BIG FIVE Private Game Reserves Western Cape

See South Africa’s Big Five at Aquila Private Game Reserve. Acclaimed for service excellence, renewable energy, social responsibility efforts and wildlife conservation, Aquila is more than just an unforgettable Western Cape game reserve experience, it’s an experience in luxurious African hospitality, traditional culinary delights, service excellence and the restoration of pride to the indigenous people and the land. Big 5 Safari & Spa. REAL AFRICA. REAL CLOSE TO CAPE TOWN. Book a day trip or overnight Big Five safari, just under 2 hours from Cape Town, South Africa. Half Day and Full Day Safari Tours available. More on AQUILA Big Five Private Game Reserve and Spa on https://www.aquilasafari.com/

Your Pocket of Paradise. RELAX, BREATHE & FEEL REJUVENATED. Melozhori is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive game reserves in the Western Cape. With only 5 spaciously positioned accommodation options for a maximum of 18 guests, without any other signs of civilization in sight, you are completely secluded and immersed in pure wilderness. Ranging from an expansive Lodge to romantic Eco-Pods, each accommodation offering is luxuriously and stylishly fitted for your utmost comfort and enjoyment, including our very popular wood-fired hot tubs and rim flow pools. More on MELOZHORI Private Game Reserve on https://www.melozhori.co.za/

Less than 2.5 hours from Cape Town, Inverdoorn offers an exclusive Big 5 safari experience in the malaria-free Tankwa Karoo. Spanning 10,000 hectares of untouched wilderness, this Western Cape game reserve blends luxury with a deep commitment to wildlife conservation. As home to the Cape’s leading cheetah conservation project and vital Karoo land restoration efforts, Inverdoorn is dedicated to protecting the region’s unique biodiversity. Big 5 Private Game Reserve & Cheetah Conservation. See South Africa’s Big 5 in the Tankwa Karoo, just 2.5 hours from Cape Town. More on INVERDOORN Big Five Private Game Reserve on https://inverdoorn.com/

The Ultimate Luxury Mindful Big Five Safari experience. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve invites you for a high-end, conservation-based nature safari in the diverse landscapes of the unique Little Karoo. It’s the closest true wildlife experience you can find near Cape Town, a short three-hour drive away, offering an exclusive and unique malaria-free safari. Space and Solitude At the foot of the Warmwaterberg Mountains, Sanbona stretches across 62,000 hectares of awe-inspiring wide-open plains, with mountain tops to gorgeous gorges and a wide array of endemic flowers and foliage. More on SANBONA Wildlife Reserve on https://www.sanbona.com/

Book a day trip or a luxury overnight Big 5 safari adventure at Mont Eco Private Game Reserve in the Western Cape, just 2 hours from Cape Town. Venture into the wild on expertly guided game drives, where seasoned rangers reveal the hidden poetry of the bushveld. Watch as giraffes move with elegant grace, elephants traverse ancient pathways, and the spirit of Africa pulses in every rustling leaf and distant roar. Mont Eco Game Reserve is one of the rare Big 5 game lodges within the Western Cape, offering guests a quintessential safari experience on the slopes of the magnificent Langeberg Mountain range in the Klein Karoo. More on MONT ECO Big Five Private Game Reserve on https://montecogamereserve.com/

Welcome To Garden Route Game Lodge. Set against the backdrop of the majestic Langeberg mountain Range, the Garden Route Game Lodge guards the entrance to South Africa’s world famous Garden Route Coast. 8 Sunset Ridge Luxury Suites, 16 Lodge Rooms and 18 Private Chalets. Located on the Garden Route, 3½ hours scenic drive from Cape Town. African style dining experiences. Home to lion, white rhino, giraffe, elephant, buffalo, cheetah and an abundance of antelope and smaller mammal species. Close up sightings of wildlife, exquisite sun downer stops while out on safari. Family friendly & malaria free private game reserve. More on GARDEN ROUTE Big Five Game Lodge on https://grgamelodge.co.za/

Committed to offering world-class, immersive wildlife safari experiences. For 20 years, we’ve focused on safeguarding, rewilding, and restoring endangered habitats and unique wildlife in three Biodiversity Hotspots at Gondwana Private Game Reserve, benefiting both nature and nearby communities. Luxury Safari Accommodation. Kwena Suites, 14 stand-alone suites for two. Kwena Villas, Spacious 3 & 4 bedroom villas ideal for groups. Lehele Family Villas, Spacious and remotely located 3 & 4 bedroom villas ideal for families. Ulubisi House, Privately staffed exclusive lodge. More on GONDWANA Big Five Game Reserve  on https://gondwanagr.co.za/

With the magnificent Outeniqua Mountains as a backdrop and sweeping views out over the glistening Indian Ocean below, lies Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. Just 4.5 hours’ drive from Cape Town, it’s midway between Mossel Bay and George. Come and share the breathtaking beauty this 4,500 hectare reserve has to offer on South Africa’s scenic Garden Route. Family owned and privately operated, Botlierskop is malaria free and home to free roaming wildlife including lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, cheetah, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, hippo and more. Experience our range of luxury accommodation: Tented Lodge, self-catering Bush Villas, Village Lodge built with children in mind or a memorable day visitor experience. More on BOTLIERSKOP Big Five Private Game Reserve on https://www.botlierskop.co.za/

The first free-roaming, Big Five reserve in the Great Karoo. Spanning 67,000 acres of malaria-free wilderness, award-winning Samara offers a unique Big Five safari in the Great Karoo. In 2019, Samara Private Game Reserve became the first Big Five reserve in the Great Karoo. Seeing the ‘Big Five’ in the wild is a bucket list item for many visitors to Africa. Samara is now one of the few places in Africa where visitors can see big game roaming freely. Top 15 Resorts in South Africa – CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2023 & 2024. In staying at Samara, every guest plays a role in safeguarding the landscape in perpetuity. More on SAMARA Big Five Private Game Reserve on https://www.samara.co.za/

How much can you expect to pay for a big five private game reserve outing? Included in the Bolandcycletour, but easily upwards of R4k ZAR pppn when booked individually, and it can easily go to $14k USD for a couple for a weekend at my favourite Big Five experience, Singita in the Kruger National Park. This summary shows which private game reserves are within just a few hours’ drive from Cape Town. Which one to visit first? Join us to find out…