Night game drive in Tanzania refers to safari adventure for tourists who want to encounter nocturnal animals such as aardvarks, hippos, genets, porcupines, civet cats, white-tailed mongoose and many other interesting animals. Due to their habits, not all animals can be seen during the day time rather others are encountered during the night and this is the reason you should not miss a night game drive in Tanzania in order to have full experience regarding animals’ habitat in the bush. You should not forget that, if you want to hear amazing sounds from different species of birds and enjoy African sky decorated by attractive starts, then a night game drive in Tanzania should be in your important list to not be skipped. Since only one special vehicle driven by a professional guide is allowed inside the park during a night game drive, then you can imagine how good it is to explore the park without facing traffic from other people like what is seen during the day time as sometime you can get interference caused by many vehicles exploring the park during that day time. I highly recommend you do a night game drive when you visit Tanzania since embarking on this adventure you feel to be in another world as you enjoy landscape waxed in silver moonlight.
Night Game Drive Logistic and Organization
Add another extraordinary opportunity to your daily game drives and enter the world of nocturnal animals on a thrilling night drive. It is advised to experience a night game drive on the same day you visit respective park during the day time since doing so you save money by consuming same park fee charged during the day time, otherwise if you have been in a different park or destination then you still being charged extra cost for a day park fee apart from other normal fees even if you were not there. For example if you should do night game drive in Lake Manyara National Park at night then better you start game drive during the day time inside this park, then tonight you finish with a night game drive. This rule is implemented by Tanzania National Parks Authority and not Tour Operators. A night game drive is allowed only in a few National Parks in Tanzania, i.e. only Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park.
On the day of a night game drive in Lake Manyara National Park you leave the lodge around 07,30 pm and drive with your safari guide to the entrance gate of the park where you meet the guides responsible for the night game drive. Before you start this adventure you will be given a brief introduction about the ‘do’s and don’ts’ while on a night game drive, then you enter into an open safari vehicle with a canvas canopy, this vehicle is also equipped with a special spotter seat at the front as well as a spot light. Now keep your eyes open, and hopefully you will be lucky enough to spot many animals as you head inside the park. Usually this adventure starts at 08,00 pm and lasts for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Once this adventure is done, you will drive back to meet your safari guide at the entrance gate at approximately 10,30 pm, then drive back to your lodge for overnight.
Safari Programs with Night Game Drive in Tanzania
It is mandatory overnight inside Tarangire National Park for a night game drive in this park, otherwise you can overnight in Karatu or Mto wa Mbu and experience the night game drive inside Lake Manyara National Parkt. You can read in next paragraphs some safari itineraries which include a night game drive in Tanzania.
6 days/5 nights touching Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
Program: Pick up customers at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to Karatu.
Activities: If you have time you can stop in the local markets on the way, otherwise you can relax at the lodge.
Accommodation: Dinner and overnight at lodge/campsite.
DAY 2: MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Program: After breakfast we proceed to Lake Manyara National Park for game drive with pic-nic lunch. Later today tonight we experience a night game drive inside Manyara Park.
Activities: game drive and a night game drive inside Manyara Park.
Lake Manyara National Park is famous for biodiversity, the park includes different environments: the lake, the forest and the plain. The lions climb the trees because they don’t like wet soil due to underground springs. Rich in primates, birds and big mammals.
Accommodation: Dinner and overnight at lodge/campsite.
DAY 3 AND 4: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Program: After breakfast we drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We proceed crossing Ngorongoro Highlands until Serengeti gate, here we start the game drive for next 2 days or so.
Activities: game drive.
Serengeti Park is the most famous park of all Africa, more than 15,000 squared kilometers of savannah full of lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, elephants and many other wild animals.
Accommodation: Dinner and overnight at lodge/campsite.
DAY 5: NGORONGORO CRATER
Program: After breakfast we drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, today we descend into Ngorongoro crater for game drive with pic-nic lunch.
Activities: game drive.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a must-see while on safari in Tanzania for its high density of wild animals. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a conservation project where the Maasai and their livestock live together with wild animals.
Accommodation: Dinner and overnight at lodge/campsite.
DAY 6: DEPARTURE
Program: After breakfast relax at the lodge or shopping if you have time, then transfer to Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport.
4 days/3 nights visiting Tarangire and Ngorongoro
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
Program: Pick up customers at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to Karatu.
Activities: If you have time you can stop in the local markets on the way, otherwise you can relax at the lodge.
Accommodation: Dinner and overnight at lodge/campsite.
DAY 2: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Program: After breakfast we drive to Tarangire Park for the game drive with pic-nic lunch. Later today tonight we experience a night game drive inside Tarangire Park.
Activities: game drive and a night game drive inside Tarangire Park.
Tarangire is the river crossing Tarangire National Park, the park is famous for big herds of elephants, the huge baobab trees and the high number of predators. There is a lot to see and explore here.
Accommodation: Dinner and overnight at lodge.
DAY 3: NGORONGORO CRATER
Program: After breakfast we drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, today we descend into Ngorongoro crater for game drive with pic-nic lunch.
Activities: game drive.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a must-see while on safari in Tanzania for its high density of wild animals. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a conservation project where the Maasai and their livestock live together with wild animals.
Accommodation: Dinner and overnight at lodge/campsite.
DAY 4: DEPARTURE
Program: After breakfast relax at the lodge or shopping if you have time, then transfer to Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport.
Contact Savannah Explorers and Book Your Safari in Tanzania >>
