Enter Uber Safari.
The ride-hailing service connects visitors to Cape Town with animal exploration at Aquila Private Game Reserve about two hours away from the city. The service is offered through January and is quickly filling up, but six of us were able to make a reservation (thanks to our hosts at Uber) and try out Uber Safari.
The door-to-door service picked us up at our hotel in Cape Town in the morning and took us on an all-day adventure before returning us to the city just in time for dinner. The offering is part of Uber’s “Go Anywhere” series of experiences in top travel destinations around the world. Other offerings include Uber Bubbles, which whisks riders from Paris to Champagne, and Uber Boat in Mykonos, Greece.
"We’ve designed our ‘Go Anywhere’ series to help our customers book bucket list adventures with the Uber convenience they know and love,” Frans Hiemstra, regional general manager of Uber in the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement. “With Uber Safari — one of our most wild offerings to date — our Reserve technology makes it easier than ever to unlock South Africa’s most iconic travel experience.”
The scenic, two-hour drive west from Cape Town flew by thanks to fun conversation (and a delightful dance playlist) with our Uber drivers, who even joined us on the safari. The experience also includes welcome drinks and lunch at Aquila Private Game Reserve as well as the safari, where you have the chance to see the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros and buffaloes.
The incredible surroundings of the Karoo Mountains add an extra wow factor to the photos you’ll inevitably make your friends jealous of when they see your Instagram post. At $200 for up to four guests, the experience is surprisingly affordable, considering some safari experiences can cost thousands of dollars.
The tour through the private reserve lasts about three hours, and guides are on hand to point out all the animals you’ll encounter — and try their best to make a few passes to come across harder-to-find animals like the lions. While we didn’t see the full Big Five lineup, we did come across zebras, baboons, giraffes, elephants and lions (just to name a few). Aquila Private Game Reserve also makes sure guests are comfortable and offers a midtour break for bathrooms and refreshments like sparkling wine or water.
"We're excited to partner with Uber to extend our bucket list wildlife experiences to their customers,” Johan van Schalkwyk, commercial officer of Aquila Collection, said in a statement. “Uber Safari allows folks to book and enjoy an unforgettable day at Aquila, where they’ll get to experience the Big 5 in an easy and luxurious way. It’s the perfect combination of modern convenience and natural beauty, all while supporting wildlife conservation efforts that are vital to preserving South Africa’s biodiversity."
While availability is limited, you can book Uber Safari through January by going to your Uber app and selecting “Uber Safari” from the home screen. Enter your pickup and drop-off locations and click "Reserve." If your reservation is confirmed, you’ll get an email letting you know. Happy exploring!
Related reading:
