A Night Game Drive in Serengeti : Every wildlife viewer must be proud of the Serengeti. This oldest ecosystem is everywhere. If you have never visited it, you may have watched one of the incredible movies shot in Serengeti. Some of the iconic movies shot in Serengeti include “Surviving the Serengeti”, “Africa: The Serengeti”, “The African Lion” and many other movies sharing the name “Serengeti”. Serengeti National Park is a splendid park established in 1952. It is located in the northern part of Tanzania. It covers an area of 14, 763 square kilometers. Its landscape is mainly made up of “endless” plains covered with grasslands, woodlands and kopjes. This park itself was established as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981 due to the age of the ecosystem. This park also harbors one of the ancient events in the world, The Great Migration. This is the wonderful event, a biggest mammal migration on earth. This magical event happens every year. Visitors coming to Serengeti enjoy exhilarating experience through doing various amazing events within the Serengeti. There are many unforgettable activities that can be done in Serengeti National Park.

In Serengeti National Park different activities can be organized. They include hot-air balloon safari, birdwatching, trekking the Great Migration, camping, chartered flights, game drives, picnic and bush meals. Now, I want to present to you unparalleled activity which is done in Serengeti. This is night game drive. Honestly, night game drives are not regularly permitted in Serengeti National Park. However, they are organized and done at the outskirts of Serengeti by word-class lodges surrounding the park. Night game drives are mostly done in the dry season which commence from June to October. You should note that; night game drives have extra fees different from those fees you paid in the day time. Renowned lodges and Tented Camps organize this fascinating event by taking advantage of park’s lack of boundaries. You cannot book a night game drive. It is planned on that very day or on your arrival date. Nevertheless, the organization of a night game drive depends on the weather of the day. It is fairly conducted during less cloudy day. Too much rains will spoil this drive.

Before planning this event, you should know the price of a night game drive. It starts from $50 per person. Various authorized camps around Serengeti ensure that you won’t regret having such safari. A night game drive in Serengeti takes 2 to 4 hours depending on your operator and park rules. This is usually done at 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. within few kilometers from the Lodge or Tented Camp.
What to expect from a night game drive?
Day game drives only give you what can be seen during the day but night game drives offer exceptional interaction with the night survivors, the African nocturnals. You may be lucky to interact with rare nocturnal animals like Aardvark, pangolin, hippos and many others. Other animals which can be encountered include lions (on the hunt), porcupines, leopard, civet, genets, bushbabies, Cape hares and white-tailed mongoose. You will be able to spot night predators which use the dark night to get their food from other animals taking a nap in the night.
Other Views to expect during a night game drive include; the views of the stars, moon and the eyes of animals reflect the car light gold or reflector.
Night game drives are also permitted in different game reserves and protected areas within the Serengeti Ecosystem. These include Grumeti Game Reserve, Maswa Game Reserve, Loliondo Game Controlled Area and Ikorongo Game Reserve. In these game reserves, a night game drive is organized by world-class accommodation facilities. In Maswa Game Reserve fore example, Subeti Tented Camp in the south organize this event throughout the season. Maswa Game Reserve hosts the Great Migration especially when groups of wild animals fail to cross the great Grumeti River. Between May and July, this game reserve still has greener pastures which attract huge groups of herbivores and predators following their preys. Other properties which organize night game drives in Serengeti Ecosystem are; Buffalo Tented Lodge in the Northern Serengeti (Loliondo Game Reserve), Swala Tented Lodge and Tarangire Tree-Tops Tented Lodge
Since night game drives are not very favored in Serengeti, I would like to suggest to you some thrilling destination where such unparalleled event is officially permitted. In the Northern Circuit, Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park are two splendid parks where night game drives are conducted. You will have to request it in the day time like how you do with other safaris. You should clear all payments like entrance fees which is valid for 24hours in the day time before the departure time. Here itinerary you required to follow during your night drive.
Since dinner is excluded from this package, you will have to take an early dinner. Most tour operators will collect you from your lodge by 8: 00 pm. Afterwards, you will drive to one of the park gates, where you will have to collect necessary credentials including signing insurance forms.
At the gate, some briefing is given for you before the drive. During this drive, an armed park ranger will be your tour guide and your drive will take about 2 hours. In Lake Manyara, the night drive usually begins at the park gate along the Simba River to the hippo pools. At around 22:30 hours, you will drive back to your lodge or tented camp.

Ghosts of hippos will emerge from waters before detecting the stationary bodies of crocodiles in the river. The eyes of various nocturnal reflecting the car light gold are stunning views experienced during the night game drives in Lake Manyara. Big Cats like lions and leopards are always mobile during the night. In Tarangire, night game drives are thrilling as you will be able to view various large animals like elephants which are in constant motion in the night. Night game drives are also conducted in Ruaha National Park, Nyerere National Park, Katavi National Park and Mikumi National Park.
Packing List. There are few things that are required for a night game drive to keep you focused and comfortable. Most nights are characterized by low temperatures, so remember to carry with you a jacket. A car light or torch will attract many insects; insect repellents are very important for this safari to keep you away from biting insects. A pair of binoculars is also something important during a night game drive.
Moreover, there some rules and regulations which you must abide by during a night game drive. These include; lowering your tone to avoid disturbing animals, do not drive too close to the animals since the car spotlight may cause confusion to wild animals, you should not throw litters carelessly, you should not smoke to avoid bushfires, and you should not drive off the track.
A night game drive is an unforgettable experience which should not be missed by anyone during his/her trip to Tanzania. Memorable game drives are offered by different lodges in the Serengeti. It is your choice, whether you should follow the Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks or hang out in your favorite lodge and request a night game drive.
