Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip
Description
Get the best of both worlds and opt for a fun filled day experiencing the Breede River Valley plus a Big Five Safari in the afternoon instead of just a boring bus ride. Pick up and drop off is directly from your doorstep by a friendly, professional tour guide. Enjoy a comfortable, air-conditioned ride through one of the Cape's most beautiful landscapes (small groups only). Travel up Du Toits Kloof Pass, then wine tasting at Du Toitskloof Wines and/or coffee at the Ou Meul Bakery & Cafe . Spend the afternoon at Aquila game reserve starting with a complimentary glass of bubbly (alcohol free available) plus a lavish buffet lunch. A 2-3 hour guided game drive allows you to experience the real heartbeat of Africa with a chance to see the Big 5 and other reintroduced animals all in one day. Park admission is at your own expense. (R2365pp low season/R2555 mid season/R2785pp peak season) Relax on the return journey via the Huguenot Tunnel with a comfort break at the majestic Du Kloof Lodge.
Tour Options
Itinerary
08h30 pick up from your hotel/accommodation. Start your tour in an upmarket vehicle with a professional tour guide at the helm. Leave the city and drive along the N1 highway past the Language Monument outside Paarl.
Travel up through the majestic Du Toitskloof Pass with impressive scenery all around you. Stop at the top to take in the view and admire Table Mountain from a distance.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the famous winelands of the Breede River Valley and the Hex River Valley on your way to the game reserve.
Stop at Du Toitskloof Wines for winetasting & the Ou Meul Bakery & Cafe next door for coffee and a treat surrounded by the majestic Du Toitskloof mountain range. Du Toitskloof Wines offer a wide variety of wines from 6 different surrounding farms in the Breede River Valley and are well known for their award winning Chenin Blanc. Their Fairtrade initiative has seen more than 3000 people directly benefitting from all their various projects annually. Wine tasting = R60pp If wine is not your thing, you can enjoy a cup of Bootleggers coffee and a mouthwatering homemade pastry next door at the famous Ou Meul Bakery & Cafe. Browse through their lovely gift shop and delectable array of home baked specialities.
Arrive at the 10 000 hectare private game farm. Their entrance fee is extra, but includes a complimentary glass of champagne, a lavish buffet lunch and a 2-3 hour game drive with a professional game ranger (approximately 14 pax per vehicle). A private game drive is available at an additional cost of R3555 for the vehicle (maximum 8 pax). This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to possibly see all of the Big 5 i.e. lions, elephants, buffalo, leopard & rhino plus other animals all in one day. The game park entrance fee= R1890pp low season/R2365pp mid season/ R2580 pp peak season, children half price. Prepayment is required to get access. We will book on your behalf and send you a payment link (credit cards are accepted). Prices are subject to change without notice.
Stop for a comfort break (coffee optional extra) at the Du Kloof Lodge situated on the Molenaars River with the spectacular Witteberg Mountain backdrop.
Travel back to Cape Town via the famous Huguenot Tunnel. Drop off at your hotel/accommodation at approximately 18h30.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up and drop off from any hotel, guesthouse, vacation rental or private residence within 10km of Cape Town central. Additional charge for pickups outside of this area.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking (cost excluded)
- Infant meals not included
- Wheelchair/walker by prior arrangement only
- Wheelchair/walker by prior arrangement only
Reviews(628)
So happy Born in Africa didn’t cancel when there were only two of us. Our guide, Mike Klerk was amazing, providing much information and ensuring we had a first class experience!
Almost all of the Big Five seen! During very severe rainstorms with thunderstorms! A truly adventurous tour. Despite the weather, it was an experience we will never forget! The driver, Werner, was very nice! And the tour guides were true driving artists! All in all, an unforgettable day!
Hi Lucia Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that, despite the dramatic weather, you had such a memorable safari experience. Sometimes the African wilderness adds a little extra adventure, and it sounds like your day was certainly one to remember! We're pleased that you were able to see almost all of the Big Five and experience the excitement of a safari during such unique conditions. We will also be sure to pass on your kind words to Werner and the safari guides, who work hard to ensure our guests have a safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable experience regardless of the weather. Thank you for choosing Born in Africa Tours. We're thrilled that your adventure became a day you'll never forget, and we hope to welcome you back to South Africa again in the future. Kind regards, The Born in Africa Tours Team
Chesney was a fantastic guide. During the drive, we had great conversations about the country and its people. We had a wonderful time at Aquila National Park. We saw many animals, and the park guide shared a wealth of information about the wildlife living there. We can absolutely recommend this tour.
Hi Raiko Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience with Chesney. The journey to and from the reserve is a big part of the day, and we're glad that his insights about South Africa, its people, and local culture helped make the trip even more memorable. It's also fantastic to hear that you enjoyed your time at Aquila and were able to see a variety of animals. Our safari partners have knowledgeable guides who are passionate about wildlife, and we're pleased that the information shared during the game drive enhanced your experience. Thank you for your recommendation. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another South African adventure in the future! Kind regards, The Born in Africa Tours Team
Wonderful experience seeing few of the remaining gems of the African brood... The big 5 never lose taste!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your safari experience and had the opportunity to see some of Africa's most iconic wildlife. There is truly something special about encountering the Big 5 in their natural surroundings, and it's an experience that never loses its magic. We appreciate you choosing Born in Africa Tours and are thrilled that we could be part of creating those memories. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable African adventure in the future! Kind regards, The Born in Africa Tours Team
Werner was our tour guide for the day and this tour exceeded expectations. We got to stop at a winery on the way and then proceeded to have lunch at Aquila before heading out for our game drive that we booked. We saw over 10 different animal species and 4 of the big 5. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience a safari but is limited on time
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that Werner helped make your day such a memorable experience and that the tour exceeded your expectations. It's great that you were able to enjoy a winery stop, lunch at Aquila, and an exciting game drive all in one day. Seeing over 10 different species, including 4 of the Big 5, is certainly something special! Thank you for recommending us to future travellers. Our safari day tours are designed specifically for guests who want to experience the magic of a South African safari while making the most of their time in Cape Town, and we're thrilled that we could deliver that experience for you. We hope to welcome you back to South Africa again in the future! Kind regards, The Born in Africa Tours Team
The guide was excellent. The game drive was costly and disappointing compared to most game drives we have been on.
Hi Craig, This small private game reserve (10,000 hectares) will admittedly never be able to compete with its bigger brothers (e.g the Kruger National Park @ 2 million hectares), but it does offer the unique possibility of seeing the Big 5 in their natural habitat in one afternoon within driving distance of Cape Town. The reserve has won many international awards for conservation and are world renown for the re-introduction & re-habilitation of game in the Karoo area. Most of the animals were rescued from captivity and did not learn to hunt, so they are fed. It is also standard practice to remove rhino horns to prevent poaching. We are pleased, however, that you enjoyed everything else about your day Jamie will be grateful for the praise, he truly is excellent!
This day safari outside of Cape Town far exceeded our expectations! We saw 4 of the Big Five, along with numerous other animals. It was so amazing to see them roaming in the wild. We opted for the private vehicle, which I would highly recommend! This was well worth the money and was amazing!
HI Kathleen Thank you for your fantastic 5-star review! We're delighted to hear that your safari experience exceeded your expectations. Seeing 4 of the Big Five, along with many other incredible animals, is truly a special experience, and there's nothing quite like watching wildlife in their natural surroundings. We're especially pleased that you enjoyed the private safari vehicle. It offers a more personalised experience and extra flexibility during the game drive, so it's wonderful to hear that you found it well worth the price. Thank you for choosing Born in Africa Tours and for sharing your recommendation with future travellers. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable South African adventure someday! Kind regards, The Born in Africa Tours Team
It is a great experience with breathtaking views. I won´t give any spoilers, only maybe take a warm jacket and hat because it might get a little bit cold. Definitely a must do if you are in town. Fantastic crew and the food was very good.
Hi Karla, Thank you for taking the time to review your experience we are so happy to hear you has a great day with Mike
Excellent communication from the tour operator. We recommend this tour provider because they facilitate you pre-paying for your safari to guarantee there will be a seat for you timed with your arrival at Aquila. We opted for the private safari vehicle, and thought it was worth the up-charge. We really enjoyed the wine/coffee stop on the way to Aquila. It nicely broke up the drive, and allowed us to get to know the other couple in our transport van (NOTE: private safari vehicle does not mean private transport from/to Cape Town). Our only wish was that we had more time for the buffet lunch...we were only allowed 45 minutes for bathroom and buffet before our safari departure (and with multiple safari vehicles going out at the same time, there were some lines). You should be aware this is a small game reserve with not a ton of animals. We were aware of this going in, but due to flooding rains during our visit, all of our other safari tours along the Garden Route were canceled, so we opted for the only day trip available from Cape Town. We saw some things on our private safari vehicle the other couple in our transport van did not see on their group vehicle. Not sure if it was just timing or if our private driver was able to alter his driving path better to see more. Our tour transport driver James/Jamie was on time, informative, and pleasant company on the journey.
Hi Melinda Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful 5-star review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your safari experience and that our team was able to help make the booking process smooth and stress-free. We understand how important it is to secure safari availability in advance, and we're pleased that our pre-payment system helped ensure everything was arranged for your visit. It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the wine and coffee stop along the way and that it added to the overall experience. We're also glad that James made the journey enjoyable with his punctuality, local knowledge, and friendly company. Thank you as well for sharing your experience with the private safari vehicle. While wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed and often depend on timing and animal movement, we're pleased that you found the private vehicle to be a worthwhile upgrade and enjoyed the more personalised safari experience. We appreciate your feedback regarding the lunch timing. As the safari departures are scheduled directly by the reserve, the time available for lunch can vary depending on the day's operational requirements, but we understand your comments and appreciate you sharing them. Thank you again for choosing Born in Africa Tours, especially under challenging weather circumstances that affected your other travel plans. We are honoured to have been part of your South African adventure and hope to welcome you back in the future. Kind regards, The Born in Africa Tours Team
Mike was an excellent driver and guide. He knew so much history and was fun! Recommend very highly to everyone!
Hi Nichols Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an awesome safari experience and that Mike helped make your day so memorable. His passion for South Africa, extensive knowledge of the region's history, and friendly personality are qualities that our guests consistently appreciate. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Mike. He will be delighted to know that his efforts contributed to such an enjoyable experience. Thank you for your high recommendation and for choosing Born in Africa Tours. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable South African adventure in the future! Kind regards, The Born in Africa Tours Team
