Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa

Cape Town, South Africa

Virgin rating

The hotel

Imagine days spent viewing the Big 5, and evenings whiled away socialising and stargazing around the fire pit - it's the stuff safari holiday dreams are made of, and that's what you'll get to enjoy when you stay here at Aquila. Just a two-hour drive from Cape Town, an irresistible mix of exhilarating game drives and reserve relaxation awaits you. Amenities include a large swimming pool, mezzanine bar with incredible views, and an African restaurant serving up delicious cuisine. Be sure to bring your camera - there's going to be a lot to see, and you won't want to miss a thing.

Amenities

  • Safari
  • Bar
  • Internet Access
  • Restaurant
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool

Where is it

Located between the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains in the Western Cape, a 2 hour drive from Cape Town.

Hotel information

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.

Restaurant. Mezzanine level bar and lounge. Poolside bar.

Pool. Tranquila Spa* with luxurious African treatments, indoor and outdoor pool, and sauna and steam rooms. Aquila Kids Club*. Junior Ranger programme*. Curio Shop. Eco-synergy tours*.

* Denotes local charge.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (385)
  • Very good (212)
  • Average (158)
  • Poor (98)
  • Terrible (116)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating 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… Read more
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
Image of the Tripadvisor rating 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… Read more
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
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great safari at Aquila

Jun 22, 2024 Experience629671 London, United Kingdom

Fabulous safari with Mario as our guide in a smaller vehicle. Mario’s knowledge was fantastic, we learnt so much about the animals, their habits, their lifespan… Mario made sure he turned his engine off every time we stopped (unlike other drivers), plus he took us away from the other trucks so we had undisturbed time in close proximity to the… Read more
Fabulous safari with Mario as our guide in a smaller vehicle. Mario’s knowledge was fantastic, we learnt so much about the animals, their habits, their lifespan… Mario made sure he turned his engine off every time we stopped (unlike other drivers), plus he took us away from the other trucks so we had undisturbed time in close proximity to the animals. Would definitely come again and ask for Mario specifically. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Experience Weekend of 8 June 2024

Jun 10, 2024 Vicky V

The staff is very friendly. The place is lovely Game Drives is very nice Food is horrible, wish i could help them and show them what to do. Old pastries and bread. Tasteless veg, worst steak of my life, cant even cut it. No drinks included, not even water. Have to pay separate for it. No problems with cheap products, please just make it tasty and… Read more
The staff is very friendly. The place is lovely Game Drives is very nice Food is horrible, wish i could help them and show them what to do. Old pastries and bread. Tasteless veg, worst steak of my life, cant even cut it. No drinks included, not even water. Have to pay separate for it. No problems with cheap products, please just make it tasty and fresh .Suggestion: Do something small that small kids will also enjoy please. Don't close your saving dishes, it make the potatoes and rosties soaky. Rather put in on a nice tray on a hot plate. Do not use fake egg mixture, please use proper eggs for scramble eggs, grill your tomato slices. Al dente veg please, not veg swimming in water. There was also a hair in the smoked chicken slices. Not great snacks on game drive, could definitely improve it. Not good value for money. Room had rats/mice stuck in aircon, it kept us awake the whole night. The seats of the safari vehicle was so wet in the morning and we had to sit on that wet seats. Suggestion: Please ask your staff to at least wipe the water of the seats before your clients sit on it. We didn't pay cents for this experience. Further on it was very nice experience. Just a few stuff you can work on to make this place the best safari experience in the country. The food definitely need works ASAP Vicky Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Nothing was ever too much! Every single memeber of staff was amazing! Everyone went above and beyond

Jun 4, 2024 Ash S

We had a three nights stay at the Safari Reserve planned ourselves quad biking tour Game Reserve spa treatment. Every member staff was amazing. They went above and beyond expectations after the first night we were told that because of room availability they would upgrade us free of charge. this was something that they didn’t have to do and if we… Read more
We had a three nights stay at the Safari Reserve planned ourselves quad biking tour Game Reserve spa treatment. Every member staff was amazing. They went above and beyond expectations after the first night we were told that because of room availability they would upgrade us free of charge. this was something that they didn’t have to do and if we hadn’t of known we wouldn’t of minded but the fact that they went to such great lambs to provide us with free bottles of wineand a room upgrade was amazing. The communication throughout the trip was brilliant and a great use of modern technology. Read less