Aquila Lodge — Hotel in Breede Valley Local Municipality

Aquila Game Reserve is a private game reserve located near Cape Town, South Africa. It's a popular tourist destination known for its stunning natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and exciting outdoor activities. Here are some interesting facts and features about Aquila Game Reserve:

Wildlife:

Aquila Game Reserve is home to an impressive array of wildlife, including:

Big Five: Lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo. Other animals: Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, springbok, and many species of antelope. Birdlife: Over 170 species of birds, including eagles, vultures, and ostriches.

Accommodation:

Aquila Game Reserve offers luxurious accommodation options, including:

Lodges: Comfortable, stylish lodges with en-suite bathrooms and private decks. Cottages: Cozy, self-catering cottages perfect for families or groups. Tented camps: Luxury tented camps for a more rustic, immersive experience.

Activities:

Visitors to Aquila Game Reserve can enjoy a range of exciting activities, including:

Game drives: Guided drives through the reserve in open vehicles. Walking safaris: Guided walks through the reserve, offering a unique perspective on the wildlife. Horseback safaris: Explore the reserve on horseback, a great way to spot wildlife. Quad biking: Adventure through the reserve on quad bikes. Star gazing: Enjoy the stunning night sky, perfect for stargazing.

Conservation:

Aquila Game Reserve is committed to conservation and sustainability, with initiatives such as:

Wildlife conservation: The reserve is involved in various conservation projects, including the protection of endangered species. Sustainable tourism: The reserve aims to minimize its...

We had a lovely stay at Aquila. All the staff was very nice and friendly. Mike, our guide was very passionate and shared a lot of information about the animals on the reserve. We got quite close to the animals which was very special. The room was spacious, with a lovely view on the pool and the hills in the background, sometimes able to spot animals in the reserve from our window. We used the spa in the morning after checking out. It was very relaxing. The dinner and breakfast buffet was of good quality but not enough options for vegetarians/vegans. On our sunset drive, we stopped in the middle of the reserve for a toilet break with complimentary drinks and snacks. Quickly a lot of baboons got close to the camp to try and get some snacks. The staff tried to push them away, in vain, and some guests got very close to them to take photos which I found it quite disrespectful for the animals. Being in their home, you can’t be surprised and annoyed if they try to “steal” human food. I know the goal is to please the guests but we were here to see animals being taken care of and that to me was a bit disappointing and counterproductive and encouraging bad human behaviour towards monkeys. Toilet break and a bottle of water is more than enough in my opinion. The reserve should be kept as wild...

Das Gelände des Aquila Reservats ist schön und stimmig. Stimmig auf den ersten Blick.

Es handelt sich um ein komplett eingezäuntes Reservat, mit festen Futterstellen für die Tiere.

Die in der Hotelbeschreibung suggerierten -Big 5- gibt es nicht. Kein Leopard im Reservat. Die schön in den Bildern angepriesenen offenen Safari-Pickups gibt es nur gegen hohen Aufpreis.

Ansonsten fährt man in LKWs (ca. 30 Personen) durch das eingezäunte Gelände. Massentourismus. Das Fahren ist eher ein „durchpeitschen“ der Besuchermassen durch einen Zoo. Tatsächlich wie eine Fahrt durch einen Safaripark in Deutschland.

Die Zimmer sind okay aber verwohnt. Die einfach verglasten Scheiben haben leider keinerlei Dämmwirkung und waren undicht. Nachts war es dermaßen kalt, dass sogar die Heizfunktion der Klimaanlage überfordert war.

Das Wifi war mangelhaft.

Das Restaurant hatte sehr fleißige und nette Mitarbeiter. Das Essen glich aber eher schwacher Kantinenqualität, als einem ordentlichen Buffet.

Die Preise für Getränke (auch normales Wasser) waren überteuert.

Fazit:

Komplett falsche Vorstellungen durch die Hotelbeschreibungen vermittelt worden. Keine Safari, sondern ein überteuerter Zoobesuch in verwohnten Zimmern mit...