Going on a safari is the ultimate bucket-list experience. Travelers heading to Cape Town, South Africa will soon have a brand-new (and shockingly affordable) way to scratch it off their list … with a familiar name: Uber.
Starting Oct. 2, travelers can book an Uber Safari (on Fridays and Saturdays only) for a flat fee of $200 … for up to four guests. That fee gets you a game drive at the Aquila Private Game Reserve – plus roundtrip transportation on the two-hour drive from your Cape Town accommodations to Aquila and back.
Uber Safaris can be booked 90 days to 24 hours in advance. At launch, it'll only be available through January – covering the peak season for a trip to South Africa.
Guests will also enjoy a welcome toast and lunch before heading out in search of the big five: lions, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, and rhinos. Considering even most safari day trips cost $150 or more per person (if not much, much more), this is a phenomenal deal.
Take it from me: I've visited Aquila Private Game Reserve myself.
My wife and I paid north of $300 for our day trip from Cape Town, which included lunch and a welcome drink, similar to this experience. I wouldn't hesitate to pay that amount again, but a flat $200 fee – for up to four passengers (in a private vehicle), no less – seems like a steal in comparison.
To be clear: Aquila isn't a full-blown safari experience. The reserve is fenced in, so you're not benefitting from typical migration patterns nor seeing the animals in a truly wild habitat.
But the upshot is that you're more likely to get a glimpse of all the animals you're hoping to see on a safari. And because it's just two hours or so away from Cape Town, it's fairly easy work in as a day trip if you're pressed for time … or can't afford the $1,000-plus-per-night fees most safari lodges charge.
It's a positively massive piece of land and didn't feel gimmicky at all. It was obvious that Aquila is committed to protecting these animals from the unfortunate reality of poachers while ensuring the preservation of South Africa’s rich biodiversity.
And again, this is one of the few options for travelers in Cape Town to get a feel for a safari on a tight schedule. Whether you go elsewhere in South Africa, Kenya, or beyond, traditional safaris often require additional travel … and a lot more money.
To book one of these Uber Safaris, simply fire up the Uber app (beginning this Wednesday, Oct. 2) and select the “Uber Safari” icon from the home screen. Here, you can get full details on the safari experience, check available dates, enter your pick-up and drop-off locations, and book.
Once you click “Reserve Uber Safari,” you’ll receive an email letting you know your trip is confirmed. Availability of Uber Safari is limited, so if you're planning to be in Cape Town over a Friday and Saturday through the end of January, it would be a good idea to book in advance.
This new offering is a part of Uber's “Go Anywhere” series of travel products, following the successful debut of Uber Boat and Uber Bubbles in Europe earlier this summer.
Sadly, the monthly Uber Cash you get with cards like the *amex gold* and *amex platinum* won't work to help offset the cost of this experience. That perk is only good in the U.S.
Bottom Line
Uber Safari is an exciting new offering coming to South Africa, giving travelers an incredibly affordable way to cross it off their lists.
Beginning Oct. 2, travelers can book a safari – complete with roundtrip transportation to and from Cape Town – for a flat fee of $200 directly through the Uber app. Each Uber Safari can accommodate up to four passengers and includes a pre-safari toast and lunch.
