Aquila Collection

The Aquila Collection is a portfolio of award-winning Big 5 safari lodges, luxurious accommodation, and bucket list activities situated in the Western Cape – just outside of Cape Town – offering visitors to the Mother City a one-stop-shop  opportunity to witness wildlife conservation programmes and loads other experiences.

Acclaimed for service excellence, renewable energy, social responsibility efforts and conservation programmes, Aquila Collection is more than just an unforgettable wildlife experience, it is an experience in luxurious African hospitality, traditional culinary delights, service excellence and the restoration of pride to the indigenous people and the land.

Aquila Collection offers its esteemed visitors and guests a leading selection of Big 5 safaris, luxury stays and leisure activities in the Cape region of South Africa.

Combining the welcoming spirit and world-class convenience of Cape Town with the serenity of Africa’s wildlife and scenery – the Aquila Collection certainly makes its mark in the global luxury travel and experiences space.

Under our portfolio of unique experiences, we’re perhaps most famous for our Big 5 safari properties.

Reachable from Cape Town in less than 2 hours’ drive, and in less than an hour by helicopter, Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa is a four-star safari resort that spans over 10,000 hectares, and welcomes the whole family for unparalleled Big 5 viewing experiences. Game viewing can be experienced in a variety of ways, including traditional safari vehicles, on horseback, or even on quad bikes.

A short half-hour drive further, Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve lies on a pristine expanse of Tankwa Karoo plains and mountains thousands of hectares in size and teeming with the exceptional wildlife that southern Africa is famous for. The privacy of secluded suites under the desert stars, exceptional access to the Big 5 and other wildlife through game drives and adjacent spa facilities situate Inverdoorn among the best of its kind for families and couples alike.

Next door, the five-star Kuganha Tented Camp and Spa offers intimate seclusion in absolute proximity to wildlife; elephants can be seen walking past Kuganha from the comfort of the Camp’s 66 square foot tent spaces. Stargazing, a sumptuous desert high tea, horseback adventures and educational cheetah rescue experiences are among the many ways to pass the time at Kuganha.

Adding to our portfolio of incredible experiences easily reachable from Cape Town, the famous coast of the Cape is home to several authentic experiences that allow visitors to experience the southernmost tip of the African continent in world-class comfort.

The exquisite Marlin Manor luxury villa at Cape L’Agulhas – complete with 5 bedrooms and situated just 50 metres away from a private beach, as well as the comfortable Cape Agulhas Guest House (with 10 bedrooms 150m from the beach), and Kob Cottage (with 5 bedrooms a short walk from the Struisbaai Harbour) – all lies 2,5 hours away from Cape Town.

For those curious to experience the renowned seafood of the Cape’s southern coast, Catch Cook Restaurant and Beach Bar offers a laid-back and delicious dining experience – with a variety of harbour activities departing from its iconic location.

From the southernmost point of Africa, where two oceans meet, to the wild and rugged heart of the Karoo desert, the Aquila Collection curates some of the Cape region’s most exceptional geography, wildlife, food and adventures to create experiences that exist in few places on earth.

Real Africa. Real Close to Cape Town.

searl-derman

Searl Derman

Owner of Aquila Collection

THE AQUILA COLLECTION BUYS INVERDOORN PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa today made an exciting announcement and confirmed the recent acquisition of the Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve in the Western Cape. The agreement was concluded yesterday, 16 August 2018.

Over the last 20 years, Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa has become synonymous with the Cape Town and international safari market. As a four­star accommodation provider, it has always offered world­class products and services and continues daily to improve its offering on its 10 000+ hectare big 5 conservancy – under two hours from Cape Town.

Aquila’s magnificent ten treatment room spa is one of the latest additions to the property.

Aquila has the most prestigious collection of local and internationally recognized awards behind its name, ranging from service excellence, to social upliftment and conservation.

Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve, founded in 1994, offered visitors a unique 10 000 hectare big 5 safari experience with beautiful indigenous Karoo landscapes and impressive Acacia Karoo river beds – the likes of which is only found in the northern parts of Southern Africa.

The most recent 5­star edition to Inverdoorn is the impressive Kuganha luxury tented camp  where guests enjoy personalized service in an isolated tranquil setting which can compete with any of Kruger Parks or Africa’s best five star tented experiences. Immediate plans going forward will amplify this exclusive 5­star experience throughout all of Inverdoorn facilities. Over the last 21 years, Inverdoorn have also built a solid reputation within the safari market, including niche relationships with tourism, trade and operators.

As a combined force, the group will now be able to meet the unique demands across all target markets. Searl derman, owner of The Aquila Collection says “the reserves offer very different safari experiences”. Aquila boasts exquisite mountains, valleys, rivers and kloof’s; as well as a very impressive big 5 safari and guest experience in wide open spaces with magnificent vistas.

Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve is under 2.5 hours from Cape Town ­ or 25 minutes from Aquila ­ and the vast and well received majestic Tankwa Karoo landscapes, combined with distant golden mountains and heavily Acacia wooded river beds, make for a truly memorable experience.

“Both game reserves have a great variety of big 5 and wildlife which within the next month will be further reinforced with new genetics, numbers and species.”

“By combining the sales and marketing offices the group will be able to streamline the promotion of big 5 safari tourism in Cape Town and the Western Cape, while also enhancing local and international safari experiences” Searl Derman added.

He further believes that the two game reserves compliment each other in every way and epitomise a comprehensive Southern African safari. As the businesses begin their transition to synergise their hospitality products, award winning conservation, job creation and social upliftment projects and ethics, both brands will continue business as usual.

He added that “Inverdoorns conservation efforts will experience a change in policy and will benefit from Aquila’s award­winning infrastructure, management and accomplishments”.

Inverdoorn is currently listed in both the four and five­star accommodation category and immediate additions to the property will include new renovated and expanded fit­for­purpose dining facilities.

Continued industry and trade relations will be strengthened and customer service together, with social upliftment and conservation will be at the center of everything that The Aquila Collection does. Previous Inverdoorn owner, Damian Vergnaud said: “I am very proud of the Inverdoorn product that my family built and am delighted to have Aquila involved to continue the Inverdoorn legacy.” He further believes that Aquila will take the product to a new level and is confident that Inverdoorn’s hard won reputation, business suppliers, and most importantly the staff, land and wildlife are in safe and responsible care.

Vergnaud concluded that there were several interested parties and it was a conscious decision to sell to Aquila based on trust. 

“We look forward to keeping and growing the industry and trade relationships as we plan the future positioning of both brands. We will continue to update our partners regularly to inform them of all exciting projects and developments” concluded Searl Derman.