Night safari Tanzania — the world most tourists never see

What most people miss

Most safari parks in Tanzania close their gates at sunset. All vehicles must then be back at the lodge. That is the rule — and it has good reasons (safety, wildlife protection).

But it also means most tourists miss half of safari life.

Because at night Tanzania becomes something else.

What is active after sunset

**Lions** — lions hunt primarily at night. During the day they sleep in the shade; as soon as the temperature drops and the light disappears, they become active. A lion hunt by moonlight is one of the most intense experiences safari has to offer.

**Spotted hyenas** — the night is their domain. During the day hyenas are underestimated — lazy, ugly, the dustbins of the savannah. At night they are efficient hunters with the strongest bite of any land animal in Africa.

**Aardvark** — this mysterious animal is almost never seen during the day. It lives completely nocturnally, digs with its powerful claws for ants and termites, and is so rarely spotted that even experienced guides see it only a handful of times in their careers.

**Serval** — a medium-sized cat with enormous ears and the best jumping ability of all cats in the world. They hunt rodents in the grass, with a vertical jump of more than a metre.

**Bush baby (galago)** — small primates with enormous eyes perfectly adapted to the dark. They call at night with a sound unmistakably similar to a crying human child.

**Porcupine** — large, bulky and covered in quills. Porcupines are pure night animals and are virtually never seen during the day.

**Civet cat** — striped and spotted, with a heavy perfume-like scent. Sought after for centuries in perfume production. They walk slowly along established routes and are easy to see with a spotlight.

Where night drives are permitted

In Tanzania's national parks (Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro) night drives for visitors are NOT permitted. This is deliberate policy.

But there are alternatives:

**Near Tarangire National Park** — some private conservancies adjacent to Tarangire offer night drives.

**Ruaha and Nyerere** — in these more remote parks night drives are included or available as an option at some lodges. This is one of the reasons southern Tanzania has a different atmosphere.

**Private game reserves and conservancies** — outside the national parks there are private areas where night drives are standard.

**Zanzibar forest night walks** — on Zanzibar you can walk through Jozani Forest in the evening to look for red colobus monkeys and other nocturnal creatures.

What you need

A good torch or headlamp (red light is less disturbing for animals). Warm clothing — the nights in Tanzania are colder than you think, especially at altitude near the Ngorongoro. Patience — night safaris are slower than day safaris; you drive slowly, stop often, listen.

The spotlight method

On night drives the guide works with a spotlight — a powerful handheld lamp. The guide moves the lamp slowly through the vegetation and looks for eyes that reflect back. Each animal has a different eye colour in spotlight:

- Lions: orange/red - Hyenas: green/yellow - Spring hare: bright orange - Galago: greenish

My most honest advice

Night drives are overrated as "guaranteed action". They are not guaranteed. You can drive for a whole hour without seeing anything. Or you drive five minutes and come face to face with a cheetah.

What is guaranteed: the atmosphere. The sound of the savannah in the dark. The screeching of hyenas in the distance. The stars above Tanzania — more than you have ever seen before.

That is not a safari moment. That is a life moment.