Night Game Drives In Lake Manyara National Park

Night Game Drives In Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is one of the most magical safari spots in Tanzania and is found in the north of Tanzania along the Great Rift Valley. The park is recognised as having scenic beauty, a variety of birds, lions that climb trees, and it receives thousands of visitors annually. Night game drive is one of the rare and most memorable activities in Manyara, whilst traditional game drives during daytime present exciting animal sightseeing. There are not many national parks in Tanzania where this activity can be performed, so Lake Manyara is the opportunity to see the African wilderness at night.

Night game drive is a guided tour where hunting occurs after the sun sets, and the drive normally begins at about 7.30 pm and continues for two or three hours. These drives are performed in specially modified safari cars with strong spotlights in order to enable the visitors to observe the nocturnal activities of the game, which are not visible in the daytime. The excitement of a bush walk in the dark, using torchlight and the keen wit of a trained guide, brings about a mystery and adventure.

Night drives in Lake Manyara National Park can only be arranged by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and only a few licensed Tanzania safari operators. It is also an attraction to the adventurous traveller as the park is among the few that officially permit this activity in Tanzania.

The Reason for a Night game drive in Manyara?

Exclusive Experience

In contrast to the day safaris, where thousands of vehicles can flock to the most frequented places of wildlife, the night game drives are few and extremely controlled. The exclusivity grants a more personalised and less congested experience and provides the visitor with the impression of possessing the wilderness virtually to himself.

Nocturnal Wildlife.

Nighttime activity is common with many species of animals which cannot be easily observed in the daytime. Night drives present an opening to this underworld where predators are on the hunt and smaller creatures are starting to come out of their burrows.

View of the Bush.

At night, the African savannah is totally different. The noises are made more conspicuous: the owl calls, the rustle of the leaf, and the roar of a distant lion. The blackness enhances the senses to provide an adventurous experience that is memorable.

Animals on Night Drives.

In Lake Manyara National Park, night game drives demonstrate a different set of wildlife than that encountered during the day. Part of the interesting sightings are:

Predators on the Hunt

Lions: There are tree-climbing lions in Manyara, but they come down in the night to hunt. There is a possibility of stalking behaviour or hearing their roars in the night by visitors.

Leopards: Leopards are solitary and elusive, and more active at night. One of the most significant things in a night drive is to see one of them sneaking in the bushes or perched on a branch of a tree.

Hyenas: Hyenas are undermale predators and scavengers, but very effective in their nighttime hunting. They are spooky as they call out during the night safari.

Smaller Nocturnal Animals

Civets and Genets: They are small cats with bright colored spots that are hardly visible during the day and are commonly seen at night.

Porcupines and Aardvarks: Nocturnal and shy, those animals occasionally come briefly into view on night drives.

Bush Babies (Galagos): Famous for big eyes and agile tree-hopping, these little primates appeal with their great agility and sharp wit. Their high-pitched calls can easily be heard before they are viewed.

Other Nighttime Sightings

Hippos: Hippos spend the day in the water that is submerged, but at night they emerge to graze on land.

Owls and Nightjars: Bird lovers are given the treat of seeing such birds of the night as the Verreaux eagle-owl and other nightjars.

A Night Game Drive experience

Setting Out

Night drives normally commence after dinner, when the sun has gone down. Tourists enter open 4×4 safari vehicles, which typically carry a few visitors at a time in order to have a personalised experience. The sense of adventure is enhanced by the cool night air, coupled with anticipation.

Guided by Experts

Each drive is accompanied by experienced guides and rangers. The red filtration spotlights are used to reduce disturbance to animals and allow the visitors to see them well, without using a lot of light. Guides also decipher animal behaviour, explain ecological associations, and locate difficult-to-find species.

The Atmosphere

The night is mysterious and calm as compared to busy and sunny day drives. All sound, the trumpet of an elephant and the hoot of an owl, is magnified. The use of darkness and spotlights produces a near-film-drama when the animals emerge from the darkness.

Best Time.

During the whole year round in the Lake Manyara National Park, you can find night game drives. Nonetheless, the dry season (between June and October) is usually regarded as a good period of time. The vegetation is also thinner at this time, and animals become more concentrated around water bodies, which will increase the likelihood of spotting them.

There are also the benefits of the wet season (November to May). The park turns green and rich, and bird life is plentiful and newborn animals can be seen frequently. The vegetation tends to be heavier, and thus makes viewing harder, but this contributes to the discovery excitement.

Visitor Practical Information

Duration: 2-3 hours.

Time: It is usually between 7.30 to 10:00 p.m.

Vehicles: Modified safari jeeps with spotlights.

Price: Night game drives carry an extra charge to the normal charges of entry into the park. The prices will be different based on the operator, although they tend to be more expensive than daytime drives because they are unique.

Dressing: A Warm dress is advised, because evenings can be cold. Neutral colours are recommended to be effective with the environment.

Limitations: Night drives should not be used with very young children. Disturbance of wildlife should be avoided by limiting noise.

Combining night game drives with Other Activities.

Lake Manyara National Park provides numerous choices that can be used to supplement the night game drives and make the whole safari complete:

Daytime Game-Drives: View elephants, giraffes, flamingos and tree-climbing lions during the day.

Bird Watching: Manyara is the kingdom of a bird lover, and more than 400 species have been sighted.

Canoeing (Seasonal): When the water level is high, canoe safaris on Lake Manyara offer a different view.

Cultural Tours: A trip to the nearby Mto wa Mbu village will enable tourists to explore the local cultures, markets and food.

Treetop Walkway: The forest area contains a canopy walk suspended in the air that will provide an exciting experience of seeing birds and monkeys in the daytime.

The reason why night drives in Manyara are so good.

Night game drives can only be found in limited parks in Tanzania, and Lake Manyara is one of the best parks to have the experience. The small size of the park, variety of habitats, and its close location to Arusha precondition both short- and long-term safaris. The possibility of observing nocturnal wildlife, in particular predators in action, offers a new angle on the usual safari during the day.

To the majority of visitors, the recollection of sitting in an open jeep on a starlit sky and hearing the roar of the lion and seeing a leopard fading into the shadows becomes one of the most valuable moments of their lives in the safari trip.