Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa | Cape Town, South Africa | Virgin Atlantic Holidays
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Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa
Cape Town, South Africa
4 stars
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 Karoo style buffet 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
Explore the local area
Located between the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains in the Western Cape, a 2 hour drive from Cape Town.
Hotel Information
Room Information
Room Upgrade 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 there are now 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.
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 safari. 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.
Hotel details
Dining
Restaurant. Mezzanine level bar and lounge.
Fun and Games
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*.
Additional Information
* Denotes local charge.
Trip advisor rating
3.7/5
1,058 reviews
Excellent
40%
Very Good
22%
Average
16%
Poor
10%
Terrible
12%
“Aquila is a glorified zoo and not a safari/game reserve”
Oct 19, 2025AnnaMcD01
Read the reviews before booking - you’ll see they’re all pretty negative. It’s a glorified zoo where the animals are rescued and kept in captivity.
We had spent a week at a true game reserve in Waterberg (which was incredible!) with a variety of wild animals actually living in the wilderness but as it was a horse back safari, they understandably didn’t have elephants or lions due to the danger and also because they said the size of their reserve (10,000 hectares) wasn’t large enough for elephants.
Therefore we decided to book a day trip to Aquila when staying at Cape Town the following week so we could see lions and elephants in their true South African habitat.
On arriving, the first alarm bell was the fact it is literally just off a main road, visible from the main road and has a fence around it.
The experience wasn’t dreadful, we did indeed see all the animals as advertised but left feeling so sad and disappointed and wishing we had read the reviews before booking.
Aquila is also only 10,000 hectares which is not large enough - Google it, they need about 1 million. There are four elephants, wandering around aimlessly and being followed by staff as the elephants keep trying to break out apparently - unsurprising.
At first we were fascinated that all the animals were within view of the hotel and thought we must be so lucky. We then realised that they are corralled into a small enclosure in front of the hotel - that’s how they can guarantee you’ll see them. It’s unnatural and cramped and the animals looked miserable and unwell.
The safest part was the one lonely giraffe and no trees for it to eat naturally - it can actually kill them having to graze low down. The guide said the giraffe had to go up the mountain to graze at an angle.
We soon realised it was a zoo when we went into the “lion enclosure” - they try not to dislocate how many animals they have and it’s because they don’t have many. They have 3 lions. Kept separately.
Ergh it was just so sad thinking back to it. It is not at all what it is advertised as and I feel sad that we supported such cruelty. It needs some serious investigating. Just read the reviews before you go, we didn’t stay but had paid for breakfast on arrival which was disgusting.
Another observation was they offered horse back riding safaris for complete beginners! As an experienced horse rider this is insane!!!!! Not only to allow anyone to just jump on a horse but to then ride amongst wild animals - dangerous and illegal.
There’s a reason why this place is accessible from Cape Town and cheap in comparison to other safaris - it’s cos it’s rubbish and cruel.
“DISAPPOINTING AND DISMAL”
Oct 15, 2025Lady25101Bridgerton
We stopped for Breakfast en route to the Karoo. What a disappointing experience. Awful welcome at reception, shewed away from the restaurant and told to go and sit at an open-air outdoor restaurant for day visitors. Told Breakfast was R180 per head (Children paid the same price). The full breakfast offering was apple and oranges and watery plain yoghurt, tasteless muesli, old dried out scrambled egg, mince that tasted like it had been made five days ago, a four-slice toaster that could only toast one slice of toast. One juice offering, a whole basket of uncooked eggs, and when we asked for fried eggs, we were told with a sigh that they would make them if we really wanted. Old melted butter, cold coffee, zero zero zero service whatsoever and plenty of staff standing around chattering to one another. Really poor experience. The view (over the old, stinky water in the derelict fire pit) was the nicest part. The toilets were smelly and had no toilet paper, and no working taps at most of the basins and nothing to dry your hands with. I have no inclination to ever return, despite their rigorous advertising, especially not to stay after their breakfast was so utterly dismal.
“Refund not as promised! Why am I surprised?”
Oct 09, 2025Yolanda B
Still no refund even though I was promised it by Wednesday! The excuse now is that only one person can process refunds and that person is on leave — seriously? What kind of operation runs like that? The communication from the reserve has been absolutely pathetic — no updates, no responsibility, and no sense of urgency. We’ve had to chase them every step of the way. Completely unprofessional and disappointing experienc
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Some of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. However, ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: https://www.atol.org/about-atol/atol-certificates.
This product offers you combinations of a hotel and flights at an inclusive price. This product enjoys the protection of the Package Travel, Package Travel and Linked Arrangements Regulations 2018.
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