Aquila Game Reserve

Aquila Game Reserve is a new 4500 HA game reserve, 2 hours from Cape Town along the N1. Aquila Game Reserve is situated in the Southern Karoo, near Touws river among exquisite mountains and valleys, wide open spaces makes for varied and ideal game viewing.

Wildlife

Large herds of game are found on the Reserve such as Black & Blue Wildebeest, Burchell's Zebra, Springbok, Gemsbok, Steenbok, Caracal (lynx), Blesbok, Bat Eared Fox, Ostriches, Klip Springer, Duiker, Greybuck, Baboon, Black Backed Jackal, Eland, Red Hartebeest.

Aquila is home to the Big 5, Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino and rare Mountain Leopard and is also home to Giraffe and Hippo. Aquila has 7 Lions at present, having been saved from the "canned hunting" trade. They are genetically linked to the Barbary Lion a close relative of the extinct Cape Mountain Lion.

Aquila is also proud to have the first Rhino to be born in the Western Cape in 200 years.

Birdlife

Aquila and its natural wetland is home to 172 species of birds and is also home to several breeding pairs of the rare and endangered Black Eagle, after which the Reserve has been named. Karoo chat, rufous-eared warbler, fairy flycatcher and yellow-bellied eremomela can be found on short walks into the surrounding wilderness.

Lark-like Bunting and Black-headed Canary move in after rain.

In the summer months the Booted Eagle is a regular visitor and the rainy season attracts Flamingo's to the Reserve

Aquila offers four star accommodations in the form of rustic cottages or luxury chalets constructed from rocks, river pebbles, reeds and thatch to blend into the environment. Each luxury chalet includes en-suite rock bathrooms cut into the side of a hill, an outdoor secluded rock shower or Jacuzzi and log fireplaces.

The honeymoon suite has a large sunken bath with a waterfall that cascades through the bathroom's rock wall.

Aquila offers morning and sunset game drives in open 4x4 vehicles for close-up animal and bird viewing. After sunset there is the chance of encountering one of the lodge's predators. One-or two-day safaris direct from Cape Town or from the reserve can be arranged in advance. These include meals, game drives and champagne.

Attractions

Horse-riding safaris, rock art, bird watching, mountain biking,4x4 trails and hiking. Aquila is situated close to trout fishing and golf facilities, wine routes and the national flower route.

The smell of the bush, the sound of lions roaring at night, the excitement of coming upon a herd of wild animals, nothing beats the African bush experience, all on Cape Towns doorstep.