# 10 of the best day tours and safaris from Cape Town ## Our top 10 day trips from Cape Town, from Big Five safaris to Cape Point, the Winelands and Robben Island *Published: 2026-05-05 12:51:20* *Tags: Cape Town safaris, day tours, Western Cape, Big Five, adventure travel, South Africa, Amity Adventure, wildlife* > 10 day trips from Cape Town: Big Five safaris at Aquila and Inverdoorn, Cape Point, the Winelands, Robben Island, whales and sharks, with prices. ## Article Cape Town as a base for day trips Cape Town is an easy base for day trips. Within two or three hours' drive you can be on a game drive looking for lions and elephants, tasting wine in the Winelands, or standing at Cape Point. Most visitors come back to the same hotel every night. This list is based on what our guests book most and what our guides recommend. For each tour we give our current starting price, so you can compare options. Prices are per person in US dollars. Safaris near Cape Town You can do a Big Five safari as a day trip from Cape Town. The reserves are smaller than Kruger National Park and the animals are more used to vehicles, but you have a good chance of seeing lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo, and sometimes leopard. All of them are malaria-free, which suits families. Aquila Private Game Reserve: the closest Big Five reserve, about two hours from Cape Town. Good for a full day. Inverdoorn Game Reserve: a little further, in the Karoo near Ceres, with a cheetah rehabilitation programme. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve: a large reserve in the Little Karoo that is best for an overnight stay rather than a day trip. We offer private return transfers. Our top 10 day tours from Cape Town 1. Aquila Big Five safari Aquila is just under two hours from Cape Town, in the Karoo. A day there includes a game drive of about three hours with a ranger, looking for lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo, and a buffet lunch. Our Aquila day safari costs from $290 including transport, park fees and lunch, or from $330 as a private trip. 2. Inverdoorn Big Five safari Inverdoorn is about 2.5 hours from Cape Town, in the Tankwa Karoo. It runs a cheetah rehabilitation programme, so cheetah sightings are likely as well as the Big Five. We run shared transfers to Inverdoorn from $78; the reserve's entrance and safari fees are paid separately. 3. Cape Peninsula and Cape Point This is the day most first-time visitors book. The route runs along Chapman's Peak Drive to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, then back via the penguins at Boulders Beach. Our small-group peninsula tour costs from $58, and the private version from $130. Park fees for the Cape of Good Hope and Boulders are paid on the day. 4. Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine tour A day in the Cape Winelands covers the old towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and several wine estates, with tastings that are often paired with cheese or chocolate. Our small-group Winelands tour costs from $82 with tastings and lunch, and the private tour from $115. 5. Table Mountain and the city This half day combines the cable car up Table Mountain with the city centre: Bo-Kaap's coloured houses, the Company's Garden and the main historic buildings. Our city and Table Mountain tour costs from $75. Cable car tickets cost R475 return online (from July 2026) and are bought separately. 6. Robben Island and the V&A Waterfront Ferries to Robben Island leave from the V&A Waterfront. The tour of the prison where Nelson Mandela was held is led by former political prisoners. Tickets sell out, so book early: our pre-booked ferry and prison tour costs from $65. Afterwards you can stay on at the Waterfront for lunch. 7. Shark cage diving in Gansbaai Gansbaai, about 2.5 hours from Cape Town, has long been known for great white sharks. Sightings have dropped since 2017, and operators now often see bronze whaler (copper) sharks instead, so go for the experience rather than a guaranteed great white. Non-divers can watch from the boat. Our shark cage diving trip costs from $285 with private transfers. 8. Whale watching in Hermanus Southern right whales come into Walker Bay to calve, usually from June to November. In Hermanus you can watch them from the cliff path, or take a boat trip to get closer. Our Hermanus boat trip costs from $170 with transfers. 9. Quad biking and sandboarding in the Atlantis dunes The Atlantis dunes, north of Cape Town, are good for quad biking and sandboarding with a guide. No experience is needed. Our quad biking and sandboarding day costs from $173. 10. Kayaking with penguins in Simon's Town Kayak trips from Simon's Town paddle along the coast near Boulders Beach, where penguins swim past the boats. It is a gentle trip, no experience is needed, and it suits families. It is easy to combine with a visit to the penguin colony. Booking All of these can be booked on their own, or combined into a longer private trip. See all our Cape Town tours, or ask us to put several days together for you. For more ideas, read our other Cape Town guides. Frequently asked questions Is a safari near Cape Town safe? Yes. The reserves near Cape Town, such as Aquila and Inverdoorn, are fenced and well managed, and game drives are led by trained rangers. How far are the Big Five reserves from Cape Town? Most are two to three hours' drive. Aquila is the closest, at about 1.5 to 2 hours. When is the best time for a safari or day tour? Any time of year works. Cape Town gets most of its rain in winter, but the Karoo reserves stay fairly dry, and from May to September the thinner bush makes animals easier to spot. Karoo summers are hot, so game drives start early. For coastal drives and outdoor activities, summer (November to February) is warm and sunny, but busier. Whale season is roughly June to November. Can I combine a safari with other tours? Yes. Many guests do a safari one day and the Cape Peninsula or the Winelands the next. We can plan the days for you. Do I need to book in advance? Yes, especially from November to April and for Robben Island and the Table Mountain cableway, which sell out. --- [Read on Amity Adventure](https://www.amityadventure.com/blogs/best-cape-town-safari-day-tours-our-top-10-picks/)