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Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa

4.0 star property
Families create lasting memories at this natural retreat where safari adventures and outdoor BBQ gatherings bring everyone closer together

Choose dates to view prices

Escape to the Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa, where you can unwind at the poolside bar or indulge in a rejuvenating spa treatment. Enjoy family-friendly fun with mini golf and a playground, plus delicious local cuisine at the on-site buffet restaurant. With free WiFi, an arcade/game room, and helpful staff praised by guests.

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
The current price is AU$566
includes taxes & fees
6 June - 7 June

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 9 of 9 rooms

View all photos for Standard Cottage

Standard Cottage

Standard Cottage

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Family Luxury Cottage 4 Sleeper (5)

In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Family Luxury Cottage 4 Sleeper (5)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed OR 2 Single Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Family Luxury Cottage 8 Sleeper (6)

In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Family Luxury Cottage 8 Sleeper (6)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 8
  • 2 King Beds OR 3 Single Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Luxury Premier Cottages King (9)

Luxury Premier Cottages King (9)

Luxury Premier Cottages King (9)

7.0 out of 10
Good
(2 reviews)
  • Mountain view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Luxury Premier Cottages King and Twin (10)

In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Luxury Premier Cottages King and Twin (10)

  • Mountain view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed OR 2 Single Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Premier Lodge Rooms (12)

In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Premier Lodge Rooms (12)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Standard Lodge Rooms (13)

In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Standard Lodge Rooms (13)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Deluxe Double Room

Deluxe Double Room

Deluxe Double Room

  • Mountain view
  • 57 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Family Room, 2 Bedrooms, Non Smoking, Pool View

Family Room, 2 Bedrooms, Non Smoking, Pool View

Family Room, 2 Bedrooms, Non Smoking, Pool View

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Single Beds and 1 Double Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi
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About the area

Touws River is home to Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa. While the natural beauty of Cape Floral Region Protected Areas and Bokkeriviere Nature Reserve can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can head to Hex Valley Golf Club. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including golfing. Visit our Touws River travel guide
View more Lodges in Touws River
Map
off the R46, Touws River, Western Cape

What's nearby

  • Aquila Safari Animal Rescue Center
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Hex Valley Golf Club
    37 min drive - 50.2 km
  • Veldskoen Padstal
    41 min drive - 54.0 km

Getting around

  • Cape Town (CPT-Cape Town Intl.)
    123 min drive

Restaurants

  • Poolside restaurant
    5 min walk
  • Level Up Lounge & Bar
    1 min walk
  • Steers
    8 min drive
  • Patriot Coffee
    7 min drive
  • karoo chicken kitchen
    7 min drive

About this property

Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa

Upscale family-friendly lodge
You can look forward to a free breakfast buffet, a poolside bar and mini golf at Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa. Treat yourself to a body treatment, a manicure/pedicure or a facial at the on-site spa. Be sure to enjoy a meal at the on-site local cuisine buffet restaurant. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with a playground and an arcade/games room.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • 2 outdoor pools and an indoor pool, along with sunloungers
  • Free self-parking
  • A safari, a round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge) and supervised childcare (surcharge)
  • Luggage storage, concierge services and a banquet hall
Room features
All 77 rooms include comforts such as laptop-friendly workspaces and air conditioning, in addition to perks such as free WiFi and safes.
Other conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Rainfall showers, bidets and baths or showers
  • Wardrobes/cupboards, mini fridges and coffee/tea makers

Awards and affiliations

This property is affiliated with the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) and welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQ+) guests.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Return airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Arcade/game room
  • Free children's club
  • Full-service spa
  • Game drive
  • Horseback riding/rentals
  • Indoor pool
  • Mini golf
  • Playground
  • Safari
  • Sauna
  • Steam room
  • Wine tasting room

Family friendly

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Arcade/game room
  • Babysitting (surcharge)
  • Free children's club
  • Indoor pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Mini golf
  • Mini-fridge
  • Playground
  • Supervised activities for children (surcharge)

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Newspapers in lobby

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • Conference centre
  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Pool loungers

Full-service spa

  • 10 treatment rooms
  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Facials
  • Manicures/pedicures
  • Massage
  • Sauna
  • Spa open daily
  • Steam room

Accessibility

  • Lift (90 centimetre wide door)

More

  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1998
  • Designated smoking areas
  • Fireplace in lobby

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Bidet
  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Free bottled water
  • Mini-fridge

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Laptop workspace
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: 5:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
Guests under 16 years old are not allowed in the spa, and guests under 16 years old are only allowed with adult supervision
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

National rating

Quality graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) – South Africa's official quality assurance organisation.

Frequently asked questions

Does Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa have a pool?

Yes, this property has an indoor pool and 2 outdoor pools.

How much does it cost to stay at Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa?

As of 2 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa on 6 June 2026 start from AU$566, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: 5:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Does Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle.

Where is Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa located?

Set in Touws River, this family-friendly lodge is 10.4 mi (16.8 km) from Cape Floral Region Protected Areas and 11.9 mi (19.2 km) from Bokkeriviere Nature Reserve. Veldskoen Padstal and Hex Valley Golf Club are also within 32 miles (52 km).

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Reviews

Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa Reviews

8.2

Very good

8.6

Cleanliness

8.6

Location

8.6

Staff & service

8.4

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 91 out of 196 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 59 out of 196 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 25 out of 196 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 15 out of 196 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 196 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The safari trips were amazing and the staff could not do enough for us. The room had a wonderful view and was very nice. The food was bountiful and very many choices.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Henry

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Such an amazing time wished we stayed an extra day. Staff was amazing, amenities were great room was clean and the game drive was incredible.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Safari was incredible. Beautiful grounds of hotel and amenities.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lauren

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Family-friendly lodge with plentiful food options and activities for kids. An excellent safari option if you have limited time in the Cape Town area and are interested in seeing the Big 5.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025
Verified

4/10 Poor

Fese

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
The rooms are nothing as displayed on the website. The front desk staff are not transparent on their policies- we were not told that ATV rides were at a cost and only charged at checkout. For the prices they barely have any toiletries in the shower- not even and iron. The only reason reason I didn’t give them 1 star is cos the restaurant staff and the baggage personnel’s were nice and friendly. To the rooms, they are dirty you could literally see hair all over from the previous guests and rats running around the dining- MULTIPLE.
Rats were roaming around all 6 times we were in the dining area
The bathrooms had splash of remnants from the lady guest and picked up hair in multiple places
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Really enjoyed my stay. Well organised from arrival to departure. Room overlooked the safari and could see Elephant's from the balcony with a coffee. Pool was nice and refreshing. Food was quick and plentiful. Safari was better than expected and guides informative.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Roger

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice property had opportunity to see some of the animals.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rupak

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A great way to do a safari close to Cape Town. You get to see many animals in a short space of time. The stargazing at night was an added bonus.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Faheemah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Romantic getaway

We went for our anniversary and we absolutely enjoyed our stay at Aquila the staff is friendly and the food was lovely the animals are beautiful and the view from our room was spectacular we will definitely recommend this place for a romantic getaway
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Tomitra

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The food although plentiful was meh. Lodging was dark but loft was a neat addition. The staff were extremely polite and helpful. We went on safari 3 times including in one time in the morning which was incredible. This is a reserve that rescues animals at risk; perhaps that explains how few animals were present
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Marion

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We did an overnight trip with our 4 year old so she could experience her first « safari ». The room was great, spotless, the kids club is UNREAL- really recommend for families with kids. Our guide was fantastic. The food was average.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

barry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Food is incredible, star gazing is fantastic, and the animals are amazing. We saw four of the BIg 5 many others. The white rhinos are so cute!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ellie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Loved our stay at Aquila! We stayed in the family room which was very spacious & had a patio area outside. All the food was lovely with a big selection from the buffet. We had African wood massages in the spa and used their facilities which were lovely. The grounds are big and spacious and you can sometimes see animals from your windows But of course the best bit were the safaris, we loved the drives seeing all the animals in the reserve my mum also swapped one of the drives for a horse riding safari which she enjoyed. Would definitely recommend staying here for atleast 2 nights
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

First safari for my family and was brilliant

The hotel and spa was fantastic. Lacks a gym which would have made the downtime better but the overall experience was brilliant. The junior ranger session offered for children was fun and the kids loved it. Only thing id say was to add additional things such as a gym and extra acrivity options for kids (even chargable) such as quad bike safari etc. Really good experience!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Pros: We really enjoyed the game drives. The drivers were quite knowledgeable. Stargazing as well was a nice touch. Cons: Outdoor shower was not practicable as it was quite cold in the evening.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nadeem

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing experience

Amazing experience. Wonderful to be so close to the animals. Electric fencing behind our Karoo Cottage should have warning signs not to touch.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jaswinder Sonia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
One of the best experiences of my life. The property is beautiful with amazing views. The booking includes the lunch, dinner, Breakfast and 2 game drives. Be sure to get to the property by noon and enjoy the views and Spa treatments (affordable and very relaxing) the sunset game drive was beautiful and we saw Giraffe, lions, elephants, hippos and zebras. The staff is helpful and do their best to make our experience very entertaining and exciting. Loved our stay!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Terese

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed in a lovely little chalet with a terrace with a view over the park itself. Just the thing for a sundowner. Very comfy bed and an outdoor shower. Loved that! Sae a lot of wild animals close up during the tours. The buffet is somewhat overrum when everybody wants to eat at the same time. Too few sunloungers by the pool.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024
Verified

6/10 Okay

Lisa

Liked: Amenities
Overall this property is great for families. That’s it. We were a couple in our 50’s and this did not measure up to our expectations for a 4 star resort. The best aspects were the spa with adult only small secluded pool and the spectacular views of the Karoo. Most of the staff including and especially the manager were unfriendly.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

carol

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Fantastic from beginning to end

Well organised from the beginning when we were relieved of our bags as soon as we got out of the shuttle and offered complimentary wine. We were given a daily activity programme which included 2 game drives a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. The drives were excellent as we managed to get up close to lions, giraffes, zebras and rhinos. Our guide was very knowledgeable. Rooms are small but well furnished.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Christine

Disliked: Cleanliness
The location was superb. However, our room was at the back of the property with no view of the amazing park. The spa treatments were excellent. The safari rides were extreemly bumpy and the animals all seemed to be found in the same areas and appeared to be being fed just before each drive. Our shower and drains were disgusting ...lots of black mould. I found the buffet options limiting and had quite an upset tummy.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Enjoyed our time - but food disappointing

Lovely setting and easy access from Cape Town. We very much enjoyed being able to swap out two safaris to go out on horse back and the ATVs. On one day there was a lot of day visitors around the pool but we just retreated to the private pool by the spa. Overall we had a good stay but the one real let down was the food! Every meal was bland and just not good, and one guest got sick from one meal. It is a real shame as the whole set up is very nice so we were quite shocked about the poor quality of the food.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Deborah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The housekeeping were wonderful & had fun teaching me a few Africans. The Dining staff were always there. The tour guides we friendly with great senses of humor. The food was a very good quality and tasty. As someone who is dairy free they had good variety of non-dairy milks, but a lot of food had dairy and as far as gluten-free my options were very limited.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified

4/10 Poor

Chenbo

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
it's a all in resort, The food is not very good overall, the first day at lunch time, before i even sat down, i saw a mouse went through the restaurant, it was quite alerting. also food choice was quite limited and low quality. we had the villa room, it's very basic and very cold. The game drive was awesome, and the driver was amazing.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katelyn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The most amazing 24 hours we Har spent anywhere. The safaris were incredible and our beautiful family room was the icing on the cake.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025