Uber Is Launching a Safari Experience In South Africa — and Its Just $200

Uber Safari will be available on Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 25.

By Alison Fox Alison Fox

Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slopes. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on September 30, 2024

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Courtesy of Uber

Lions and zebras and elephants… oh my. 

Rideshare company Uber is creating a new way for travelers to South Africa to see incredible wildlife with an inexpensive day trip from Cape Town. The new “Uber Safari” option, which will be available on Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 25, will cost just $200 for up to four people for the day, Uber shared with Travel + Leisure.

The experience is bookable in the Uber app up to 90 days in advance.

"We’ve designed our ‘Go Anywhere’ series to help our customers book bucket list adventures with the Uber convenience they know and love,” Frans Hiemstra, the regional general manager of Uber in the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement shared with T+L. “With Uber Safari – one of our most wild offerings to date – our Reserve technology makes it easier than ever to unlock South Africa’s most iconic travel experience.”

Courtesy of Uber

Travelers who book the safari will be whisked away from Cape Town to the Aquila Private Game Reserve in an Uber Safari-branded vehicle. There, they will be greeted with a welcome toast and lunch before boarding a traditional safari vehicle for a game drive.

The Aquila Private Game Reserve, which sits about two hours from the city, is a more than 24,000-acre wildlife conservancy that features the “Big Five”: lions, elephants, buffalos, cheetahs, and rhinos.

Johan van Schalkwyk, the commercial officer of the Aquila Collection, called the new experience “the perfect combination of modern convenience and natural beauty, all while supporting wildlife conservation efforts that are vital to preserving South Africa’s biodiversity."

To book the experience, Uber customers must open the app and select the “‘Uber Safari” icon from the home screen. They must then choose a date and enter their pickup and dropoff locations. If their trip is confirmed, they will receive an email.

This isn’t Uber’s first venture into over-the-top experiences. Earlier this year, the company offered Champagne-fueled trips to Epernay in France, and last year, Uber launched hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia, Turkey.