South Africa · SAFARIS AND GAME DRIVES IN CAPE TOWN

The 15 Best Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town

102 tours  ·  from $26 a head

Every South African trip has one free day too few. These 15 safaris and game drives in Cape Town justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get on with the rest of it.

From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch - Hotel pickup keeps the morning simple
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From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

1.Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,409 reviews · 9 hours · from $236Our pick

Spend nine hours traveling from Cape Town to Aquila Private Nature Reserve, where an English-speaking ranger leads a two-hour open-vehicle safari. You’ll have a buffet lunch, hotel pickup, and time to spot lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and up to 172 bird species. Guides such as Trevor, Aiden, and Kayim are praised for sharp animal spotting.

“Our driver was very friendly and his driving was top notch. When we got to the Aquila Game Reserve I was blown away by the hospitality of the staff. We were very taken care of. The complimentary drinks on arrival, great food, very clean facilities and mostly friendly staff who went above and beyond to make sure that the tourists were catered for. The service was one of the best in my travelling experience. As for the staff on the game reserve our guides were very knowledgeable about the animals and he had a good sense of humour whilst explaining about the animals. We saw all the Big Five and…”

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From Cape Town: 2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge - Hermanus and Betty’s Bay break up the long road
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From Cape Town: 2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

2.2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 928 reviews · 2 days · from $533

Travel in a small group from Cape Town with an English-speaking guide such as Chris, Vaughan, or Benjamin. Stop at Hermanus, Betty’s Bay, and Cape Agulhas, then spend a night in a 4-star chalet at Garden Route Game Lodge. Two game drives, dinner, and breakfast are included.

“We would book this tour again anytime! Our guide Chris was extremely reliable and helpful, always attentive to the needs of the group and sharing his incredibly interesting knowledge with us. We can only give it our highest recommendation! :)”

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Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour - Why the Marine Big 5 idea works
Cruises & Boat Tours, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town

Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

3.Marine Big 5 Boat tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 593 reviews · 2.5 - 10 hours · from $155

From Gansbaai, cruise the Dyer Island ecosystem with an English-speaking marine biologist and look for whales, seals, sharks, dolphins, and penguins. Expect a safety briefing, warm gear, muffins and coffee before boarding, soup afterward, and optional Cape Town or Hermanus transport. The sea is rough at times, and wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

“Great tour - highly Recommend. We were lucky enough to see penguins, sharks, whales & seals.”

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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town - The Cape Town pickup and two-hour road trip
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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

4.Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 576 reviews · from $184

Ride from central Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve in the Karoo, then join a three-hour open-vehicle game drive. Look for lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, hippos, and more. An English-speaking ranger leads the drive, while lunch, a welcome drink, and hotel transfers keep this first-safari day simple.

“It was a great introduction to a safari. Not far from Cape Town, lovely setting, well organised and we saw the big 5.”

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Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip - Reaching Aquila Private Game Reserve
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Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

5.Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 526 reviews · from $155Top rated

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve in an air-conditioned vehicle with guides such as Mike, Werner, or Jamie. Enjoy Du Toitskloof scenery, optional wine tasting, a buffet lunch with champagne, and a 2 to 3 hour group safari drive. The reserve fee is extra.

“So after being picked up from our hotel we got taken to the resort where we got to see the big four nice giraffes gazelle's elephant's it was well worth the money and we were well looked after in terms of refreshments I would recommend this tRead more”

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Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive - Pickup in Cape Town and the road to Aquila
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Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

6.Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 508 reviews · 9 hours · from $168

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve for a sunset safari in a 4x4 truck. Guides such as Elda, Dona, Frank, and Josh add useful commentary on the road and in the reserve. Expect a long day, close animal sightings, welcome refreshments, and a fair chance of seeing four of the Big Five.

“The trip was really nice, got exactly what we expected if not more. Also a big shout out to our driver uncle Dona, him and also the guide were both amazing narrators.”

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From Cape Town: South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour - Botlierskop and the first Big Five search
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From Cape Town: South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour

7.South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 411 reviews · 2 days · from $322

Trade Cape Town for the Klein Karoo on a fast, scenic two-day safari with guides such as Nev, Denver, Dylan, or Ulrich. You get two shared 4x4 drives, one at Botlierskop and one at Buffelsdrift, plus an optional elephant observation, Oudtshoorn lodging, and a return via Route 62.

“Much more than I expected,extremely unbelievable. I highly recommend”

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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive - Leaving Cape Town for the Karoo
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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

8.Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 350 reviews · 9 hours · from $167

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve for a 2 to 3 hour sunset drive in an open safari truck. A ranger leads the search for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and more. Your package includes transport, entry, a welcome drink, and pre-drive snacks.

“Absolutely brilliant day! We were picked up by our lovely guide Mr Yannick. He was brilliant, really responsive via messaging, picked us up in a lovely car, told us lots of information about Cape Town. The safari / game drive was brilliant! Would highly recommend. Again Yannick was fab, waiting for us post game drive to take us back to the hotel , would highly recommend Emily”

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2 Day Safari Experience from Cape Town - Cape Agulhas and the meeting of two oceans
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2 Day Safari Experience from Cape Town

9.2 Day Safari Experience from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 326 reviews · from $447

Leave Cape Town at 6am with a driver-guide such as Chris, Benjamin, Vaughan, or Frank. Visit Africa’s southern tip, enjoy sunset and sunrise game drives, sleep in a private chalet or lodge room, and return via Hermanus and Betty’s Bay. The group is limited to 13 people.

“Amazing trip! Road trip with some nice stops to get local food. On the road we already saw some bonobo's, falcons, blue cranes and many more. The safari was just marvelous, seen the big 5, with a short stop to get a drink in nature at sunset. Next morning waking up with elephants in the middle of nowhere. The lodge was superb, and there was even an infinity pool. Very friendly and funny guide on our way there, and the rangers were very friendly and had tons of expertise. A 5* experience for me!”

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5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari - Best of South Africa Small Group Tour - Day 1: Route 62, wine, and Oudtshoorn
5-Day Experiences, Addo Elephant Park Tours, Garden Route Tours, Garden Route Tours in Cape Town, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town

5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari – Best of South Africa Small Group Tour

10.5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari – Best of South Africa Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · from $575

Travel from Cape Town through Route 62, Oudtshoorn, Addo, Jeffreys Bay, Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and Wilderness. You’ll ride with an English-speaking guide, stay four nights, visit an ostrich farm and Cango Caves, and take an included Addo game drive. Optional extras include bungee jumping, ziplining, surfing, horseback riding, and a private-reserve safari.

“Such a great trip to experience Garden Route wildlife up close! Gerhardus was an amazing guide. He made sure we saw everything promised on the trip and was so helpful and fun. Yes, its a lot of driving but that's the only way you get to see and experience so many different things. I would highly recommend this adventure for anyone.”

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Cape Town: Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront - The first views: Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, and Table Mountain
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Cape Town: Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront

11.Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 278 reviews · 1h 30m · from $68

Set out from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront for a 90-minute Marine Big 5 safari on a luxury catamaran. Your English-speaking crew searches for dolphins, seals, penguins, whales, and sunfish while you pass Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Clifton, and Camps Bay. Muffins, hot chocolate, water, and binoculars are included.

“We enjoyed the tour, the boat was very clean, we saw dolphins, Seals and penguins.”

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2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4x4 Safari from Cape Town - Botlierskop brings the strongest wildlife action
2-Day Experiences, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Sandboarding & Dune Adventures, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town, Wildlife

2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4×4 Safari from Cape Town

12.2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4×4 Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · from $279

Leave Cape Town early for two private reserves, traveling by minibus through Route 62 and the Klein Karoo. You’ll take a 4x4 safari at Botlierskop, sleep overnight in Oudtshoorn, then explore Buffelsdrift by open vehicle. Guides such as Neville, TK, Denver, or Isaac may lead the trip, and an optional elephant observation costs about R700.

“Our tour guide was stellar! He ensured we arrived on time to all of our events. The safari’s were memorable and the animals were very calm in their habitat.”

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Cape Town Ocean Safari: Speed Boat Adventure in Table Bay - The speedboat ride across Table Bay
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Cape Town Ocean Safari: Speed Boat Adventure in Table Bay

13.Cape Town Ocean Safari: Speed Boat Adventure in Table Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 242 reviews · 1 hour · from $31Best value

Set out from Quay 5 with an English-speaking skipper for a one-hour Table Bay speedboat ride. Expect a fast, bumpy run, a slower search for seals, dolphins, whales and penguins, and fine views of Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Atlantic beaches. You may get wet, so dress warmly.

“full of adrenaline and excitement loved it and the instructors were friendly”

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3 Day Garden Route's Best Highlights with Safari from Cape Town - Cango Caves: choose your level of adventure
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3 Day Garden Route’s Best Highlights with Safari from Cape Town

14.3 Day Garden Route’s Best Highlights with Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 189 reviews · from $366

Travel from Cape Town along Route 62 to Cango Caves, canoe through Wilderness, and search for Big Five wildlife on a 4x4 safari. Optional elephant observation and Bloukrans Bridge bungee jumping add extra thrills. Guides such as Neville, Moudi, and Denver have led recent departures, but the assigned guide varies.

“The tour has been very interesting, and a great experience. The guide Nico was very helping and fiendly. On average the hotels were OK, but the last one was below average (no soap and towels in the room). The adventure visit to the Cango Cave was an impressive and posRead more”

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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch - The drive through the Cape countryside
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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch

15.Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 183 reviews · 8 hours · from $342

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve with hotel pickup, a welcome drink, buffet lunch, and a three-hour open-vehicle safari. You may see lions, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo, but leopard sightings are not part of this reserve. Drivers such as Djiby, Thomas, Collen, and Morne add local insight to the long road journey.

“I absolutely loved the trip! I saw more animals than I could count. Thomas the driver was super nice and accommodating and picked us up right from our hotel. Overall I would definitely recommend that people book through this group!”

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