Night game drives give you the best chance in Uganda of seeing leopards, hyenas and the small nocturnal animals that hide by day, such as genets, civets, bushbabies and white-tailed mongooses. They are run with a ranger and a spotlight in some savannah parks, including Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, usually for two to three hours after dusk. In forest parks such as Kibale and around Bwindi, guided night walks replace drives. Here is what to expect and where to go.
What you may see
The main prize is the leopard, which hunts mostly at night and is far easier to find with a spotlight than in daylight. Spotted hyenas, side-striped jackals, servals and civets are possible, along with hippos grazing far from the water, bushbucks and owls. Lake Mburo is especially good for leopards and hyenas. In the dry season in Murchison and Queen Elizabeth, you may see nightjars, including the striking standard-winged nightjar. See our guides to leopards in Uganda and the standard-winged nightjar.
How night drives work
Night drives are booked through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a lodge with permission to operate them, and an armed ranger always accompanies the vehicle. A guide sweeps the bush with a red-filtered or white spotlight looking for eyeshine, then holds the beam to the side of an animal rather than in its eyes, to reduce disturbance. Drives usually start around 7 pm and last two to three hours. Fees are charged per person on top of park entry, and availability varies by park, so book ahead and check current rules.
Night walks in the forest
In Kibale, guided night walks from Kanyanchu look for pottos, bushbabies, tree hyraxes, chameleons and night insects. Around Bwindi, some lodges and community guides run short evening walks on the forest edge, but you cannot enter the park itself at night. Wear long trousers and sturdy shoes, bring a headlamp, and keep the light off the animals’ eyes for long. See our guide to night sounds of Bwindi.
Photography and ethics
Bright lights and flashes can dazzle animals and expose them to predators, so use a high ISO and a fast lens rather than flash, and accept that some sightings are for watching rather than photographing. Never ask your guide to chase an animal with the light. Night drives make a good addition to a gorilla trip; the gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guide to Lake Mburo.
Frequently asked questions
In some savannah parks, notably Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls; check availability.
Leopards, hyenas, genets, civets, bushbabies, hippos and nightjars.
No. Bwindi is closed to visitors at night; treks run in the day only.
Usually two to three hours after dusk.
