Price
$100–$200 per person
Duration
1 to 2 hours · after sunset
Where
Tarangire National Park only
Vehicle
Open-sided, spotlight-equipped
The experience
Inside the night.
Why night drives are a Tarangire-only thing.
Night game drives are prohibited inside Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. They’re only permitted at select private properties inside Tarangire National Park.
That makes them rare — and one of the strongest reasons to add Tarangire to your itinerary. The lodges currently authorised include Elephant Springs, Swala, Mpingo Ridge, and Tarangire Treetops. We’ll match you to whichever fits the rest of your safari.
Open-sided, spotlight-equipped.
The vehicles used for night drives are purpose-built for the experience. Open-sided design for unobstructed viewing in low light, and a dedicated spotter’s seat at the front operating a powerful, hand-held spotlight that sweeps the bush ahead.
You sit closer to the wild than you would in a covered day vehicle. Wear layers — the temperature drops fast once the sun’s gone.
An alien landscape in silver.
Nightfall transforms Tarangire into an other world. The ghosts of hippos emerge from the rivers. The giant shapes of elephants melt in and out of clearings like silent battleships passing in the night.
The experience is punctuated by the deep throb of a lion’s roar piercing the chilly air. Even seasoned safari travellers describe their first night drive as the moment Africa “became real” in a different way.
The nocturnal cast.
- Reflective eyes. The spotlight catches the glow of predators — lions, leopards, jackals, hyenas — before you see the body. Counting the points of light is half the game.
- Nocturnal specialists. Creatures rarely seen by day: bush babies bouncing through the branches, porcupines shuffling through the grass, and (with luck) the elusive aardvark.
- The night symphony. A unique sound layer that only begins after dark — cicadas, nightjars, distant lions calling, the occasional crash of an elephant through brush.
Honest expectations
Know before you go out.
Night drives are an entirely different kind of safari from a day drive — quieter, slower, more atmospheric. Set fair expectations before you book.
- 01
Tarangire only
If your itinerary doesn’t include Tarangire, we can’t do a night drive. Night game drives are prohibited inside Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
- 02
Atmosphere over headcount
You may see only a few animals all evening — or many. The point isn’t the count. It’s the experience of the bush at night, the spotlight, the silence, the silver moonlight.
- 03
Lodge-restricted
Only four authorised lodges run night drives. We’ll build your itinerary so you’re staying at one of them on the night you want to go out.
- 04
Dress for cold
Open-sided vehicle, post-sunset temperatures, wind. Bring a proper jacket and a beanie — you’ll regret leaving them behind within ten minutes.
- 05
Camera realities
Spotlit subjects against pitch dark are notoriously hard to photograph. Bring a fast lens (f/2.8 or wider) and accept that some moments are for memory, not Instagram.
- 06
After dinner timing
Most night drives leave after dinner, around 8–9pm. They replace your morning game drive’s “rest” rhythm with a late night. Plan for a slower start the next day.
Ready to see what wakes after dark?
Add a night drive to any Tarangire stay — we’ll match you to the right lodge and the right night.
Reach the team
Where every safari begins — with a conversation.
Direct line
Tanzania Office
P.O. Box 746, Usa-River, Arusha
Tanzania, East Africa
Hours: Daily 8AM — 8PM EAT
Tell us your story
Tell us what you’re hoping for — the people, the timing, the wild moments you’re chasing.