The 50 best family holiday destinations in Western Cape (2024)

Overall was a nice experience going on the Safari Drives. We did the overnight Safari and paid for the included transport. We arrived at 11 am, and had lunch at 12, but we couldn't check into our room until 2pm, so keep that in mind when purchasing the added travel. With all of this downtime, there wasn't much to do except sit on the lawn chairs and wait for our rooms. The only activities they have to fill this downtime is the Spa (which was very overpriced in my opinion, 30 min massage for R590) and the bar (which was also very expensive. We paid R205 for a bottle of wine that retails at R75) So be prepared to spend a lot of extra money if you want to stay entertained during all of this down time.The Safari drives were wonderful! We saw almost all of the big 5, except Leopards, so I highly recommend the Safari drives. We loved our tour guides, they had a lot of experience and were very entertaining as well.Checkout on the final day was between 10-10:30 am and our transport didn't leave until 12:30. So once again, we had a ton of downtime and nothing to do. During the summer season, you can enjoy the outdoor pool but as it was winter, it was too cold to swim outside. Also, the heated pool that was advertised is not free. It costs R220 per person as it is a part of the Spa.

Well, it's a complete family resort with additional game drive / safari. There is an outdoor playground with a slide and swing, giant chess and putting green for kids. Additionally, kids club is available whereby you can leave your kid there with some kids club officers. Adults can also swim and do sunbathing. Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast buffet are included.The game drive is good because you can see the animal very close. However, don't expect it to be a real safari with wild animals like in the Kruger National Park because the animals here are rescued and tamed. Afternoon game drive will be around 2.5 hours while morning game drive will be around 1.5 hours.The food is also generally good. However, the cleanliness of Standard Lodge Room can be improved. There are a lot of hairs on the bed and floor. The bathroom is also small.

The reserve is very beautiful as it a natural Park. For R1,550 * 7 persons is not worth it. Today going for safari in rain and don't even provide a temporary rain coat to protect ourself in rain. Seeing only 4 different animals.Driving for 2 hrs from cape town and expense a lot of money for nothing.

It's absolutely amazing. Highly recommend for tourists or locals. You get to see such amazing animals. The rooms are beautiful and comfortable. Buffets are delicious. Breakfast was a highlight with almost everything you could want.

The place is very nice, lovely swimming pool area! the safari is not very big but good enough to have an idea of a Safari and see a few big animals. Nice people are working on the Safari, but unfortunately the food is very average, and that is why I am giving 4*. They can improve the catering massively. Very little option for vegetarians or vegans as well.

This place is THE PLACE TO GO!!! Came here on a business trip/vacation and we absolutely loved it, food was amazing, we were greeted with free drinks when we arrived, staff did everything to help us with anything we needed and went out of their way to make sure we enjoyed our stay. The Game Drive was the first I had ever been on and did not disappoint. The drivers were awesome and gave us drinks half way through the drive. They were also informative and told us how they specialized in rehabilitation and release of animals so it was cool to see the animals thriving in a 10,000+ acre area. 10/10 would recommend going.

Must do activity for those spending time in the Cape Town area. The drive was closer to 2.5 hours from the Waterfront area however the day was well worth it. Very crowded but not a long wait to check in and get a decent buffet lunch and much needed welcome drink. We were able to see lots of animals during the 3 hours of the tour as well as enjoy the stunning landscape. Highly recommend.

My review is for the safari experience. The safari day was delightful.Our guide tried his best to make our safari very entertaining. I definitely recommend it for a day safari, especially for people who have not experienced it before.The lunch was plenty, and all the staff was very kind and eager to help you.

Had an incredible time here. If you go in knowing this isn't a proper safari, you will have a good time. The drivers were very knowledgeable and take care to drive you away from the other cars so often you catch quiet times watching the amazing animals.We were a little lost arriving. For day visits there is a separate reception past the canteen which we were not told about so struggled to find where we were meant to go.Provided food was okay, small buffet, can't really complain as it was included.Staff were all wonderful and so accommodating.

What an awesome, amazing experience!!! The hotel rooms are gorgeous, the shower and bath are huge, the decor so elegant.The food was well prepared and delicious.They adhered to covid protocols at all times.The highlight was without a doubt the game drive. The tour guide was so knowledgeable and had such a welcoming presence about him.We were taken close enough to take beautiful photos and videos.It is well worth every penny spent.I would love to return in the future ♥️😊

Aquila might seem expensive, but taking into account what you get for your money, it is totally worth it. It is all inclusive. All meals and 2 game drives daily. All drinks and spa treatments are for your own account. We saw 4 out of the big 5 ,close up. Staff are exceptional and the grounds are kept in tip -top shape during the day. There is a warm and cold inside pool at the spa plus 2 cold outdoor pools. The bid pool also has a pool bar with seating inside the pool area. The facilities are all upgraded and modern with an African touch. There is also a lounge bar above the diving room. There are many activities for kids to give parents a well deserved alone time. Also wheelchair friendly. We highly recommend Aquila! 5 stars all round.

The rooms were good. Comfy beds, good bathroom, and I liked the outdoor shower.The food was rather bold. The buffet was about the same every day, and there wasn't much to choose fromAs a Safari experience, I was not impressed. It felt like they brought a few animals from each species in a massive place. Not the Safari I imagined. Maybe I had too high expectations.The stuff was very friendly, and hospitality was amazing, typical SA.Prices for shops or food were about as high as in Europe. Clearly priced for turism.

We did not stay at Aquila but traveled from Capetown for an afternoon safari. Our guide Mike was incredibly gracious and did everything possible to enrich our experience and keep us comfortable --- it was a very cold day -- about 5 C -- but he gave us blankets and kept us completely engaged. Seeing the wildlife up close --- seeing rhinos and elephants and hippos a mere few meters from us was thrilling to all of us from the youngest grandchild to the 70 year olds. The food at lunch was excellent and service there was top notch. We all highly recommend a visit

This is a lovely and beautiful place to relax, see a variety of animals and enjoy amazing food. Everything was well organized and the game drive was delightful.I was there myself with my spouse and a second time I arranged a weekend for my father’s birthday. Everything was perfect both times. They made him a cake especially for his birthday out of their own initiative. Thank you for making it an amazing experience.

The animals are worth 5 stars. The game drive was rustic and what you’d expect. The rooms are getting dated, the paths to the rooms require 4-wheel feet…The venue was also crowded. Very busy, tons of tourists which is great for business but does detract from what we were hoping would be a relaxing trip to the country side.

I was there for 3 days with Aptive for a Team Leader trip where we reward our best Leaders with a fantastic end of year trip to an exotic destination. The rooms were not like a typical hotel room. Rustic but comfortable with an outdoor shower for each room. Very cool. The front desk service was great. Very attentive to our requests. The food was good. There were plenty of choices for each meal. 1 complaint here. You should not have to purchase water for your all inclusive meal. This should be changed. We got to ride horses and 4 wheelers out on the land and see magnificent animals. Our guide Wilbur was awesome. We went on 4 safari’s in the trucks and each one of them was fantastic. Our guides were helpful, informative and fun to be around. Overall, a great experience!!We booked through Lilly’s Travel Service and everything went perfect.

The staff were amazing and very accommodating and it was a lovely place. The game drives were great, and the guides were knowledgeable. They also have a truck that can take a wheelchair. However the the wheelchair accessible room was not at all suitable for a disabled person. There was no seat or chair in the shower and not enough room for transfer. There are no grab rails in the shower or around the toilet. The toilet was also too low. They have an odd handle for the bath, but the bath was deep and very high, I couldn't figure out how to get in and out, so I didn't try it.All in all, in terms of accommodation for a disabled person. It's only for lightly disabled people, so 3 out of 10 for the disabled room. 10 out 10 for having a truck that could take a wheelchair and having ramps all over the hotel, dining area, and reception. And the staff were really wonderful. The location is lovely and peaceful.

A breathtaking experience. My wife and I had the whole tour, we went on a game drive and saw the big 5.Then, when we came back, we had lunch, and then they showed us the different rooms and what the spa looked like.It is an absolutely amazing place to be.I which I could remember our guides name so that I could thank him.I believe he said that he has been working there for more than 10 years and he started at the bottom and now he is a manager. A true gentleman who was very insightful and that made the experience so much more pleasant.I truly loved every moment of it, and wonderful memories were made ❤️Thank you

Just 2 hours from Cape Town and you'll get to see Africa's Big 5! The reserve is absolutely luxurious with a combination or chalets, dorms and rooms to stay over. All meals are provided with your stay and the food is great, they offer a full buffet with a different variety of items every day. The new spa offers some relaxing treatments with outdoor and indoor pools. The real fun is the game drives with trained and knowledgeable guides. You'll get to see Elephants, Rhino, Hippopotamus, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Buck,Kudu,Lions and Cheetahs.

Aquila is a great preserve close to Capetown to see the animals outside cages. The accommodations are great and the food is also good. Please be aware that this is a preserve and animals are feed, so they are not in the wild. We enjoyed our stay and Bheki was extremely helpful and accommodating. We enjoyed a full day at the spa that was super relaxing with a very attentive staff. What is holding this place from being epic and amazing is courtesy training for some of the staff especially in the restaurant and a few more animals.

Aquila Game Reserve was amazing!They picked us up from Camps Bay, when we arrived we were greeted with a glass of sparkling wine and then taken to a buffet breakfast.When we headed off to the game reserve, our driver was very knowledgeable and friendly.I had no idea they had as many animals as they had and so much land for them to roam around.We had such a good time that when we visit South Africa again, we will be booking this for a second time!We also used the spa facilities and had a really nice massage, easy to book and reasonable price!

Did not sleep there. Got the half day afternoon safari. Great pick-up service from camps bay. Lunch was really tastefull and lots of choice. The guide informed us very well and we got to see most of the big five and other wildlife. When in Cape town a must go!!

Adding this at the start:Ignore some of the 1 star reviews as I just looked through them and they are so stupid e.g. they didn't provide coats for him and his family (it's winter, bring a coat. Not only that but they do actually provide blankets if you get cold, maybe check the weather beforehand?) / didn't see enough animals (well go to a zoo then) / wasn't like an open country safari (well do that instead of a private game reserve) / noone woke me up for the morning tour (set an alarm!? You are told when and where to meet). These are all real... couldn't believe it, really are some idiots out there.Anyway to the review:Aquila is such a cool place to visit. Everyone is very friendly and the food is always a buffet and always good. The safari was good. You are guaranteed to see animals as even though it is 10,000 hectares that actually isn't crazily large for the numbers of animals. Obviously you can't be guaranteed to see every animal there but it's not a zoo, and the animals aren't put in a tiny cage so you can stare at them. It was an unforgettable experience really.2 nights is actually worth it as there is horseback safari as well as quad biking, and a spa with sauna and massage rooms as well as a warm and cold pool.If you are coming from Cape Town the drive is easy (N1 the whole way) and very pretty.I've attached a video I recorded of the male lion there pooping his guts out for anyone that may be interested.

The safari was such a fun and enjoyable experience. It was also very educational as well. Our guide did an excellent job of telling us all about the animals. It truly was a blessing and I would recommend to anyone!Both the breakfast and lunch buffets were so delicious! They had a great variety of food and it was all so tasty.

We had a family cottage that was really nice. The staff showed up with a crate of firewood and built us a fire. When we woke up, we went on a private tour, which was 100% worth the extra money. The food was awesome for every meal. We will remember Aquila Game Preserve for the rest of our lives.

This is NOT a safari. This is a zoo. You will be driven around the zoo in a cool looking jeep for 2hrs. It’s 2.5hrs away from Cape Town and is not worth the drive nor the money. If you have been to Chessington in the UK, then do the kids safari there and call it a day. All 14 of us fell asleep on the ride. There was no movement by the animals - they are fed as though they are in a zoo, so they’re very lazy. The least interesting thing I’ve done in South Africa. It’s inauthentic and expensive. We paid around £120, and all regretted it. We were not greeted by anybody at the entrance, no welcome drinks as stated, just left to our devices and to figure it out on our own. The best part was the breakfast as resort decor. The rest is garbage. Avoid.

We booked a sunset safari via their website and paid around 2000R.When we arrive there was a parking where we parked our car and then we went to the reception where we filled a form and then we had a little lunch which was included in the price. Before your safari you can seat back and relax in front of the nature.That is why I recommend you to arrive at 3PM to have 1 hour to enjoy the hotel. Then we started our safari i highly recommended you to take the full back places because you can move ont he left side and on the right side where there is a animal on one of these side.In total we saw 4 of the big 5 (except the leopard) and we saw some other animals.The experience was really good and you cannot avoid that while in Cape Town

The drive from Cape Town to the reserve is absolutely spectacular! The mountains and wildlife you pass is extraordinary! The reserve itself is beautiful and well-maintained. The people who work here are friendly and professional and well-organized.The animals have a lot of space to roam about. The area is dry and this is summertime so I wished that there were more trees and greenery to provide shade for these majestic creatures. I also wished they had more watering holes. But I am sure that like many reserves, funding is not unlimited and so they are doing a great service all things considered.The guide was wonderful, warm and funny and also enlightened us as to the dangers these beautiful animals faced such as poachers trying to steal their horns. My experience was complex because I am glad these animals have a safe place but also heart-breaking to hear that poaching is still a problem.Thank you to the staff of Aquila for providing a world-class experience in the most beautiful city on earth 🦏 🦒 🐘 🦁 🐃Aquila also offers a buffet which looked great and well-looked after. I did not indulge as I had already eaten.They have a beautiful garden to roam through and the driver turns the vehicle around allowing passengers on both sides a view. The vehicle accommodates about 15 people so it does feel a little private too.

We were generally disappointed here. The food isn’t very good and the service is hit or miss. The hotel and restaurant are well kept and it’s only 2 hours from Cape Town, but that’s about it. The animals were desensitized to the many trucks of people so it felt like driving through a zoo. And the drivers favor one side of the truck or the other, so if you want the best chance of seeing animals book a private drive ahead of time. This is a family friendly place so if you don’t have kids with you, lower your expectations accordingly. There will be crying children and there will be rude parents. Felt a little bit like a rustic version of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Overall, we didn’t feel valued as guests here.

I understand that this game drive is the closest to Cape Town, which is why I chose it. However, having been to Kenya twice, I must say that this experience was not comparable. We spent only three hours in the park, and it felt more like an open zoo than a true game drive. The animals are kept in a managed reserve area, with their horns cut off for protection and fed supplements. This is not how wild animals should be managed.The food was also disappointing. I had booked a full-day tour, so I was picked up from town at 6 am and driven around to pick up other guests. When we arrived at the park, breakfast was served along with other guests who had joined the tour or booked private tours. There were about 100 people in total. The breakfast line was separated between us and the hotel guests, and the food was limited but understandable for breakfast.Lunch was even worse. There were only a few dishes, and when one dish ran out, it was replaced with something of even poorer quality. To make matters worse, no drinks were served, not even water. We had to pay for drinks, which I found unacceptable considering the cost of the tour.Besides, we are told to leave around 4 pm, even though the program says 5 pm, as the driver mentioned there will be traffic if we return late. Some agree, while others do not. Now, there was a disagreement between those who want to use the resort's facilities, such as the pool, and those who want to leave early.If you wish to book, I suggest you opt for the half-day package instead of the full-day one, as you will likely end up doing the same activities. Therefore, there is no need to pay more.

This was the highlight of my South African holiday. We were fortunate to stay for two overnights. The best place for relaxation and amazing food. The animals were just awesome to see. Thank you for a fabulous experience and excellent service.

This was a neat experience granted it’s not Kruger but it’s near Cape Town if you lack time to experience and actual safari. It’s affordable, you get super close to the animals. We did an afternoon tour and it was just enough beyond that would be too much for me. It last about 3 hours, there was a lunch buffet at the start, food looked okay we were not that hungry. The fruit was good. There is a refreshment station at the end of the tour they offer wine, water and soda I believe. The animals looked well taken care off and of course the benefits is that it’s a sanctuary. The drive from Cape Town is quite far give yourself 4-5 hours to arrive as traffic can accumulate.

Although not guaranteed, but we didn't see the leopard. Lucky to see the Big 4 in one game drive. We did the afternoon game drive. Loved the grape juice, nice and cold. The lunch was also good, I enjoyed the fish and the dessert.The down side, the toilets are very dark. Maybe try getting lights in there, as I saw people using their phone flash.