Inverdoorn Safari from Cape Town
An Overnight Big Five & Cheetah Safari in the Karoo
Overview
This is the safari we book most for people staying in Cape Town. Two and a half hours over the Ceres mountains and you are on the open plains of the Tankwa Karoo at Inverdoorn, the closest Big Five reserve to the city. You arrive in time for an afternoon game drive, sit down to dinner under a wide Karoo sky, and head out again at dawn the next morning when the lions and the plains game are on the move. One night is what turns a rushed day trip into a proper safari — and the stars out here, far from any town, are reason enough to stay over.
Inverdoorn is honest about what it is. The Big Five are here — lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard — on a reserve you can cover in a morning and an afternoon rather than days. The animal that most people come for, though, is the cheetah: the reserve runs a working cheetah conservation programme, and the Cheetah Run, where you watch these cats sprint at full stretch, is something you will not forget. Your transfer from Cape Town is included and your guide stays with you throughout. Room grades run from a comfortable Lodge Room to the Ambassador Suite, and we match the grade to your group and budget when we quote.
Who It's For
Made for travellers based in Cape Town who want Big Five country and cheetahs without flying to Kruger, for couples and families on a short holiday, and for first-time safari-goers who want one honest night in the bush rather than a long itinerary.
Package Highlights
The Cheetah Run
Watch cheetahs sprint at full speed as part of the reserve's conservation work
Big Five Country
Lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard on the Karoo plains
Transfer from Cape Town
Return road transfer over the Ceres mountains, guide with you throughout
Karoo Night Skies
Far from any town, the stargazing alone is worth staying the night
Fully Inclusive Night
All meals, two game drives and your room settled in one price
Just 2.5 Hours Away
The closest Big Five reserve to Cape Town, no internal flight needed
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A mid-morning departure from Cape Town takes you up over the Ceres mountains and down onto the open Tankwa Karoo, reaching Inverdoorn in time for lunch. After you settle into your room, the afternoon game drive heads out across the plains in an open vehicle, with the Cheetah Run and the chance of lion, rhino and plains game before the light goes. Dinner is served back at the lodge under a sky full of stars.
🏨 Accommodation: Inverdoorn Game Reserve — Lodge Room to Ambassador Suite
🍽️ Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Your Route
Tap a marker to see each stop on your journey.
Featured Lodges & Accommodation
Inverdoorn Game Reserve Lodge
📍 Tankwa Karoo, 2.5 hours from Cape Town
The reserve's own lodge sits on the edge of the plains, with rooms graded from the comfortable Lodge Room up to the Ambassador Suite. Meals are Karoo-style and generous, there is a pool for the warm afternoons, and the open outlook over the veld means game and birdlife are often in view from the deck. It is relaxed rather than formal — a working safari lodge, not a city hotel dropped in the bush.
From $385 per person per night
Pricing & Options
All prices per person sharing. Customize any tier to your preferences.
Lodge Room
(~$385/night)
Lodge Room on a sharing basis, return transfer from Cape Town, two game drives, the Cheetah Run and all meals
Get QuoteLuxury Room
(~$520/night)
Upgraded Luxury Room, return transfer from Cape Town, two game drives, the Cheetah Run and all meals
Get QuoteAmbassador Suite
(~$760/night)
Ambassador Suite, return transfer from Cape Town, two game drives, the Cheetah Run, all meals and premium touches
Get QuoteWhat's Included & Excluded
✓ Included
- ✓ Return road transfer from Cape Town over the Ceres mountains
- ✓ One night's lodging at Inverdoorn in your chosen room grade
- ✓ All meals from lunch on day one to breakfast on day two
- ✓ Two game drives — an afternoon arrival drive and a dawn drive
- ✓ The Cheetah Run and conservation presentation
- ✓ Open-vehicle game drives with a reserve guide
- ✓ All reserve and conservation fees
- ✓ Bottled water, tea and coffee throughout
- ✓ 24/7 on-trip support from Beyond Africa Safaris
✗ Excluded
- ✗ Flights to and from Cape Town
- ✗ Travel and medical insurance (mandatory)
- ✗ Drinks and bar bill beyond those specified
- ✗ Spa treatments and optional extras
- ✗ Gratuities for guides and lodge staff (guidelines provided)
- ✗ Personal expenses and curio purchases
Photo Gallery
Best Time to Travel
The Karoo is a year-round reserve, but the cooler months from March to September give the sharpest morning game viewing and the clearest night skies. Mornings can be cold in winter, so pack a warm layer for the dawn drive.
Why Choose This Package
The Closest Big Five to Cape Town
Two and a half hours by road — a real safari with no internal flight and no long drive north to Kruger.
Cheetahs You Actually See
The reserve's cheetah conservation programme and the Cheetah Run put these cats front and centre, not down to luck.
One Honest Night
An afternoon and a dawn drive, dinner under the stars — the stay that turns a day trip into a proper safari.
We Match the Room to You
Grades run from Lodge Room to Ambassador Suite, and we quote the one that suits your group and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Experience the Inverdoorn Safari from Cape Town?
From $385 per person | 2 Days / 1 Nights
⚡ Limited availability for peak season 2026 — book early to secure your dates
