- The Aquila Collection has appointed the French agency Indigo Unlimited as its official commercial representative to attract French-speaking travellers.
- The collection features three distinct properties, including Aquila Private Game Reserve Spa, Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve, and Kuganha Luxury Tented Lodge.
- The group owns the Dekkersvlei estate in the Cape Winelands, which is recognized for producing the world’s first white Pinotage.
- Indigo Unlimited, founded in 1995 and part of the Hopscotch group since 2025, will manage training and network development for the brand in France.
What if Africa’s most accessible safari was less than two hours from Cape Town? Aquila Collection, three bush lodges facing the Big 5 and an exceptional wine estate, has just appointed French agency Indigo Unlimited as its commercial representative in France. A move that should bring this South African gem closer to French-speaking travellers. Here is an overview of a destination that combines adventure, wellness and ecological awareness.
A Big 5 safari at the gates of Cape Town
There is no need to travel to Kruger Park, on the other side of the country, for a face-to-face with the Big 5. Aquila Collection’s private reserves lie in the immediate vicinity of Cape Town, in the Western Cape hinterland, where the Karoo takes on the feel of the edge of the world. Guests can observe the Big 5 · lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo · without sacrificing comfort or proximity to the city. A rare combination, making the destination ideal both for a first safari experience and for time-pressed travellers.
Three lodges, three ways to experience the safari
The collection brings together three properties with distinct characters. Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa plays the convivial and family-friendly card, ideal for a first safari, groups and events, with a spa and a broad range of wildlife activities. Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve offers a more intimate boutique-hotel-style immersion at the heart of a vast reserve. Finally, Kuganha Luxury Tented Lodge raises the bar of refinement with its spa-suite tents, designed for a private and timeless stay.
Dekkersvlei: the world’s first white Pinotage
The experience does not stop at the bush. In Paarl, at the heart of the Cape Winelands, Aquila Collection also cultivates the vine with the Dekkersvlei estate. Here, the world’s very first white Pinotage was created, an oenological audacity for a grape variety that is traditionally red and quintessentially South African. Tastings, rare vintages and experiences around aged brandy round off this gourmet detour between safaris.
An award-winning commitment to sustainable tourism
Beyond the thrill of wildlife observation, Aquila Collection has built its reputation on conservation and responsible tourism, recognised with several international distinctions. Wildlife protection, animal rescue and local development are part of the house’s DNA, a compelling argument for a clientele increasingly attentive to the footprint of their travels.
What this entry into the French market changes
That is the whole point of this new partnership. By entrusting its representation to Indigo Unlimited, a French agency founded in 1995 and integrated into the Hopscotch group since 2025, Aquila Collection is giving itself the means to win over French-speaking travellers. On the agenda: training for travel agents and tour operators, network development and, ultimately, easier access for French travellers dreaming of a safari near Cape Town and the Western Cape.
La Revue des Hôtels’ perspective
This is an address that ticks many boxes: the thrill of the safari, the comfort of the spa, the pleasure of wine and ecological awareness, all within reach of a Cape Town getaway. For those who want to combine adventure and luxury without straying far from a major city, Aquila Collection stands out as a smart choice among the world’s finest addresses. The Cape Town safari, accessible and responsible, has perhaps never felt so close.
