Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa

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.

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 (under 12 years) for an overnight stay. With en-suite bath and shower. 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 experience, 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.

Memorable Stay

Jan 24, 2025 SagaloutsTour Gerrards Cross, United Kingdom

We stayed here for 2 nights on a safari. The location is idyllic and the facilities very good. There is a hotel and lodges within the grounds of the hotel. Some lodges back onto the safari park and if you are lucky you will see some of the game, mainly antelope, but possibly elephants and rhinos. There is a lovely spa area, very peaceful and relaxing and ample sun beds to relax on between game drives, in front of the hotel. All the staff are very helpful. The game keepers are very knowledgeable and give a great insight into each of the animals in the park, their habits, and dangers. They obviously know where each are located and do their utmost to show you all of them. There is more activity in the early mornings, so you are more likely to see most animals on the 7 am drive, when it is cooler, however you still do see them at other times. Food is very good and drinks reasonably priced. We stayed in a lodge, very comfortable large bed, with both a bath and shower, plus an enclosed outside shower, quite quaint! Overall a brilliant experience Read less

Aquila 2 nights Karoo

Jan 19, 2025 G2274QDjom Wirral, United Kingdom

We stayed 2 nights in a Karoo cottage. All transfers were arranged by Aquila We found it to be an extremely well organised and experienced operation with charming staff. The Karoo cottage was air conditioned and had a super king bed. Tea and coffee making facilities We loved the private outdoor shower(there was also a bath and hand held shower in the bathroom) We particularly enjoyed the private outdoor patio area with comfortable furniture. We felt really close to nature here . We had full board but all drinks (even water) are payable . Food is buffet style, soso. We loved the spa area (accessible if you are a two night guest) and I enjoyed two excellent and good value treatments. The game drives take place in a large trucks seating 30ish people. Three of these set off at the same time. It is very busy. I enjoyed a horse safari(no experience needed) which felt more relaxed The animals here (you will see a lot) have all been introduced and the lions are in a separate section . It does seem a bit staged, but the animals seem happy and it is lively seeing them in natural habitat We enjoyed 2 nights here. However it gets really crowded with day visitors and during our stay there were large groups. We appreciated that they had a separate restaurant. Pool great Read less

Aquila private Game Lodge as we experienced it

Dec 30, 2024 Ngala313 Cape Town, South Africa

Advertised as a big 5 game lodge !! They have 3 lions in fenced enclosure No Leopards have been see according to staff for over a year ! Transport is a 26 seater lorry and extremely uncomfortable . We counted 9 lorries at the lion sighting ! Several rhino , not allowed to enumerate , 4 elephants small herd of a buffalo 3 giraffe, some eland , some springbok and a hippo out of the water No cheetah Our ‘luxury’ cottage was comfortable but I’m not sure of their definition of luxury!! Food was good and restaurant and bar service was excellent ! Staff in the dining areas and bar were exceptional as well as at reception . Game viewing drivers were ok but their commentaries were more ‘parrot ‘ fashion Overall experience was not what was expected from the advertising and we want all to know that the lorries with day visitors appeared to be leaving about every 30 mins which means the leisure areas are really overcrowded We won’t be recommending to our friends and families Read less

good first time game drive for kids

Dec 28, 2024 DnllJns Saint Louis, Missouri

I’ve been to Aquila several times since my first trip in 2007. I went in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. I’ve seen the grounds grow and change. When we visited in March 2024, we decided to take my 6-year old for her first game drive experience. While the grounds have certainly become more beautiful with more activities being added (play area, pool, spa), it has lost some of its personal and rustic appeal. 2024 will be our last game drive experience here due to the size it’s become and how commercial it feels. We used to have very personal experiences with smaller vehicles and only a few in the drive at a time. We would stop anywhere and have champagne outside our vehicle and chat with the driver. This past year shocked us with huge vehicles carrying multiple people and several going out at a time in a caravan. The stop for drinks was busy and bustling leaving little time to just enjoy the land and chat with the drivers. We had the family cabin and it's always fun to shower outside! Some of the cabins have an outdoor shower. The welcome staff were friendly as always. They are available to answer any and all questions and are very accommodating. It’s a cost-effective option for people visiting Cape Town since it’s a short drive and you can easily get transportation. There are things to keep kids busy. It’s a fun first-time experience. If you are looking for quiet and personal or a romantic getaway, there may be better options if you are willing to travel further. Read less

A Decent Safari Experience at Aquila Game Reserve

Dec 26, 2024 Roli J London, United Kingdom

Aquila Game Reserve is about a 2-hour drive from Cape Town, and the journey was smooth and safe, with well-maintained roads. At the resort, we started our day at 9 AM with a warm and satisfying breakfast, which included options like juice and coffee. At 10 AM, we headed out on a 4x4 safari, which was a unique experience. While it’s a private game reserve, so you shouldn’t expect animals roaming freely like in larger national parks, we did manage to see giraffes, hippos, rhinos, buffaloes, spring boxes and even lions from the Big Five. The safari lasted about 2 to 2٫5 hours and covered a fairly large area, though it didn’t quite match the excitement of a full-scale safari. Still, it was enjoyable, especially for a family outing. After the safari, we were treated to a delicious lunch. However, drinks during lunch weren’t included, so plan accordingly. As day visitors, we also had access to the outdoor pool, which was a nice touch. The pool isn’t very large, and there are no dedicated changing rooms nearby—only the toilets—so don’t forget to bring your own towels. There’s also a spa on-site, but the services require an additional fee for day visitors. Overall, it was a good trip and a decent introduction to safari-like experiences. While the lack of abundant wildlife was slightly disappointing, we still enjoyed our day. It’s a great option for those looking for a family-friendly activity close to Cape Town. Read less

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