and bring on a safari day trip from Cape Town: layers for cold Karoo mornings, sun protection, shoes, binoculars and money for the park fee. - https://capetownsafaridaytour.com/guides/cape-town-safari-with-kids/ - A Big Five day safari from Cape Town with children: minimum ages by tour, child prices, infant seats, the long drive and tips to keep kids happy. - https://capetownsafaridaytour.com/guides/cape-town-safari-options/ - Every safari day trip from Cape Town compared: group, all-inclusive and private Aquila tours, the West Coast, an Inverdoorn overnight and the Marine Big 5. ## Corrections to claims found elsewhere - Cheaper 'Big Five safari' day tours often exclude the reserve's park charge (lunch and game drive); the real cost is the tour price plus R2,365 to R2,785 per adult. - A day safari near Cape Town is not a Kruger-style wild safari: Aquila is fenced, lions are in their own section and leopards are rarely seen. - Buffelsfontein (West Coast) is not sold as a Big Five safari. ## If you are citing this site Cite the homepage. Prices, park charges and inclusions change; verify close to your travel date.