- Petra Top
- The shocking truth about Aquila Safari Lodge
- This article contains adverts
Hey, fellow travellers, it’s Petra here, your German Travel Buddy!
It is a new year, and Bernie and I are continuing our quest to find you an authentic safari experience near Cape Town. Regrettably, the quest continues after my first trip this year to Cape Town with some friends.
I’ve always voiced my hopes of experiencing an authentic safari near Cape Town, South Africa. So, when the opportunity came to visit Aquila Private Game Reserve, I was beyond excited. Although I had already heard some negative remarks about the Aquila Private Game Reserve, we decided to try it out for ourselves.
On social media and Aquilas website, this reserve is marketed as a luxurious, nature-filled escape just waiting to offer a glimpse of Africa’s famous “Big Five.” But, oh boy… this was not the experience I (and we) imagined.
Let me start by sharing my experience with you; maybe it will save you some frustration if you consider visiting Aquila.
The Hype vs. Reality: Arriving at Aquila
So, my friends and I (a lovely group of fellow adventurers from Germany) were all set for our safari near Cape Town (180km northeast). We were initially torn between Aquila and a few other private reserves, and despite some mixed reviews, we decided to give it a shot. After all, it seemed like the perfect spot for my friends to check off the “Big Five” from their bucket lists.
But from the moment we arrived, I could tell something felt… off. The place was packed. Picture this: a reception area filled with tourists rushing in and out and staff members hustling around to process every guest. There was no serene atmosphere – nothing that gave you that sense of being in nature. Instead, we were ushered into a cafeteria-like restaurant, where we snatched food off a self-serve buffet. There was no charm, no feeling of being connected to the wild. This was mass tourism at its finest.
We were told to meet up at the safari starting point about an hour later. By the time we got there, I could already see the line of safari trucks waiting for us. And when I say trucks, I mean huge, packed vehicles—each one crammed with at least 20 guests. Gone were the small, intimate jeeps I had envisioned from the photos online. I guess they wanted to fit as many people as possible into each vehicle. I couldn’t help but feel that something precious was missing—the exclusivity, the feeling of intimacy with nature. This was not the safari experience I had wished to share with my friends.
Aquila Safari: Not Quite the Wild Encounter I Expected
Now, let’s talk about the safari itself. My friends were brimming with excitement, hoping to see majestic animals in their natural habitat. But as soon as we set off, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were part of a window-dressing show. The animals we encountered didn’t seem wild. Some looked sluggish, almost as if they were too used to the constant stream of safari trucks passing by. At one point, I even wondered if the animals were being deliberately placed in certain spots for the best photo opportunities on safari.
Sure, we saw lions, rhinos, and elephants, but the whole experience felt like a set-up. It was like being at a crowd-pleasing zoo—but with much larger enclosures. The animals were being fed, which made it even harder to believe we were truly seeing them in their natural environment. The magic of an untamed wilderness was just… missing.
A Pricey Letdown: Was it Worth visiting Aquila?
Now, here’s the kicker—Aquila isn’t cheap. A full day experience is from Rand 2.390 and half day from Rand 1.090. We thought we were in for something special. But honestly? I was left feeling like we got caught in a tourist strap. The service was lifeless, and the staff seemed a bit overwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong, some of them were friendly, but there was no sense of the polished, high-end service I’d hoped for newbies to safari. It was clear, Aquila, was designed for volume, not quality.
I’ll be blunt: the accommodations weren’t much better. The huge hotel complex felt like another tourist trap, nothing like the intimate, nature-inspired retreat I had envisioned. I was actually relieved we’d booked our overnight stay outside of Aquila. I can honestly say if you’re hoping for something African, this isn’t the place for you.
The pool: Not What You’d Expect
Now, let’s talk about the pool area. Aquila allows day visitors to use the pool, and while that might sound appealing, there’s a catch—there are no changing rooms. So, yeah, that’s a bit inconvenient if you’re planning to get in the water after your safari. And, of course, the sanitation facilities are limited. There are only three toilets for each gender, and trust me, that leads to long lines, especially before safari drives. Oh, and the pool environment? Well, it was pretty chaotic. We had loud, tipsy guests yelling in the water while kids splashed around. This is absolutely not the serene, relaxing vibe we associate with a game lodge
Final Thoughts: Should You Visit Aquila?
So, what’s the verdict? If you’re looking for a real, immersive safari experience where you feel truly connected to nature, Aquila probably isn’t the right choice. It felt more like a tourist spectacle than an authentic wildlife adventure. The over-packed safari trucks, the staged animal encounters, and the overall mass-tourism vibe left me feeling disappointed.
For anyone seriously seeking a deeper, more meaningful safari experience, I’d recommend looking elsewhere—maybe a more remote, privately-run reserve or even heading to the Kruger National Park for a taste of the real wild. Aquila might work for first-time safari-goers who just want to check a few animals off their list, but if you’re looking for something that goes beyond the surface, it’ll probably leave you feeling disappointed.
All in all, my visit to Aquila was a wake-up call. Sometimes, the photos and promotions don’t match the reality on the ground, and it’s important to dig a little deeper before you commit to something like this. So, consider this your heads-up, and make sure you find a safari experience that’s truly worth your time and money. Trust me, you deserve it!
Look out for our next adventure into Africa. We are guaranteed to share a safari experience with you the way it should be, serene, tranquil and relaxing.
14 Comments
Could not agree more. It is a large zoo trying to capitalise on tourists who want to see Big 5 as a day trip from Cape Town. Would not call it a safari at all. Only authentic places in Western Cape are Sanbona and Mont Eco in my opinion.
Thanks for this honest review. Helped me make my decision about whether or not to go there. I was a bit put off by the celebrity page on their website.
Active Intentional Animal Cruelty at Aquila – PLEASE REPORT IT!
During the game drives they stop at a bar area with baboons so tourists can take photos. My family and I witnessed some of the guides stoning with giant rocks, and whipping the baboons, including babies, for the sole purpose of their own sick personal amusement. When confronted, they make up ridiculous, low IQ lies to try to cover themselves because they know they are violating animal cruelty laws. PLEASE REPORT THEM!! Help protect innocent animals from these violent guides! Try to get photo and video evidence of the abuse if you can – but either way, please report anything you see. We reported the abuse we witnessed to the NSPCA – please do the same. It was really easy. I can’t include contact info in the review, but it is easy to find by Googling “NSPCA contact info South Africa”. Aquila management has been alerted to this cruelty multiple times, by multiple guests, visiting at different times over several months. They have failed to effectively put a stop to it.
If you haven’t made your reservation yet – don’t. You’ll risk witnessing disturbing, live animal cruelty shows that will sicken you and ruin your trip. Search for ethical wildlife tourism instead, and make sure wherever you book is not part of The Aquila Collection. (They own multiple properties with different names.)
Dear Emily
Thank you for commenting on your first-hand experiences at Aquila. The only way to stop unacceptable practices is to voice our dismay and deter visitors. We truly appreciate your feedback and will do our best to create awareness and report your comment to authorities. Warm Regards Bernie and Petra.
Dear Cherelle
Thank you for your lovely comment. There are many excellent nature reserves in South Africa that uphold good conservation practices. You are welcome to email us if you are in doubt about any of your choices. Kind Regards Bernie and Petra.
Completely agree. Just came out of aquila. Its not a game reserve by any definition. Glorified zoo. Animals placed around in enclaves. Looked domesticated. Complete letdown. No leopard. Average food. No warmth. A tourist trap. Complete waste of money. Keep to kruger
Completely agree. Just came out of aquila. Its not a game reserve by any definition. Glorified zoo. Animals placed around in enclaves. Looked domesticated. Complete letdown. No leopard. Average food. No warmth. A tourist trap. Complete waste of money. Keep to kruger. Waste of time traveling 4 hrs from capetown yo and feo
Just been it was awful…thrown around for 2 hrs in an army truck with no suspension on pot hole rocky paths..hardely see any animals the lion enclosure was big gates with a dusty field ..see nothing but 6 more trucks..sunset safari finished in daylight at 6 pm…
Time Wanstead should have believed the reviews
I went with 3 friends visiting from the UK, for 2 of them it was their first safari experience.
Day 1
We arrived to welcome drinks which consisted of sparkling wine (tasted more like vinegar) or juice/water with no other choices.
We proceeded to a very busy reception to check in to be told our rooms won’t be ready for another couple of hours, so we explored the area and proceeded for lunch.
Lunch was a buffet style in a very underwhelming dining room that was uncomfortably hot and busy.
We proceeded to the buffet, please note it was approx. 13.30 and lunch service was 12.00-14.00 the service dishes were almost empty and cold and looked like it had not been replenished since service commenced. The service spoons were clumped with food and not cleaned regularly. There was no drinking water available. It took about 15 minutes for us to get service. The staff were friendly but lacked the finesse one would expect in a 4-5 star establishment.
We then checked into our lodge, it was lovely.
Later we went on our first game drive it was packed to the brim so was very uncomfortable to sit in it for 2 hours, my friend had a screw sticking into her side so I had to hang off the seat to give her room to avoid getting hurt. Please note we are average size ladies there were some larger people that were squashed into the small seating.
Dinner was the same buffet style service with the same issues. When we came to order drinks I wanted a glass of sauvignon Blanc wine and my friend wanted a virgin Pina Colada both were on the menu, we were told they ran out!!!!! So we took other options. The food was average.
Day 2
We went on the morning drive it was lovely.
Breakfast was the same, food that had been out for hours dried bacon, hard eggs, greasy sausages and warm fruit and warm juice. At the coffee station there were no cups I asked 2 separate people for cups and was ignored so I resorted to having my coffee in a juice glass!!!
We had the day at our leisure so spent some time at the pool, had a drink, again they did not have what I wanted so had to change my choice. Later in the afternoon we went to avail of the spa facilities, the sauna and the steam room were awful. The sauna was not hot enough and the steam room was dangerously hot I had to exit after a minute as I couldn’t breathe as it was so hot.
We got back to our room and requested they provide us with more drinking water before our next drive and we were told we need to purchase more which considering what we paid I would have expected water! We had NO housekeeping in the entire time we stayed (2 nights) This is supposed to be a five star resort!!!
To be honest I feel it’s a tourist trap charging people 5 star prices for a 2 star experience.
This is not accurate representation of Aquilia at all! This review seems to be from someone with very high, unrealistic expectations and seems to be looking for something in a nature documentary.
Our stay was amazing and met all of our expectations. The staff were so lovely, the game driver was so knowledgeable and took the time to show us all of the animals and to get our moneys worth. The stargazing at night was incredible, the gentleman there was so knowledgeable, something I’d never experienced before.
I was very happy with the game drive as we felt very safe with massive wild animals around us in a open vehicle. There were little kids with us so you can imagine any sort of dangerous animal charging towards us would traumatise them and us!
All seats in the truck were filled but it did not feel crowded at all and everyone was very respectful of each other. The reserve was fully booked so ofcourse there was a lot of people there but not so much that theres people on top of you.
I also don’t know where you saw these “small jeeps” – they’re not on the website at all.. and in fact you are able to swap your game reserve drive for a horseback riding safari or quad bike safari instead. So you had this option available.
The food was gorgeous! And we loved that they had a buffet which made so much more sense as there were so many amazing fresh and delicious dishes to try. Paying the price we did we found this was well worth it as full board is included (except drinks understandably). I don’t understand what you were looking for here. If you expected some 5 star menu and 5 star waiter service with white gloves in suits but also an intimate, authentic real wild experience then I think you’d need to be a millionaire and go somewhere extremely exclusive that the average person cannot afford.
If you want this wild, authentic, intimate nature adventure I’d recommend you going to the middle of nowhere in some jungle and get a random local to take you and let’s see how you get on with the “real wild animals”. Lol good luck to you!
Most of the animals here are rescued from horrible people. They’re fed either from the natural wild or with dead animals from the land or nearby. And infact the lions that are currently here never experienced life in a more natural habitat because they were separated from their mother and never learned how to hunt. If the game reserve never brought them here and fed them they would die!! There are only a small population of lions not living in sanctuary’s and reserves because potchers kill them and sell ever inch of them on the black market!
The animals are not placed in specific places. They roam absolutely freely around the reserve and the reserve has been built in a way that you’re able to see them within a close distance to the lodge! The game drivers see the animals many times a day and have been doing it for years so they’re well aware of the animals habits and movements.
Aquila are doing a fantastic job in ensuring their guests have a safe and relaxed stay well worth their money. If you want to have a “real wildlife experience” and get chased by a wild animals which will probably bite your head off then please. Be my guest.
Please keep your stupid reviews to yourself and stop giving false narratives. Please don’t bother visiting our beautiful country. It’s tourists like you that we roll our eyes at.
Thank you so much for your charing your experience with us.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us.
Thank you so much for your comment. This is exactly how we experienced Aquila
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We always appreciate it when readers contribute their own perspectives, as every safari experience can be very personal and expectations often differ.
Our review reflects our individual stay and honest impressions at the time of our visit, just as your comment reflects yours. As a travel publication, our goal is to provide transparent, first-hand accounts to help readers decide what might suit their own travel style and expectations best. Some travellers are looking for a convenient, accessible safari experience close to Cape Town, while others may be comparing it with more remote safari destinations – both perspectives are valid.
We are genuinely pleased to hear that you had such a positive experience with the staff, guides and activities. Good guiding and passionate staff can make a big difference to any stay, and it is always valuable for future visitors to hear different viewpoints.
We also fully respect the important work many reserves do in wildlife rescue, conservation education and making safari experiences accessible to a wider audience.
Travel experiences are subjective, which is why we welcome constructive discussion and different opinions – they ultimately help readers form a balanced picture.
Wishing you many more wonderful travel experiences in the future.
The Travel Buddies Lifestyle Team