Where to go for night game drives in Uganda?

Where to go for Night Game Drives in Uganda: Safaris in Uganda offer tourists the opportunity to explore the country’s hidden treasures. On Uganda safari, there is a chance to also engage in a guided night game drive, and this is for you to enjoy a clear view of the nocturnal wildlife, nightjar birds, etc.

Not all the 10 National Parks in Uganda offer night game drives. Both rainforest-dominated and savanna safaris parks make Uganda a complete travel destination, with 4 of them offering the best of guided night game drives. A night game drive in Uganda is perfectly done at the comfort of your 4×4 safari vehicle, with a spotlight torch. Most nocturnal species become very active.

Best places to do night game drive in Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park

Night game drive in Murchison Falls National Park; this is the only National Park in Uganda that is found in the Northwestern side and it is the biggest with a land area measuring up to 3840sq.kms. Murchison Falls N/Park is comprised of 2 sections; the Northern & Southern sections, each featuring distinct vegetation zones and wildlife. The Northern is largely dominated by savanna grassland and the Southern side features vast forest vegetation.

A night game drive in Murchison Falls National Park is best done along the Northern section. Visitors on a night game viewing in Murchison Falls National  Park are assigned to an experienced and armed park ranger guide. With the spotlight torch, expect to capture sights of different nocturnal species including hyenas, leopards, civets, lions, porcupines, plus hippos as they often get out of their hideout to feed.

You will spend between 2 and 3 hours, with a chance to also identify many nightjar bird species. Other than nocturnal animals, Murchison Falls National Park also supports a variety of other wildlife species, these include buffaloes, elephants, the Nile crocodiles, warthogs, antelope family (oribis, waterbucks, bushbucks, hartebeest) over 451 bird species including shoebill storks, fish eagle, kingfishers, ibis, etc.

Murchison N/Park is found in Northwestern Uganda, and getting there takes 6-7 hours drive in a 4×4 safari vehicle. Other activities to do at Murchison Falls National Park include boat cruises, hot air balloon tours, birding, chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest, nature walks, and others.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park isn’t only known for its unique horseback/cycling tours, but also for night game drives. This park lies in Western Uganda, and from Kampala, about 4-5 hours’ drive. Lake Mburo National Park guided night game drive gets you exposed to nocturnal species including side-striped jackals, white tailed mongoose, porcupine, bush pigs, hare, black galago, aardvark and more.

Other wildlife of interest on Uganda safari in Lake Mburo National Park include giraffes, waterbucks, zebras, impalas, reedbucks, elands, buffaloes, lion. Lots of birds can also be spotted at Lake Mburo N/Park, including brown chested wattled plovers, saddle-billed stork, African finfoot, Papyrus yellow warblers, shoebill stork, African fish eagle, saddled-billed stork, shoebill stork etc.

Other activities to indulge while in Lake Mburo National Park include birding, walking tours, horseback riding, fishing tours, nature walks, boat cruise and many others.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s 2^nd biggest National Park, and the only location to find the tree climbing lions. It is one of the best places worthy visiting for night game drives in Uganda. The park occupies up to 1978sq.kms of land area, featuring varied habitats where diverse animal species live. The ideal spots for night game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Mweya Peninsular, Kasenyi Plains, and others.

A night game drive at Queen Elizabeth N/Park gets you exposed to park’s interesting wildlife including banded mongoose, spotted hyenas, leopards, lions, genet, bush babies, serval cats, civets, hippos and many nightjar bird species. Besides nocturnal species, Queen Elizabeth National Park hosts huge population of African elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and over 620 bird species.

Semuliki National Park

A night game drive in Semuliki National Park introduces you in the far Western Uganda, also a home to the powerful Sempaya hot springs. This is a renowned birder’s haven, hosting up to 441 bird species including many nightjars. The nocturnal species to expect to see at Semuliki National Park include leopards, nocturnal primates like bush babies, pottos; nocturnal birds such as African goshawk, ayres hawk, buff-spotted fluff tail, Cassin’s spine tail, Great sparrow, African wood owl, etc. Other birds that make Semuliki the most sought for birding location in Uganda, and East Africa at large include the red-chested owlet, forest francolin, Chestnut flanked goshawk, African dwarf kingfishers, chocolate backed, black collared lovebird, Nkulengu rail, shoebill stork, red thighed sparrow hawk, etc.

Cost of night game drive in Uganda

Night game drives in Uganda cost from shs. 40,000 for East Africa citizens, USD40 for foreign non- residents, 35 USD for foreign residents. Booking or planning your night game drive or entire Uganda safari to any destination in the Pearl of Africa or Rwanda is possible with an expert via info@adventureugandasafaris.com or info@silverbackgorillatour.com.

When to visit Uganda for night game drive?

The best time to consider visiting Uganda for night game drives is during the dry season, and each year, there are 2 phases of dry season. The long dry season which is often experienced from June, July, August to September or short dry season from December, January, to February.