Night Game Drives in Uganda
Night Game Drives in Uganda are Unique safari experiences where Tourists get to explore the savannah parks in the night as they search for particular wildlife species including Nocturnals. These game drives done with the help of an armed ranger guide who protects you during the drives as well as spotlight torches that help you to clearly locate these mammals. Without a doubt cat sighting the most popular wish by Tourists and among these are the most common cat species; lion, caracal, leopard, cheetah, serval and African wildcat.
Where to do Night Game drives in Uganda
Uganda has 10 National Parks and they include; Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park and Semuliki National Park each offering a number of safari activities. Among these 10 National Parks, Game drives only done in a few parks and they include;
Night Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park
Nestled in North Western Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is a great destination to take night game drives to see the nocturnal mammals on the plains. Guided by an armed ranger guide, night drives set out for the dark plains at 19:00 hours in a well modified safari vehicle. Outfitted with spotlight torches and are stayed in for 2 hours. The park alienated into two sectors that is; the Southern and the Northern sectors, however, night game drives are mainly done in the Northern sector because it harbors the highest number of wildlife species.
During the night in the plains, you may spot a variety of the night crawlers like lions, jackals, hyenas, leopards, porcupines, civets, genets, bush babies, nightjar and hippos.
Night game drives in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest savannah park, it offers guided night game drives and night walks setting out at 18:00 hours and lasting 3 to 4 hours. Most night drives in Lake Mburo head out to scout for the mysterious leopard, “the highest population in the country” but it’s also a great time to spot nocturnals like the bush babies, hippo and potato monkey.
Lake Mburo national park is Uganda’s smallest savannah national park, situated in the western part of the country in Mbarara district. The national park is home to a variety of animals, including buffalo, waterbucks, bushbucks, impalas, warthogs, leopards, zebras, Topis, elands, jackals, hyenas, giraffes, Oribi, and hippos, as well as different bird species, including the saddle-billed stork, African wattles lapwing, black-bellied bustard, bare-faced go-away bird. While on a night game drive you have a great chance of seeing the exotic wildlife species in Lake Mburo National Park including; the spotted hyenas, gentle cats, leopards, long-tailed mongooses, bush pigs and many others.
Night game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park
Narus Valley is the only place to catch the bolt-action of cheetahs’ early night hunts. Guenther’s dik-dik, aardvarks, lions, leopards, reedbuck, hyenas and hunting dogs all lie low under the starlight in the Narus valley. Kidepo Valley National Park is regarded as an un-disturbed wilderness by those tourists who love game viewing, however, the park is also regarded as Uganda’s most isolated tourist attraction yet it still stands out as one of the best pristine safari destinations that any wildlife enthusiasts may encounter on a Uganda Safari. If you have a bright flashlight with you, you will definitely spot a pair of reflected eyes therefore do not forget to carry it with you.
Night Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest national park in Uganda after Murchison Falls National Park. It is located in the western region of Uganda in the districts of Rubirizi, Kasese, Rukungiri and Kamwenge. Queen Elizabeth National Park one of the most visited parks and famously known for harboring the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. Night game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park is only done in Mweya Peninsula because of the large number of daytime visitors to the Kasenyi Plains.
Here, Night game drives typically begin after dinner at around 20:00 hours and lasts approximately 2 hours. The night drives are enjoyable since tourists are able to explore the picturesque surroundings of Queen Elizabeth National Park and spot a variety of wildlife species such as the Elephants, Waterbucks, Antelopes, Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, Hippos grazing on short grass and Uganda kobs among others.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is rich in a wide range of unique wildlife as well as other wonders like the kazinga channel, crater lakes as well as the tropical rain forests among others.
During the night game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will get an opportunity to view the nocturnal wildlife in the park such as; the leopards, the civet genal, serval cats, bush babies and the banded mongoose among others.
What to carry for a Night Game drive
A Ranger guide to protect you throughout the drive
Warm sweater to keep you warm during the night since it is usually cold during the night hours.
Insect repellant to protect your skin from the biting insects that tend to be active at night like the mosquitoes.
A camera with additional batteries so that they can take many photos and videos of the nocturnal animals that become active in the night, such as the leopards and other cats.
Bottled drinking water
Spotlight torches