Fly Camping in Tanzania
Night drives are an ideal way to extend your wildlife viewing into the most exciting hours of the day, when nature’s drama often unfolds, unseen by most.
Night game drives offer an entirely different perspective on the African wilderness – a chance to experience the bush when it truly comes alive. As the sun sinks below the horizon and the daytime world of Tanzania’s national parks begins to settle, a new cast of characters emerges from the shadows.
An entirely different perspective on the African wilderness
Night drives in Tarangire, Katavi, Ruaha, and Nyerere national parks
With the expert guidance of your driver and spotter, you’ll search for nocturnal species
Our handpicked camps and guides know the terrain intimately and are experts in tracking
Best Time to Go
What to Expect on a Night Drive
Setting out after dark in an open-sided vehicle equipped with powerful spotlights, you’ll explore the bush under a canopy of stars. With the expert guidance of your driver and spotter, you’ll search for nocturnal species rarely seen during the day. The experience is rich in atmosphere – the cool night air, the smell of dust and vegetation, the sounds of crickets and distant predators calling in the dark. Every sighting feels intimate and thrilling, whether it’s a stealthy leopard on the hunt, a civet padding along a game trail, or a pair of mysterious glowing eyes in the undergrowth.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire’s dense woodlands and riverine valleys make it an excellent location for night drives. The park’s healthy predator population means there’s always a chance of encountering lion, leopard, or hyena on the move after dark, while smaller nocturnal creatures like porcupines, genets, and bush babies often steal the show.
Yellow Zebra’s favourite options for night drives in Tarangire are Kuro Tarangire and Oliver’s Camp Tarangire. For more budget-friendly options, we would highly recommend Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge and Olkeri Camp.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara is one of the few parks in northern Tanzania where night drives are officially permitted. It’s particularly well suited to spotting elusive nocturnal species such as aardvark, serval, and the charismatic galago (bush baby). The combination of groundwater forests and open plains makes for varied and rewarding after-dark exploration.
For the best night drives in Manyara, we suggest Wayo Manyara Green Camp.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha’s remote wilderness is rich in predators and large mammals, many of which become more active in the cool of the night. Night drives here often reveal hyenas on the prowl, lions preparing to hunt, and perhaps even the rare sight of a leopard descending from a tree. Smaller species such as civets, genets, and African wild cats are also frequently spotted.
For simply spectacular night drives and fantastic guiding, we’d choose Ikuka Safari Camp as the preferred option. However, there are many great options in this incredible park for night drives – some of our favourites include Kokoko Camp, Kigelia Ruaha, and Jongomero Camp.
Nyerere National Park
One of the best destinations for night drives in Tanzania, Nyerere’s mix of riverine forests, open plains, and wetlands creates a haven for nocturnal wildlife. The Rufiji River area, in particular, is alive with activity after dark. Highlights include hippos grazing on land, bush babies leaping through trees, and an impressive variety of owls and nightjars.
Two outstanding options for night drives in Nyerere are Beho Beho and Sand Rivers Camp. We’d also highly recommend Siwandu Camp as an alternative option for night drives.
Katavi National Park
Few places in Africa feel as wild after dark as Katavi. With so few visitors and a truly remote setting, night drives here are thrillingly unpredictable. Huge herds of buffalo and elephant are often active, while predators begin their nightly routines. The chance of rare sightings, from honey badgers to leopard, adds a touch of genuine frontier adventure to every drive. Chada Katavi Camp is our favourite camp in Katavi for night drives.
At Yellow Zebra Safaris, we partner with camps and lodges that offer professionally guided, safe, and responsible night drives in Tanzania’s private concessions and national parks where permitted. Our handpicked camps and guides know the terrain intimately and are experts in tracking nocturnal species, ensuring an unforgettable, immersive safari experience.
Related Lodges
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Kuro Tarangire
From AU$1,458 – AU$2,251 ppKuro Tarangire succeeds in combining luxury with environmental awareness and expert guiding.
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Oliver’s Camp
From AU$1,345 – AU$1,968 ppEstablished in 1992 by Paul Oliver, the camp is one of the oldest camps in the area and has always aimed to provide an authentic base within the wildlife-rich Tarangire. If you are looking for a high-end camp, and you enjoy a traditional, tent-style camp,…
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Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge
Enquire for pricing Contact Us for pricing detailsTarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge offers year-round accommodation in the heart of Tanzania’s lesser-visited Tarangire National Park, renowned for its magnificent elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. Spacious tented suites allow for double and triple…
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Olkeri Camp
From AU$623 – AU$1,204 ppLocated in the community-owned Randilen Wildlife Management Area, just outside Tarangire National Park, Olkeri Camp is a simple, traditional bush camp with the benefit of facilitating night game drives, walking safaris, and fly camping. Run by Entara, who…
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Manyara Green Camp
Enquire for pricing Contact Us for pricing detailsLake Manyara is one of the first stops on a classic northern Tanzania circuit, a delightful first taste of the region’s beautiful landscape and home to some interesting and diverse game viewing opportunities. Due to their brilliant green ethos, Wayo Manyara…
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Ikuka Safari Camp
From AU$1,175 – AU$1,473 ppIkuka Safari Camp is an upscale yet beautifully understated property in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, run by safari experts and hands-on owners Mark and Chloe Sheridan Johnson, together with a top-notch team. Ikuka Safari Camp is an upscale yet beautifully…
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Kokoko Camp
Enquire for pricing Contact Us for pricing detailsOperated by Asilia, Kokoko Camp is a simple, exclusive-use tented camp in the heart of Tanzania’s south-central Ruaha National Park. Here, the surrounding wilderness takes front row, with a comfortable back-to-nature approach, including meals cooked outside…
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Kigelia Ruaha
From AU$1,161 – AU$1,246 ppSituated in the heart of the Mwagusi area of Ruaha National Park, Nomad Tanzania’s Kigelia Camp has long been a favourite of ours, especially in combination with Sand Rivers, Nyerere (formerly Selous) to provide some excellent multiple-night-stay specials.…
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Jongomero
From AU$1,388 – AU$1,416 ppJongomero Camp is owned and operated by Selous Safari Company, a company with an impressive portfolio that also features Siwandu Camp in Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous) and Ras Kutani on Tanzania’s coast. Jongomero’s accommodation is booked on a…
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Beho Beho
From AU$2,265 – AU$2,265 ppBeho Beho is owned and run by the Bailey family and their terrific team of guides and in-house staff members. The Operations Director is Sean Lues, a Zimbabwean pro guide and winner of the Guides Association’s ‘Guide of the Year’ award. Accommodation is…
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Sand Rivers
From AU$1,345 – AU$1,926 ppFounded by famous guide Richard Bonham in the early 1990s, today Sand Rivers Selous is operated by Nomad Tanzania. Nomad runs a total of ten properties, among them the superb Serengeti Safari Camp, Entamanu Ngorongoro, and Greystoke Mahale. Sand Rivers has…
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Siwandu Camp
From AU$1,543 – AU$1,869 ppSiwandu Camp is owned and operated by Selous Safari Company. This company runs several outstanding properties across South Tanzania, such as Jongomero in Ruaha National Park and Ras Kutani on the country’s coast. Siwandu has been awarded a TripAdvisor…
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Chada Camp
From AU$1,331 – AU$1,727 ppChada Katavi is owned and operated by Nomad Tanzania. This is one of our favourite safari companies, with its impressive portfolio of safari camps and lodges spanning the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Ruaha National Park, and more! The…
