Night Safaris. Best Night Game Drive Destinations in Kenya
When the sun sets, darkness takes over and everything is quiet and calm from the busy routines of the day. The Savannah awakens the air cools, noctunal wildlife emerge from their hiding spots, the big cats come alive as predator and prey action kicks off. Night game drives offer you a rear, raw and rare wildlife spotting opportunity.
Kenya
A world famous country in East Africa with a coastline on the Indian Ocean. It's Landscape is made up of the savannah, lakeshores, the Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands. It is also home to the Big Five and abundant birdlife. The Masai Mara, one of the most famous destination in the world is located here. It is reknown as a one of the premier wildlife safari destinations in the world.
Why Night Game Drives?
Night game drives are essential as they offer a raw and thrilling of the wild after dark as you get an opportunity to witness nocturnal wildlife encounters and big cat behavior after dark. It is not just a drive every sound, movement and a shadow tells you a story. Night game drives bringout a different side and feel of the savannah with cool temperatures of as low as 10 degrees compared to the hot day times of maximum highs of 28 to 31 degrees. With the help of firmly fixed powerful spotlights and an expirienced safari guide you will get to see.
Predator and Prey action as Lions and Leopards actively hunt
Nocturnal animals such as aardvarks,
1. Bush babies(galagos)-Small primates with large eyes and ears, often spotted in trees in areas like Samburu National Reserve
2.Pangolins -Critically endangered, scaly mammals that search widely for ants and termites at night.
3. African Civet and Genets- Small African carnivores seen in the savannash habitats
4. Aardvarks- A medium-size burrowing nocturnal mammal that feed mostly on ants and termites with long snouts, best seen on night drives in quiet conservancies.
Rare sightings of
1.Porcupines- A large rodent with sharp spines for defending itself
2. Serval cats-A wild cat with a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted and striped with black, and a short, black-tipped tail.
The Top Night Game Drive Safari Destinations in Kenya
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta started it's life as a cattle ranch back in the 1940s. In 2009, Ol Pejeta received the endangered last four Northern White Rhinos, with the hope that a more natural environment might stimulate reproduction. Ol Pejeta now holds the largest single population of Eastern Black Rhino in Kenya making it one of the best successful conservation stories in Kenya. Most National Reserves and National Park do not allow night game drives. Get a chance to explore the Ol Pejeta at night with the help of a spot light, the drives can produce some unusual sightings of nocturnal animals, including Aardvark, White-tailed mongoose, Zorillas, Bat-eared fox. Lions are often sighted alert and active at night, and even the rare Leopard. We recommend keeping warm and staying inside the vehicle always. Ol pejeta also offers quality night game drives because of it's excellent infrastructure.
Where should I stay?
Sanctuary Tambarare Camp, Sweetwaters Serena Camp, Porini Rhino Camp, Ol Pejeta Bush Camp, The river camp Olpejeta
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Lewa Conservancy
Lewa conservancy is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Isiolo. It is known as a safe refuge for the endangered Black Rhino and the Grevy’s Zebra and abundant wildlife including the herds of African Elephant, Lion, Giraffe, Wild dog and other iconic wildlife species in Kenya. The Conservancy is also home to more than 490 species of birds. During the night game drives you will keep an eye out for Genet cats and Civets roaming through the savannah, and look up to spot Verreaux’s Eagle-Owls perched in the acacia trees.
Where should I stay?
Sirikoi Lodge, Lewa Safari Camp , Lewa House, Kifaru House (Elewana)
Mara North Conservancy
Mara North is a community and private sector owned conservancy. It is one of the largest community and private sector owned conservancies in Kenya, helping to alleviate poverty, ensuring environmental sustainability coupled with community development. Mara North is a private wilderness area of more than 29,000 hectares. It is a crucial part of the Maasai Mara ecosystem as it forms the north-western zone, bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve in the south of Kenya. What makes it special? It is less crowded you can be able to access the Mara ecosystem exclusively. The conservancy also has a high predator concentration making it a prime hunting ground.
You may notice the rare Leopards and lions which dominate the night in the conservancy. The vast open landscape allows you to enjoy dramatic sightings and uninterrupted exploration.
Where should I stay?
Ngare Serian, Serian Camp, Kicheche Mara Camp, Offbeat Mara Camp
Loisaba Wildlife Conservancy
It is a 58,000 acre conservancy located in Northern Laikipia, Kenya. It was baught initially as a cattle ranch and tourist destination in the 1970s. In 2014 the Loisaba Nature Conservancy was established under the community trust and the land would be dedicated to conservation efforts and securing Loisaba's future as a haven for wildlife and a beacon of sustainable land management.
What makes it special? it is a haven for over 350 bird and 60 mammal species, you can also discover
1.Loisaba is home to the endangered Grevy's Zebra and the reticulated Giraffe
2.The conservancy is a vital elephant corridor
3.The rare African wild dogs
During night game drives with the help of a (KPSGA)certified guide. Loisaba is one of the best places you can see the Greater Kudu and the famous hard to track Wild Dogs. Loisaba is famous for its “star beds” sleeping under the open sky. During the night game drives you will see bush babies, porcupines, and possibly a leopard in action.
Where should I stay?
Loisaba Tented Camp (Elewana), Loisaba Star Beds, Lodo Springs Villas
Olare Motorogi Conservancy
The Conservancy offers you an inclusive safari experience known for it's intimate wildlife experience because it is less crowded.The conservancy is home to one of the highest concentrations of big cats in Africa and over 300 bird species, including 50 different species of raptors. This is one of the richest wild ecosystems in the world with 35,000 acres of rolling grassland, hills, escarpment and the Motorogi plains to explore. It is also known as a photographers haven due to it's wildlife numbers.
What makes it special?
1.Less crowded and low vehicle
2.High density of Big Cats
In complete silence and total darkness the big cats are in action actively hunting and Hyenas scaveging for their kills. Its an unforgettable experience.
Where should I stay?
Top high-end accommodations
Porini Lion Camp, Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Plains Camp, Olare Mara Kempinski and Mahali Mzuri.
Tips
- Carry low light capability cameras. Flash photography is usually a no-go as it disorients the animals
- Most Night game drives are done in conservancies. Night game drives are prohibited in the reserves and national parks
- Nocturnal animals require quiteness and patience in order to get a clear shot
- Luxury accommodations give better quality of game drives and qualified guides
- Stay inside the vehicle at all time because the predators are very active and in high density during night game drives
- The Kenyan Savannah gets chilly in the night make sure to carry a warm jacket