Where to do night game drives in Uganda? – Uganda is one of the upcoming top tourist destinations in Africa that is blessed with a wide range of safari activities that give satisfaction to you who consider it for a true African safari. Night game drive experience is one of those exception activities that offer you incredible memories about the Pearl of Africa.
Uganda has about 10 recognized and protected National Parks that are considered for a variety of safari adventure activities and among the 10 National Parks, there are only 3 National Parks where night game drives can be done, such as Murchison Falls National Park which is the largest, Queen Elizabeth National Park the second largest and Lake Mburo National Park among the smallest in Uganda.
This National Park is famous for the mighty Murchison falls and it is divided into two sections, the northern and southern sections which are dominated by the Savannah, and the forest vegetation that harbors various wildlife features in the jungle. Wild animals expected to view on the game drive include the beautiful Elephants, the Lions, the African cape Buffaloes, the Rothschild Giraffes, and Uganda kobs, Oribis, Bushbucks, Waterbucks, and the Olive Baboons among others.
Night game drive in Murchison Falls National Park is mostly done in the northern section of the park that is highly dominated by the open savannah grassland thus giving clear views of the nocturnal animals at night in the jungle. The night game drive is accompanied by the Uganda wildlife authority armed ranger guide with a spotlight torch. The night game drive will give you the insight to view the nocturnal wildlife cat animals that tend to hide during day time and hunt in the night such as the canning Leopards, Hyenas, Lions, the Civet, Porcupines, Hippos that tend to feed at night bush babies, genets, and the nightjar as well as the incredible moonlight views in the Albertine Nile among night wonders that can be enjoyed on a night game drive.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second-largest National Park in Uganda and it is one of the top tourist destinations that are considered for the Uganda Wildlife Safaris beside Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is rich in a wide range of unique wild animals as well as other wonders such as the Kazinga Channel, the crater Lakes, and tropical rain forest among others that are located in the different sections of the National Park. Some of the wild animals that are expected to be seen in the park include the tree-climbing Lions, the huge herds of African Buffaloes, African Elephants, Hippos, Water-bucks, Bushbucks, Oribis, the Banded mongoose among others.
Night game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park has been limited and it is only done on the Mweya Peninsula since the Kasenyi plains are high visited by many. The night game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park will allow you to view the nocturnal wildlife in the park such as the Leopards that do hunt at night, the Civet, Genet, Carvel cats, the bush babies.
Lake Mburo National Park is located along a Masaka – Mbarara highway and one of the smallest National Park that is highly dominated by open savannah grassland and acacia woodland which makes the night game drive an incredible adventure in the park since it will give you clear views of the nocturnal animals that cannot be seen on a day game drive. Some of the nocturnal wildlife that can be seen on a game drive includes white-tailed mongoose, side-stripped jackal, bush pigs, porcupine, honey badger, the hare, Aardvark, bush pig, black Galago among others.
Uganda Wildlife Authority has come up with fixed prices for the night game drives in all the National Parks where the activity is done. It charges USD30 per person per night when using a private vehicle and USD40 when you are using the Uganda Wildlife Authority vehicle for the night game drive, the price cost applies to both foreign non-residents as well as the foreign residents and east African residents pay UGX50,000 for a private vehicle and UGX40,000 for the Uganda Wildlife Authority vehicle.
For more information regarding night game drives in Uganda please contact Great Adventure Safaris for a perfect and incredible experience of your night game drive safari in Uganda. Booking can be direct with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or you book through a tour operator expert in organizing Uganda safaris. However, for the perfect experience, we advise you to use a tour operator who will organize a whole package of the night game drive safari at an affordable cost.
You should avoid carrying bright-colored clothes to will destruct wild animals at night; we advise you to carry dull-colored clothing such as grey, army green which blend with the natural environment.
You are advised to carry insect repellent to protect the body skin from insects that tend to be active at night such as mosquitoes.
You should also carry warm strong clothing such as sweaters since it is always cold during night hours that will keep them warm during the night hours.
You should as well carry their cameras and enough batteries so as they can take photos and videos of the nocturnal animals that feed at night and others have to first make a hunt such as the leopards and others cats.
You are also advised to carry spotlight torches which assist to give clear views of the nocturnal wildlife at night, although these are normally provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
In conclusion, night game drives are one of the great adventure activities that are enjoyed by several travelers while on Uganda safari, and it will offer exception views of a wide range of nocturnal wildlife that cannot be seen during day time.