# Safari day trips from Cape Town ## Big Five safaris near Cape Town: which reserves work as a day trip and which need a night *Published: 2026-05-05 13:42:16* *Tags: Cape Town, safari, day trips, wildlife, South Africa, adventure, travel, tours* > Big Five safaris near Cape Town: Aquila and Inverdoorn as day trips, Sanbona, Gondwana and Buffelsdrift overnight, with drive times and prices. ## Article Safari day trips from Cape Town You don't need to fly to Kruger to see lions and elephants. A few private reserves within two to three hours of Cape Town offer Big Five game drives as a day trip, and several more along the Garden Route are good for an overnight stay. All of them are malaria-free. Reserves you can visit in a day Aquila Private Game Reserve About two hours from Cape Town, in the Karoo. The closest Big Five reserve to the city, with a game drive of about three hours and a buffet lunch. Our Aquila day safari costs from $290 including transport, park fees and lunch. See our guide to Aquila. Inverdoorn Game Reserve About 2.5 hours from Cape Town, near Ceres. Inverdoorn runs a cheetah rehabilitation programme as well as Big Five game drives. We offer shared transfers from $78 (reserve fees paid separately), or a 4-day Cape Town package with a night at Inverdoorn. Reserves better suited to an overnight stay Sanbona Wildlife Reserve About 3 to 3.5 hours away in the Little Karoo. A large, quiet reserve with luxury lodges. We offer private return transfers. Gondwana Game Reserve Near Mossel Bay on the Garden Route, about 4 hours from Cape Town. A Big Five reserve popular with families. See our 2-night Gondwana safari. Buffelsdrift Game Lodge Near Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo, about 5 hours from Cape Town, with tented rooms and elephant encounters. See our 2-day Buffelsdrift package. Botlierskop Private Game Reserve Near Mossel Bay, about 4.5 hours from Cape Town, with Big Five game drives. It is included in our 2-day small-group Garden Route safari. Further east: Shamwari and Amakhala These Eastern Cape reserves near Port Elizabeth are about 8 to 9 hours' drive from Cape Town, so they work best at the end of a Garden Route trip rather than as a trip from Cape Town. What to expect A day safari usually means an early start, a game drive of about three hours in an open vehicle with a ranger, lunch at the lodge and the drive back to Cape Town in the late afternoon. You are likely to see lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, giraffe and antelope. Leopards are shy and seen less often. See all our Cape Town tours, or read our other Cape Town guides. Frequently asked questions When is the best time for a safari near Cape Town? From May to September the Karoo is cool and the bush is thin, so animals are easier to spot. Cape Town itself is wet in winter, but the Karoo stays fairly dry. Summer is hot in the Karoo, so drives start early. What should I wear? Neutral colours, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring a warm jacket for early mornings, especially in winter. Can I do a private safari day trip? Yes. Our private Aquila safari costs from $330 per person with private transfers. --- [Read on Amity Adventure](https://www.amityadventure.com/blogs/cape-town-safari-day-trips/)