Uber Safari is exploring South Africa’s wildlife until February 2025, and we checked it out

Several of us at TPG were in Cape Town this fall and wanted to explore the wildlife of South Africa.

Enter Uber Safari.

A horse-riding service connects visitors to Cape Town with game drives at the Aquila Private Game Reserve about two hours from the city. The service is offered until January and fills up quickly, but six of us were able to make a reservation (thanks to our Uber hosts) and try out the Uber Safari.

The door to door service picked us up from our hotel in Cape Town in the morning and took us on a full day tour before returning us to the city in time for dinner. The offer is part of Uber’s “Go Anywhere” series in the best travel destinations around the world. Other offerings include Uber Bubbles, which transports passengers from Paris to Champagne, and Uber Boat in Mykonos, Greece.

“We designed our ‘Go Anywhere’ series to help our customers book bucket-list adventures with the Uber convenience they know and love,” Frans Hiemstra, Uber’s regional general manager for the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement. “With Uber Safari – one of our biggest offerings to date – our Reserve technology makes it easier than ever to unlock an epic travel experience in South Africa.”

The beautiful, two-hour trip west from Cape Town was made easy thanks to a great conversation (and a fun dance playlist) with our Uber drivers, who even joined us on safari. The experience includes welcome drinks and lunch at the Aquila Private Game Reserve and a safari, where you have the chance to see the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo.

The stunning surroundings of the Karoo Mountains add a stunning element to the photos that will make your friends jealous when they see your Instagram posts. At $200 for up to four guests, the experience is incredibly affordable, considering some safari experiences can cost thousands of dollars.

A tour of the private reserve takes about three hours, and guides are on hand to show you all the animals you’ll encounter – and try your best to pass a few to encounter hard-to-find animals like lions. Although we didn’t see the Big Five, we did come across zebras, chimpanzees, giraffes, elephants and lions (to name a few). Aquila Private Game Reserve also ensures that visitors are comfortable and offers intermediate toilet breaks and refreshments such as sparkling wine or water.

“We are delighted to partner with Uber to offer their customers a bucket list of wildlife experiences,” said Johan van Schalkwyk, chief commercial officer at Aquila Collection, in a statement. “Uber Safari allows people to book and enjoy an unforgettable day in Aquila, where they will discover the Big 5 in an easy and comfortable way. It is the perfect combination of modern conveniences and natural beauty, all the while supporting the conservation efforts of the wild animals that are important for the preservation of biodiversity of South Africa.”

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Although availability is limited, you can book an Uber Safari through January by going to your Uber app and selecting “Uber Safari” on the home screen. Enter your pick-up and drop-off locations and click “Book.” If your booking is confirmed, you will receive an email notifying you. Enjoy exploring!

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