Night Game Drives
Night Game Drives are some of the amazing Uganda Safari tour activities that travelers can engage in when they visit the national parks in Uganda for wildlife viewing. When most of the animals have gone to rest and the sun is set, there are nocturnal creatures that keep on a hurt during the night, and they are a reason as to why the night game drive safaris are selling out in Uganda. The night drives in Uganda are mainly famously known in Queen Elizabeth National park. The visitors prefer the night game drives over the daily activities in Uganda for specific reasons, however, the night game drives are done in the night when all the activities are done and the park is free of all the visitors to accept the group on the hunt for the camouflaging cats in the bushes plus other night creatures.
Just like the name suggests, the night game drives in Uganda are called so, because they are conducted when the sun sets and the darkness falls on the wilderness with in the different National parks in Uganda. You might be wondering how possible can the night game drives be enjoyable in the thickest darkness of the nightfall and the scary screams of the night movers, a spotlight is used to lighten up the way and the area around in order for the visitors to see the animals.
Unlike the game drive done during the day, the night game drives offer you a chance to get really close to the animals; the animals can come so close to the vehicle during the night game drive because all the human forbia is shed off when the darkness falls. The lions, mainly get so close, however, to be safe you have to do what the rangers tell.
How are the night game drives done?
The night game drives are special activities and only offered in specific National parks in Uganda, such as queen Elizabeth National park, Murchison falls National park and Lake Mburo National park; however, Queen Elizabeth National park is famously known for the incredible night drives not only in Uganda but also the other parts of east Africa. The other National parks like kibale only have something to resemble the night drives; they conduct night nature walks, also in Kalinzu forest reserve and Kidepo valley National park among others.
The night drives in queen Elizabeth National park are taken as some serious activities and done with strict specifications from the Uganda wildlife offices at mweya. The Uganda wildlife authority or UWA land cruisers are used for the night game drives in queen Elizabeth National park. However, you can also use a self-drive vehicle like a touring car but it has to be really raised about the ground or the lion can jump onto the vehicle or even worse. The Uganda wildlife vehicles are 4wd and very good for the night drives.
You will also need to book for the armed safari guides for security reasons. The armed game rangers are booked at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices at only usd20. The fact that the night drives can somewhat pose a threat; it is a must that you hire the armed game rangers, two of them, to protect you from the fearless cats in kasenyi plains of queen Elizabeth National park.
What makes the night game drives unique?
They could not be that unique, but the night game drives are a chance for you to see a lot of animals in a different way than you see them during the day. The night drives, for example, in queen Elizabeth National park offer you an opportunity to see a lot of hippos graze on the land, unlike day when they stay in the water. You can also meet a herd of elephants in their hideout during the night game drives in queen Elizabeth National park, huge lone buffaloes, playful antelope herd among others. The night drives are a chance for you to also see a lot of cats that, perhaps, you cannot see during the day; they are shy during the day and night hunters, for example, cerval cats, leopards, civets among others.
The night drives, fortunately, can lead you into a pride of lions with in the kasenyi plains of queen Elizabeth National park. The night drives in queen Elizabeth National park are conducted through the trails at mweya peninsular and Katunguru, Uganda wildlife authority, UWA entrance gate into the park. The trails are the most reach areas when it comes to wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National park. The night game drives will give you a chance to, also, see the greedy hyenas feasting on the leftover of the prey from one of the past lion hunts.
Other places you can go for a night game drive in Uganda
Lake Mburo National park is another favorite place for the night game drive safaris in Uganda. Lake Mburo National is home to many animals, however, the night reveals the other animals in lake Mburo National park, which, perhaps, cannot see during the day game drives. The night game drive in Lake Mburo National Park is a golden opportunity for you to see wild animals like spotted hyenas, leopards, gent cats, long-tailed mongooses, bush pigs, civets among others.
You can also enjoy the night drives in Murchison falls National Park; it is found in the northwestern region of Uganda and it is the largest National park in Uganda. Here in Murchison falls National Park, the night drives are conducted in the vast savannah grasslands; mainly in the northern part of Murchison falls National Park. The night drives in Murchison falls National park will offer you great views of the night creatures like crawlies such as big snakes, big cats such as lions, civets, leopards, hyenas among others.
Take caution!
What to wear matters for your night game drive; shouting colored clothes might not work for the wild night drives with in the National parks of Uganda. It is an awesome idea if you would wear blending or subtle clothes for the night game drive in any of the mentioned National park. The dull colors like grey, army grey and khaki are good colors for the wild safaris because they blend in the surrounding.
Also, remember not to use the flash on your cameras during the night game drive in queen Elizabeth National park or any other protected are where the night drives are conducted. The flash might signal to the hiding animals and danger can happen, however, it is good to use infrared or night vision on your cameras during the night drives in wild Africa.
Also, remember to wear some thick clothes for the night game drives in Uganda National parks. Despite the fact that Uganda is a warm country, the nightfall also drops down the temperatures, therefore it can be called during the night. Also, carry an insect repellant as mosquitoes are much in the wild and they are most active at night.
Besides, do not forget to tell you, tour planner or safari consultant, to add game drives in Uganda on your itinerary for an African safari vacation. Otherwise, Uganda is a good country all though the year and the National parks are always open for you. Therefore, visit Uganda at any time of the year for the most rewarding game drives and other safari activities offered by the most hospitable people.
