Aquila Private Game Reserve

What Aquila Private Game Reserve does

Aquila Private Game Reserve (Pty) Ltd is a privately-held South African safari tourism operator headquartered in Cape Town, with its principal asset being a 10,000-hectare private Big 5 game reserve located in the Touws River region of the Western Cape, approximately two hours from Cape Town. Founded in 1999, the company operates as the first official Big 5 game reserve near Cape Town and reintroduced Africa's Big 5 to the Western Cape; it also runs two conservation subsidiaries, the Animal Rescue Centre (ARC) and Saving Private Rhino (SPR), and operates under the broader Aquila Collection brand.

The business sells a vertically integrated portfolio of safari experiences through multiple channels: half-day and full-day Big 5 game drives (Early Morning, Afternoon, Sunset, Traditional, Quad Bike, Horseback, Combo), overnight accommodation across seven tiers ranging from Standard Lodge (from R3,910 per person sharing) to Deluxe Cottage (from R9,495 to R11,185 per person per night sharing), the Tranquila Spa, restaurant, infinity pool, and corporate/event facilities. Distribution spans direct-to-consumer bookings via the official website, B2B trade partners through STO/SLA agreements via a dedicated trade portal, and limited-time app-based partnerships (notably Uber Safari, October 2024 to January 2025), with transport supported by self-drive, shared shuttle, private transfer, and fly-in options.

The revenue model combines per-person day-trip pricing, per-person-per-night accommodation pricing, spa and ancillary service charges, transport surcharges, and negotiated trade rates. The company employs 251-500 staff, is led by CEO Searl Derman, and has earned the Skål International Sustainable Tourism Award in both 2020 and 2024. No external ownership, public listing, or external capital raise is disclosed in available materials; the technology stack is described as a booking website and reservation system with no proprietary platform or AI/ML capability disclosed.

Name

Aquila Private Game Reserve

Legal name

AQUILA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (PTY) LTD

Website

https://aquilasafari.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Aquila Private Game Reserve is a privately-held South African safari operator running a 10,000-hectare Big 5 reserve near Cape Town, selling day-trip and overnight safari experiences, accommodation, spa, and transport to domestic and international tourists via direct bookings, trade partners, and partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Safari Tourism and Wildlife Hospitality

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Safari & Wilderness Luxury Resorts (THAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG)

Keywords

• Safari tourism services
• Wildlife game reserve
• Luxury safari accommodation
• Big 5 safari
• Spa hospitality resort

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Day Trip Safaris: Half-day and full-day safari experiences including game drives, welcome drinks, meals, and various safari types (traditional, horseback, quad bike, combo). Revenue generated from per-person pricing for structured day experiences.
2. Overnight Accommodation: Safari lodge rooms, cottages, and luxury suites with meals and game drives included. Revenue from per-person-per-night pricing across multiple accommodation tiers.
3. Tranquila Spa Services: Award-winning spa offering treatments including African-inspired therapies, heated pools, sauna, steam room, and wellness experiences. Additional revenue stream for overnight and day guests.
4. Transport Services: Shared and private return transfers to and from the reserve from Cape Town areas. Additional charge service for guest convenience.
5. Trade Partner Bookings: Exclusive offers available to trade partners with valid STO and SLA agreements, generating revenue through B2B channel bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aquila Private Game Reserve operates a 10,000-hectare Big 5 private game reserve in the Western Cape approximately two hours from Cape Town, offering half-day and full-day guided safari experiences (traditional, horseback, quad bike, and combo variants) plus multi-tier overnight accommodation (Standard Lodge, Family Suite, Premier Lodge, Karoo Cottage, Family Cottage, Premier Cottage, and Deluxe Cottage). The integrated offering includes the Tranquila Spa, on-site restaurant, infinity pool, conference and event facilities, kids' activities, and multiple transport options including shuttle, private transfer, and fly-in safari.

Product overview

Aquila Private Game Reserve is a Big 5 safari destination near Cape Town offering a portfolio of day trip and overnight safari experiences. Day trips include half-day options (Early Morning, Afternoon, Sunset Safari) and full-day options (Traditional Safari, Quad Bike Safari, Horseback Safari, Combo Safari). Overnight stays feature various accommodation tiers: Standard Lodge, Family Suite, Premier Lodge, Karoo Cottage, Family Cottage, Premier Cottage, and the premium Deluxe Cottage. The experience integrates game drives, spa facilities (Tranquila Spa), dining, and transport options including self-drive, shared transfers, private transport, and fly-in safari. The company operates as part of the Aquila Collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saving Private Rhino (SPR): Non-profit organization providing free anti-poaching training to vulnerable game reserves and protecting endangered privately-owned rhinos from poaching.
• Animal Rescue Centre (ARC)

Products and services

• Early Morning Safari Half-day guided safari experience running from 07h00am to 12h00pm, taking advantage of the period when bush wildlife is most active for visitors to the reserve from Cape Town.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• UberminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Limited-time partnership where Uber Safari operated from October 2024 to January 2025, allowing customers to book Big 5 safari experiences at Aquila through the Uber app. Flat rate of 3,550 ZAR (~$190) for up to 4 people including pickup, welcome drinks, lunch, and game drive.
• Saving Private Rhino (SPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization focused on anti-poaching efforts. Aquila supports SPR which provides free anti-poaching training to vulnerable game reserves and protects privately-owned rhinos from poaching. Part of Aquila's Animal Rescue Centre (ARC) conservation initiatives.
• Animal Rescue Centre (ARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife sanctuary for vulnerable and injured animals including those affected by habitat loss and wildlife poaching. ARC leads Aquila's conservation initiatives and offers guests insight into wildlife rehabilitation work.
• Skål InternationalminorOthersGlobal travel and tourism industry organization that awarded Aquila the Sustainable Tourism Award in 2020 and 2024 for conservation and sustainability efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Singita: Portfolio of ultra-luxury safari lodges across South Africa and East Africa; larger, established incumbent competing for the top end of the same high-end safari customer pool that Aquila's Deluxe Cottage targets.
• South African National Parks (Kruger): State operator of Kruger National Park and other major South African reserves; the dominant safari destination incumbent against which Aquila positions itself as a more exclusive, closer-to-Cape-Town alternative.
• &Beyond: Luxury safari and travel operator running multiple lodges across southern Africa with strong conservation positioning; broader incumbent comparable to Aquila's model across multiple properties.

Direct peers

• Sanbona Wildlife Reserve: Big 5 private reserve in the Western Cape offering luxury accommodation and safari experiences near Cape Town; directly comparable location, target customer, and product mix to Aquila.
• Thornybush Game Lodge: Big 5 luxury lodge in the Thornybush Nature Reserve adjacent to Kruger; comparable product and target market, but operating in a different South African safari geography.
• Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve: Ultra-luxury Big 5 reserve in Sabi Sand adjacent to Kruger; competes for the same international luxury safari guest that Aquila targets, but at a meaningfully higher price tier.
• Shamwari Private Game Reserve: Multi-lodge Big 5 reserve in the Eastern Cape with a strong conservation brand (incl. Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre) — directly comparable to Aquila's integrated safari + conservation positioning at a larger scale.
• Gondwana Game Reserve: Big 5 private reserve on the Garden Route with lodge and villa accommodation; comparable product structure (lodge + game drives) but in a different Western Cape geography.
• Ulusaba (by Virgin Limited Edition): Boutique luxury Big 5 lodge in Sabi Sand with strong brand association; competes for premium international safari guests at a higher price point and stronger wildlife density.
• Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve: Western Cape Big 5 safari reserve roughly 2.5 hours from Cape Town with cheetah conservation and lodge accommodation; competes head-to-head with Aquila for Cape Town-based day-trip and overnight guests.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aquilasafaris
• Facebookfacebook.com/Aquilasafari

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aquila Private Game Reserve