With multiple game reserves within a short drive from the Mother City, it’s easier than you may expect to combine a trip to Cape Town with a safari. Seeing the Big Five—lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and leopards—is possible at many of them. We have selected some of the top wildlife reserves for safaris close to Cape Town to assist you in organizing your vacation.

The Kruger National Park is the most well-known safari destination in South Africa, but getting there from Cape Town takes two and a half hours by plane, with a possible stop in Johannesburg. These Cape Town safari reserves are perfect for people with limited time.

1. Private Game Reserve at Aquila

Since Aquila is just a few hours outside of Cape Town, it’s a fantastic option for a safari day trip. There are many possibilities for those who are only there for a short time because safaris operate three times a day. If time is of the essence but money is not, choose the fly-in helicopter safari.

Aquila’s 10,000-hectare reserve is home to 170 bird species in addition to the Big Five and large mammals like hippos and giraffes. Additionally, Aquila has facilities for Cape leopard research and an animal rescue center.

Two hours’ drive from Cape Town
Options for lodging: Aquila offers luxury cottages with standard, premium, and family rooms as well as a 4-star resort.
Activities include quad biking, helicopter fly-in safaris, game drives, and horseback safaris.

2. The Game Reserve at Inverdoorn

The 10,000-hectare Karoo reserve known as Inverdoorn is one of the most opulent locations for a Cape Town safari. In case a day excursion from Cape Town seems too hurried, the reserve’s Iziba Luxury Safari Lodge provides a comfortable place to stay.

Here, you can view giraffes, hippos, cheetahs, and the Big Five. Inverdoorn is home to a cheetah rescue and rehabilitation center in addition to the animals you may see during a game drive.

Cape Town is two and a half hours away.
Options for lodging: The three-star Iziba Luxury Safari Lodge offers a range of room categories, from the Ambassador Suite to the Guest House.
Activities include giraffe walks, cheetah sightings, and game drives.

3. The Garden Route Game Lodge

The Garden Route offers the ideal opportunity to drive this breathtaking coastline route from Cape Town out east, and it’s also one of the best game reserves for safaris close to Cape Town.

The Cape leopard is extremely elusive, but on a game drive through the 3,000-hectare property, you will probably see four of the Big Five (lions, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo). There are also rare bat-eared foxes, caracals, giraffes, cheetahs, and other antelopes to witness.

Three and a half hours away from Cape Town
Options for lodging: The three-star lodge offers chalets, family or luxury suites, and regular rooms.
Activities include birdwatching, game drives, a children’s program, and interactions with reptiles.

4. Game Reserve in Gondwana

Gondwana is just a little over four hours outside of Cape Town, but the stunning fynbos landscape—which can be explored on a guided walk—makes the trip worthwhile. Gondwana is one of the top wildlife reserves for safaris close to Cape Town because of its vegetation and animals.

The Western Cape was home to black rhinos until the late 18th century, when the reserve brought the first of these animals to the area. Along with birds that are unique to South Africa, including the orange-breasted sunbird, all five of the Big Five are counted at Gondwana. Lions, endangered Cape mountain zebras, elephants, kudus, and springboks can all be found in the 11,000-hectare reserve.

Four hours’ drive from Cape Town
Accommodations: Gondwana offers four different lodging options, including a tented eco camp and roomy villas for families or parties.
Activities include mountain biking, hiking, picnics, fynbos walks, game drives, and fishing. Additionally, there is a golf course close by.

5. The Wildlife Reserve of Sanbona

Another excellent game reserve for safaris close to Cape Town is Sanbona. There are three lodges to choose from, or more daring visitors can embark on a walking safari at the Explorer Camp. 58,000 hectares make up this enormous reserve. The Big Five and, with luck, additional uncommon creatures like caracals and aardvarks can be seen.

Rare white lions and riverine rabbits, which are only known to exist in the central Karoo, can also be seen in Sanbona. Not only that, but the San and Khoi-Khoi rock art discovered here is more than 3,500 years old.

Three and a half hours away from Cape Town
Options for lodging include the family-friendly Gondwana Lodge and the environmentally conscious Dwyka Tented Lodge, as well as a campsite.
Activities include rock-art excursions, wildlife drives, walking safaris, boat safaris, hiking, birdwatching, and kid-friendly programs.