We Tried It: A $200 Safari with Uber in South Africa

The ride share app is debuting its wildest offering yet: a safari day trip from Cape Town. PEOPLE's Travel Editor took the experience for a (very bumpy) ride

What It Is: Uber's just-launched safari day trip from Cape Town, South Africa. The excursion is bookable in the Uber app starting Oct. 2 and includes transportation to and from Cape Town, a welcome drink and lunch at Aquila Private Game Reserve, and a nearly 3 hour game drive in the 24,000-acre nature conservancy, where guests will seek out Africa's "big five" — elephants, lions, rhinos, African buffalo, and leopards.

Who Tried It: Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE's Home and Travel Editor

The First Impression: I definitely raised my eyebrows at the words "Uber Safari" when they hit my inbox in August, envisioning a mid-size sedan bumping over the rugged terrain of a big game reserve or worse, staring down a perturbed rhino. But Uber's latest out-of-the-box launch — part of its "Go Anywhere" series intended to make bucket-list trips more accessible — is thankfully much more than an on-demand lift into the wild. Instead, it's a full-day outing you book up to 90 days in advance, the off-road portion of which is operated by veteran wildlife guides driving safari trucks and not Jeff who's two minutes away in a Corolla.

Related: Uber Is Launching Safaris in South Africa — and No, They're Not in a Camry (Exclusive)

The Experience: I've been lucky enough to go on safari once before and did the full-tilt version: traveling hours off-road into the wilderness, staying over in a remote resort, waking up at dawn each day for game drives. It was a spectacular, once-in-a lifetime trip, and honestly, I thought there was no way this could compare. And I was wrong.

The first major consideration with any trip to South Africa is the often lengthy process of getting there. For me, that meant a 15-hour flight from New York. On this trip, I was grateful to be able to fly United's Polaris product direct from Newark to Cape Town. United reintroduced a direct flight on this route six days a week in 2019 (most airlines fly into Johannesburg, requiring another hop to the southern city) and added a new D.C. to Cape Town flight in 2022. Any lie-flat seat is a game-changer for long-haul flights, so you can arrive rested, but I discovered a few more perks on this one, including the "relax mode" on the entertainment screen, where flyers can select from a variety of serene scenes to view while listening to nature sounds or ambient music before dozing off.

After arriving in Cape Town, I spent a day exploring the famous vineyard town of Stellenbosch and Babylonstoren winery before my safari day. Uber is conveniently also running a promo, where users can get 30 percent off (max ZAR 100) for rides in the Cape Winelands using the code CAPEWINE24.

You'll need to commit a full day to the safari experience. When booking in the app, up to 90 days in advance, you choose your pick up (9:30 a.m.)anddrop off locations, which can be anywhere in Cape Town. The day of, we set out in an Uber Safari branded luxury SUV for the approximately 2.5 hour drive east into the Karoo region. It's a haul for sure, especially considering you'll have to do it again that evening, but the arid mountain and semi-desert landscapes you pass through are both beautiful and almost alien.

Related: Elephant Captured Taking a Seat at a Café Near Africa Safari Camp — See the Photos!

Upon arrival at Aquila Private Game Reserve, I was greeted with a glass of champagne and a welcome from a guide before an al fresco lunch that felt especially elevated considering the very remote location. After lunch, we climbed into our safari trucks (open-air, all-terrain vehicles that hold 6-9 guests each) to drive out into the 24,000-acre reserve.

This was really the moment I realized the experience was going to be on par with my previous safari at a luxury outfitter. Our veteran guide was just as friendly and knowledgable about the land and the animals that lived there, sharing facts and answering our many questions. He expertly navigated the rugged terrain to lead us to a trio of snoozing lions, a heard of zebra, a mother giraffe with her 6-week-old baby, and three breathtaking elephants surrounded by eland (a large native deer) all the while communicating with other guides via radio to get the latest information on active animals' locations. It's important to remember, however, that a safari is not a zoo and there's no guarantee of which animals you will see or for how long.

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While the media preview of Uber Safari included an overnight stay and another game drive in the morning, we could very likely have glimpsed all the animals we did in one outing, as we revisited some on our dawn drive to see them in a different part of their day.

The goal for most safaris is to spot the infamous "big five," and we found all but a leopard, checking off three (lions, rhinos and buffalo) in the evening, and one more (elephants) in the morning. Elephant lovers, fear not, the guides basically always know the big guys' whereabouts even in this vast setting.

Our truck pulled up within a few yards of the more mellow animals and still startlingly close to the potentially more ferocious ones, leaving a few safari-goers gripping their seats while snapping photos. (A bonus of a late afternoon game drive is incredible magic hour light for pictures.)

My visit in September was particularly chilly as it was before the real safari season kicks off in October, but our truck was equipped with fleece blankets and all the bouncing around does something to keep the blood flowing. Even in high season, which runs through February (South African summer), it's important to remember temperatures drop dramatically in the desert in the evening, so definitely bring some layers. Toward the end of our game drive, we stopped for warm drinks at a small, permanent hut with views of the remarkable landscape and watched the sun set over the mountains.

While we stayed over, a typical Uber Safari excursion would then return to camp, where guests would transfer back to standard vehicles and make the drive back to Cape Town for the night — a long but extraordinary day.

Who's It Best For: Uber Safari is ideal for anyone planning a trip to Cape Town, who wants to squeeze in a variety of experiences: exploring the vibrant city, maybe spending a day vineyard hopping in the Cape Winelands, and getting in some face time with the famous wildlife. It allows visitors to get the full safari experience without committing more than a day of their trip.

This is also an incredible option for budget-conscious travelers. Multi-day safari experiences at remote tented camps or luxury resorts can easily come with a price tag in the thousands. An Uber Safari is an almost shockingly affordable alternative: $200 all in for up to four guests. With three friends on board, that's $50 per person (aka less than a ride to the airport in New York City).

The Verdict: The price alone makes this a win. The $200 flat fee is unheard of when booking any kind of safari experience and the game drive itself is on par with excursions offered by luxury overnight camps.

If you're planning a city- or wine-focused trip to Cape Town but feeling that safari fomo, this is a perfect way to have the bucket list experience without adding days to your vacation or busting your travel budget.

Uber Safari is available to book in the Uber app starting Oct. 2 for Friday and Saturday trips starting Oct. 4 and running through January 25, 2025

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