Top 5 Best Game Reserves for Safaris Near Cape Town

By Heather Richardson

Combining a visit to Cape Town and a safari is easier than you might think, with several game reserves just a short drive from the city. Many of these offer the opportunity to see the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard). To help you plan your trip, we’ve picked some of the best game reserves for safaris near Cape Town.

Although South Africa’s most famous safari area is Kruger National Park, to get there from Cape Town requires a 2½-hour flight and sometimes a stop in Johannesburg. For those with less time, these Cape Town safari destinations are ideal.

160 Safaris From Cape Town

1. Aquila Game Reserve

Aquila Private Game Reserve

Aquila Game Reserve is a great choice for a Cape Town safari day trip as it’s only a couple of hours outside the city. Safaris run three times a day, allowing plenty of options for those on a brief visit. If you’re very short on time, but not on cash, opt for the fly-in helicopter safari.

Aside from the Big Five, there are over 150 native bird species on Aquila’s 100km²/39mi² reserve and big mammals such as giraffes and hippos. Aquila also has an animal rescue center on site and a Cape leopard monitoring program.

Distance from Cape Town: 2 hours
Where to stay: Aquila has a four-star lodge and luxury cottages, with standard, premier, family and other room options.
Things to do: game drives, horseback safaris, quad biking, fly-in helicopter safaris

Aquila Safaris

2. Inverdoorn Game Reserve

Inverdoorn Game Reserve

One of the most luxurious places for a Cape Town safari, Inverdoorn is a 100km²/39mi² reserve in Tankwa Karoo National Park. The reserve’s luxury lodge offers a plush spot to rest your head if a day trip from Cape Town seems too rushed.

You can see the Big Five here, as well as giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and cheetahs. Aside from the wildlife you will spot on a game drive, Inverdoorn is also home to a cheetah rescue and rehabilitation center.

Distance from Cape Town: 2½ hours
Where to stay: The reserve’s boutique lodge has a variety of room types, from the Tankwa chalets to the ambassador suite.
Things to do: game drives, cheetah encounters, horseback riding

Inverdoorn Safaris

3. Garden Route Game Lodge

Garden Route Game Reserve

Another of the best game reserves for safaris near Cape Town, Garden Route Game Lodge also presents the perfect opportunity to drive this stunning coastal route from Cape Town out east.

You will likely spot four of the Big Five on a game drive through the property (lions, rhinos, elephants and buffalo); the Cape leopard is very elusive. Other animals to see include giraffes, cheetahs, various antelopes, rare bat-eared foxes and caracals.

Distance from Cape Town: 3½ hours
Where to stay: The three-star lodge has standard rooms, family or luxury suites, and chalets.
Things to do: game drives, guided bushwalks, bird watching, kids’ program

Garden Route Safaris

4. Gondwana Game Reserve

Gondwana Game Reserve

Gondwana is a little over four hours outside Cape Town, but well worth the journey for the beautiful fynbos scenery alone, which you can learn about on a guided walk. Its flora, as well as the fauna, is what makes Gondwana one of the best game reserves for safaris near Cape Town.

The reserve introduced the first black rhino of recent times to the Western Cape; the rhinos were found in the region up until the late 18th century. All the Big Five are counted at Gondwana, alongside birds that are only found in South Africa – for example, the orange breasted sunbird. The 110km²/42mi² reserve is home to lions, endangered Cape mountain zebras, elephants, kudu and springbok.

Distance from Cape Town: 4 hours
Where to stay: There are various options for those staying at Gondwana, including spacious villas for families or groups.
Things to do: game drives, fynbos walks, kids’ program, golf (nearby)

Gondwana Safaris

5. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Sanbona is another of the best game reserves for safaris near Cape Town. More adventurous travelers can strike out on a walking safari at the seasonal Explorer Camp; alternatively, there are three lodges at which to stay. This huge reserve is 620km²/239mi². It’s possible to spot the Big Five and (if you’re lucky) other rare animals, such as aardvarks and caracals.

At Sanbona, you can also see rare white lions and riverine rabbits, the latter of which are only known to inhabit the central Karoo. And it’s not just flora and fauna: the San and Khoekhoe rock art found here dates back over 3,500 years.

Distance from Cape Town: 3½ hours
Where to stay: There is a seasonal campsite along with three lodges, including the ecofriendly Dwyka Tented Lodge and the Gondwana Family Lodge.
Things to do: game drives, walking safaris, rock-art tours, bird watching and kids’ program

14 Sanbona Safaris

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160 Safaris From Cape Town

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By Heather Richardson

Heather Richardson is an award-winning travel writer, based in South Africa. She is interested in conservation stories, emerging destinations and adventure travel.