About Us

A game reserve is a protected natural area dedicated to the conservation of wildlife, indigenous vegetation and the ecosystems that support them. Unlike a simple animal attraction, a reserve is carefully managed to protect the balance between species, habitat and land. A Big 5 game reserve is one that is home to Africa’s five most iconic wildlife species: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.

Creating and maintaining a Big 5 reserve requires far more than open space. Large wildlife needs suitable habitat, responsible land management, strict safety protocols and ongoing conservation oversight. Every element, from fencing and anti-poaching measures to veterinary care, ecological monitoring and animal carrying capacity, plays a role in ensuring that the reserve remains healthy and sustainable.

Behind every Big 5 safari experience is a significant investment in conservation, research and daily reserve management. The goal is not only to offer guests meaningful wildlife encounters, but to protect the land and its animals for future generations.

Aquila Private Game Reserve is so much more than just an unforgettable wildlife experience, it’s a luxurious South African adventure acclaimed for service excellence, renewable energy, social responsibility efforts, and conservation programmes. Many awards and accolades over the years have reaffirmed Aquila’s conservation and community upliftment projects.

The reserve recently received the “Skal International Sustainable Tourism Award“ for its various projects and policies aimed at finding the perfect balance between tourism, conservation, and the local Touws River community. Aquila is fully committed to social upliftment, job creation, skills development and various sustainability programmes. To learn more about our local community initiatives and social responsibility campaigns, please follow the link below.

Aquila Private Game Reserve traces its origins back to 1999, when its visionary owner, Searl Derman, sought to share his passion for wildlife and conservation with Cape Town. Driven by his goal to reintroduce South Africa’s magnificent Big 5 animals to the Western Cape, he set out to find the perfect piece of land. He was fortunate to come across a nearby nature reserve that would later become Aquila Private Game Reserve.

What started as a sanctuary for various antelope species has evolved into a thriving home to the Big 5: elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino, and leopard that roam freely on the reserve. Today, Aquila offers guests an unforgettable Big 5 safari that can be enjoyed as a day trip tour or an immersive, overnight experience. Take the opportunity to visit us on your next trip to Cape Town, see South Africa’s incredible wildlife in person, and learn more about what makes Aquila Safaris the Western Cape’s leading wildlife reserve.