The Magic of a Night Game Drive : On a Tanzania Safari, there are various kinds of game viewing offering distinct encounters with wildlife in their natural habitats, these games drives are morning game drives, afternoon game drives and night game drives.
Morning game drives – offering visitors an opportunity to enjoy the spectacle of the resplendent African sunrise while observing the awakening of wildlife. This time of day, predators are particularly active offering an enthralling opportunity to witness their prowess in action.
Afternoon game drives – this kind of game drive concludes just before the emergence of nocturnal creatures, as daylight wanes, you return to camp capturing glimpses of animals transitioning from diurnal to nocturnal activities. In the afternoon, the air becomes electric with the anticipation of the nocturnal world stirring to life.
Night game drives – this kind of game drive offers a completely unique game viewing experience, night game drive reveals a hidden realm that is seldom witnessed during the daylight hours.
In the dark hours of the night unveils the captivating presence of predatory species and other elusive creatures that thrive under the cover of darkness. The darkness is pierced by the glow of spotlights offering glimpses into the mysteries of the nocturnal realm
These diverse game viewing options allow visitors to fully experience and appreciate the multifaceted wonders of the wild, each time of the day/game drive offers a unique opportunity to witness the marvels of nature through a distant lens.
What is a Night Game Drive?
A night game drive in Tanzania is an adventurous game viewing experience that involves tracking and viewing wildlife at night in the comfort of a safari vehicle giving visitors an exclusive opportunity to see nocturnal animals such as Genets, Porcupines, Civet cats, Aardvarks, Cape hares, White-tailed mongoose and Bush Baby among others
Reasons Why a Night Drive is Magical
Night game drive is a magical experience providing visitors with a tranquil environment with fewer crowds, twinkling eyes, slinking leopards and the silent footsteps of an approaching elephant herd. Get to see the wild preparing to go to sleep while nocturnal animals start their day.
Here are the magical elements to expect during a night game drive.
THRILLING ATMOSPHERE
The darkness in the wild is exciting and cool air and the breeze make it a different experience altogether, the unfamiliar sounds of the wild at night contribute to the thrill. The roles feel reversed at night since many of the animals will see you long before you are able to spot them.
UNIQUE AND ELUSIVE ANIMALS
Many nocturnal animals are peculiar – looking to some of us and a night game drive allows you to see them when they come out to play and hunt. Chance of rare sightings of unique animals such as the porcupine are much higher on a night game drive.
Besides small mammals, the cover of darkness provides the perfect opportunity to experience predators such as leopards, lions and spotted hyena talking their prey when they go on a hunt at night.
During the day, leopard blend in well with their surrounding making it difficult to spot them. However, the spotlights used during the night game drives help uncover their mystery and provide the chance to get a glimpse of the prowling on their prey.
MAGICAL STARGAZING EXPERIENCE
As you enjoy the natural world around you during a night game drive, remember to look up at the stars in the sky. The views of the sky are uninterrupted at night and the lack of the light pollution gives you a clear picture from the safari vehicle.
Stargazing enthusiasts have the opportunity to see the Milky way during a night game drive.
UNIQUE SOUNDS IN THE WILD
The enthralling sounds of the owlet are as unique as they are and they are just one example of the remarkable sounds heard during night game drives, you can hear bizarre noises from the thickets, the chirping sounds of crickets and howling sounds of predators that contribute to the thrilling feeling during a night game drive.
Expect to hear the grunts of lions, the eerie sounds of nightjars, reed frogs and the infamous “whoop” of hyenas communicating at night.
BRIGHTENED GRASSLANDS
Night drives are only possible with a spotlight brightening up the grasslands in the wild making it easier to see the animals’ eyes and identify where they are. As much as the light helps locate the animals, it is customary not to shine the lights directly into the animals’ eyes so as to not disturb them.
A night game drive in Tanzania provides a perfect opportunity to be alone with nature and capture the darkness of the African bush with your camera using a long exposure.
It is best to be cautious when using the camera’s flash because it can scare the animals away and damage their eyes.
Conclusion
A night game drive in Tanzania provides visitors the opportunity to see nocturnal creatures you may have never encountered before. When you opt for a game drive after sunset, the experience can transform your comprehension and experience of the wild.
