Hotel Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa (Touws River, South Africa)

Set in the pristine Southern Karoo against a backdrop of dramatic mountains, Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa offers an exciting taste of real Africa, just two short hours’ from Cape Town. Aquila is home to an enormous variety of game, including the Big 5 - offering safari’s in four-wheel-drive vehicles, quad bikes or on horseback. Dining takes place buffet style, where the chef presents a rich variety of authentic South African cuisine, together with a superb South African wine list. After dinner, gather around the telescope and be taken on a journey of the southern skies. 4-star accommodation is offered in Afro-chic lodge rooms or rock, thatch and wood cottages with alfresco showers. All accommodation has air-conditioning. Aquila welcomes children, providing activities to keep them entertained in the children’s play area. A visit to Aquila would also not be complete without a tour of the Eco Synergy systems: an award-winning project developed to reduce Aquila’s carbon footprint. A large pool, featuring a pool bar, keeps guests cool in the hot summer months, while a spectacular spa offers an outdoor pool, indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room, nail bar, and luxurious treatment rooms. A cosy lounge and bar area allows one to soak up the sights and sounds of Africa.