Explore Uganda’s savannah national parks for the special night game drives that will make your exploration of the country truly memorable. Uganda’s protected areas are endowed with a minimum of 300 mammal species and a number of them can be spotted in the nighttime to offer mesmerizing adventures. These wild animals include lions, leopards, hyenas, bushbabies and genets among plenty others. A night game drive is done on a comfortable 4×4 safari car with the company of an experienced ranger guide from Uganda Wildlife Authority. But, ensure that you do not sit on top of the vehicle while on a night game drive. The night game drive is only done if the visitor is sleeping within the national park where the activity will occur.
Where to experience night game drives in Uganda
Thrilling night game drives are conducted in number of conservation areas in Uganda, they include,
Night game drives in Uganda’s Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park in the northeast of Uganda spans about 1,442 square kilometers and open for night game drives throughout the year. Explore Kidepo Valley National Park to experience the captivating night game drive in the Narus Valley where you will have a unique chance of spotting lions, leopards, hyenas and a number of antelope species. The night game drive starts at around 18:30 and takes 2 to 3 hours. An experienced ranger guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority will accompany you while on a comfortable 4-wheel drive and having a spotlight. To reach Kidepo Valley National Park on road, you will pass via Gulu and Kitgum which covers a total distance of 562 kilometers and duration of 10 to 11 hours.
Night game drives in Uganda’s Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park in the southwest of Uganda spans over 260 square kilometers, making it the country’s smallest savannah park. Seated on elevations that span 1,220 meters to 1,828 meters above sea level, you will enjoy night game drives in it’s vast savannahs. Again, you will be accompanied by a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guide while being driven in a 4-wheel drive safari car. The night game drive in Lake Mburo National Park takes 2 to 3 hours and starts at around 18:30. Animals to spot include leopards, porcupines, honey badgers, bush pig, aardvark, bush baby, genet and jackal. The park can be reached from Kampala via Masaka and Mbarara and the total distance covered is about 231 kilometers.
Night game drives in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park in the northwest of Uganda sits on approximately 3,893 square kilometers of land to position it as the largest national park in the country. You can enjoy a guided night game drive in the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. You will be accompanied by a knowledgeable Uganda Wildlife Authority guide on a 4-wheel drive safari vehicle. Ensure to come with your spotlight torch for a tour that starts at around 18:30 and takes 2 to 3 hours. The nocturnal animals to encounter include lions, leopards, hyena, bushbabies, nightjars, hippos, hartebeest, civets and porcupines. Reaching Murchison Falls National Park from Kampala takes 234 kilometers via Gulu highway and through Masindi. The scenic journey takes 4.5 to 5 hours.
Cost of a night game drive in Uganda
The cost of a night game drive is US$40 in Murchison Falls National Park, and US$30 in Kidepo National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. This fee is exclusive of park entrance fees and can be paid in advance to avoid inconveniences in your plans and other services like accommodation and transportation. For a simple booking process of a night game drive in Uganda, do it through a licenced tour operator like Monteero Safaris. With our good working relationship with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and accommodation facilities we promise you a perfect night game drive in Uganda. You should also trust us when it comes to car hire, since we offer 4X4 safari vehicles, drones, saloon cars and minibuses.
Best time for night game drives in Uganda
Experience the serene night game drives in Uganda throughout the year, especially during the dry season when weather conditions are basically warm and dry. Uganda experiences a bimodal dry season, which runs from December to February and from June through August. The rare possibility of showers creates dense vegetation, which increases visibility of the nocturnal mammals. The dry conditions and relatively high temperatures compared to the rainy season creates dry tracks that facilitate simpler navigation.
Also, you can go for night game drives in Uganda during the rainy season, a period characterized by heavy frequent rainfall and less warmer temperatures compared to the dry season. The tracks are usually wet and slippery thus making them unnavigable but fascinating. The vegetation is denser to provide cover for the nocturnal wildlife thus more difficult to see. The frequent showers may interrupt the night game drive. All in all, if you encounter the nocturnal wildlife in the lush vibrant environment, it is more exciting.
What to pack for night game drives in Uganda
Night game drives in Uganda are flawlessly enjoyable, but mostly if you pack the essential items mentioned as follows,
- Lightweight long trousers and long-sleeved shirt
- Strong comfortable walking shoes and a pair of wool socks
- Warm sweater and head sock
- Basic first aid kit
- Camera
- Insect repellent
- Light rain jacket
- Game drive spotlight
- Daypack
- Recyclable water bottle
- GPS