Night Drives: Worth it?

After dark, the bush changes

Night drives are a bit of a Marmite thing for me. At their best, they're unforgettable. The bush after dark is a completely different place, with different sounds, different smells, and the thrill of not quite knowing what's out there. You might find lions on the hunt or a leopard walking down the road, along with creatures you'd rarely see by day. That ranges from civets and genets in the trees to, if you're really lucky, an aardvark. I mean a lifetime of luck! 

The honest downside

Night drives are increasingly sold as a must-do extra, and I'll be honest: most of the time they're not mind-blowing. You can spend a couple of hours bumping around in the dark and see very little, when you could have been back at camp enjoying dinner, a hot shower and a comfortable bed.

There's also the rhythm of your trip to think about. You often cut a day drive short, head out again with a ranger and sit down to a late dinner, which throws off the next day. And after a long day in the bush, a swinging spotlight is a powerful sedative. When I guided in Kruger, the only way I could stay awake was to drive and spotlight at the same time. I suspect most of my guests were half asleep!

If you're booking yourself, check whether night drives are included or charged as an extra. They're rarely expensive, but there's no point paying for something you won't use.

My preferred way

For me, the best night drive is the one on the way home. On many private concessions, such as in the Okavango Delta, you can enjoy sundowners and take your time getting back to camp. Dusk is the special part: the light softens, birds and insects change shift, nightjars appear on the track and the moon rises. Half an hour in the dark with a spotlight, perhaps a couple of owls, and that's plenty.