Aquila Safari becomes official Cape Town safari partner for England's 2026/27 South Africa tour

Aquila Safari and the Barmy Army have formed a new partnership tied to England’s 2026/27 cricket tour of South Africa. The deal aims to turn match travel into broader tourism spending in Cape Town and the Western Cape, with safari add-ons for England supporters.

Why it matters: - The partnership links international cricket travel with Cape Town tourism and Big Five safari experiences. - England’s 2026/27 tour could drive more spending in hotels, restaurants, attractions and regional tours across the Western Cape. - Aquila wants to turn a cricket trip into a longer South African holiday for traveling supporters.

What happened: - Aquila Safari and the Barmy Army announced a new partnership for England’s 2026/27 tour to South Africa. - Aquila Safari is now the Official Cape Town Safari Experience Partner of the Barmy Army for the tour. - The announcement was made in Cape Town on August 25, 2026. - A joint statement said the partnership is designed to celebrate England cricket travel, Cape Town and a Big Five safari experience.

The details: - The partnership will give traveling Barmy Army supporters access to dedicated Aquila Safari activations and offers during the tour period. - Aquila Private Game Reserve is within easy road access of Cape Town in the Western Cape. - The reserve offers day safari and overnight experiences on a malaria-free Big Five reserve. - Aquila’s location lets international visitors combine a safari with a Cape Town holiday without booking an additional domestic flight to another safari region. - Cape Town is described as a major stop on international cricket tours, with attractions including Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, beaches, the Cape Winelands, restaurants and nightlife. - The Barmy Army has supported England cricket tours for more than 30 years and has built a global following around cricket, travel and supporter culture. - South Africa remains a major destination on the international cricket touring calendar, with Cape Town playing a prominent role for visiting supporters. - The partnership is intended to connect that cricket travel market directly with the Western Cape tourism economy. - The joint statement said supporters should make the most of their time in South Africa before the match, after the match and beyond the boundary. - The statement also said the goal is to turn major sporting tours into complete travel experiences.

Between the lines: - The deal reflects how sports tourism has become a commercial growth channel for destinations that can capture both event demand and leisure travel. - Travel around major fixtures can extend visitor stays and spread spending beyond stadiums into surrounding regions. - For Cape Town and the Western Cape, the partnership is a way to market the region to a long-haul audience already committed to traveling for cricket.

What's next: - Aquila and the Barmy Army will use the 2026/27 tour period to promote safari experiences to England supporters. - Cape Town tourism businesses, hotels and tour operators may benefit if more fans build longer itineraries around the matches. - The collaboration is positioned to showcase Cape Town, the Winelands and safari experiences to visiting cricket fans.

The bottom line: - Aquila is using England cricket travel to funnel supporters into a broader Cape Town and Western Cape tourism experience.