Night Game Drive in Lake Manyara National Park

A night game drive in Lake Manyara National Park is a rare and thrilling experience, offering a chance to witness the park’s nocturnal wildlife in action. While most national parks in Tanzania only allow daytime safaris, Lake Manyara is one of the few where night game drives are permitted, giving you a unique glimpse into the park’s after-dark ecosystem.

Experience Overview

• The adventure begins after sunset when you’re picked up from your lodge or camp and driven into the park in an open safari vehicle equipped with spotlights.
• A professional guide and tracker will use red-filtered spotlights to search for movement and reflective eyes in the dark.
• The drive lasts about 2 to 3 hours, covering key areas of the park where nocturnal animals are most active.

Wildlife Highlights

• Lions — Lake Manyara is known for its famous tree-climbing lions. Spotting them at night as they descend from trees or prowl for prey is a rare and unforgettable sight.
• Leopards — Elusive and secretive during the day, leopards become more active at night, making night drives one of the best chances to spot them.
• Hippos — During the day, hippos remain in the water, but at night they emerge to graze along the riverbanks.
• Bush babies — These small primates with large, glowing eyes are commonly seen leaping between trees.
• Porcupines, genets, civets, and aardvarks — These shy and rarely seen nocturnal creatures are more likely to appear during a night drive.
• Elephants — Herds of elephants can sometimes be seen quietly moving through the park under the cover of darkness.

Scenery and Atmosphere

• The park takes on a completely different character at night — the stillness of the darkness is broken only by the sounds of crickets, frogs, and distant animal calls.
• The moonlight and star-filled sky create a surreal atmosphere as your guide navigates the park’s winding trails.
• The reflective eyes of predators and prey shining back from the spotlight add to the excitement and mystery of the experience.

Best Time to Go

• Night game drives are available year-round, but the best time is during the dry season (June to October) when visibility is clearer, and wildlife is more concentrated around water sources.

Why It’s Special

A night game drive in Lake Manyara offers a rare opportunity to see the African wilderness after dark — a time when the hunters emerge, and the dynamics of the savannah change completely. It’s an intimate and exciting way to discover the hidden side of the park, guided by the sights and sounds of the African night.