A Guide to Night Safaris

Night safaris are among the world’s most exciting wildlife experiences, offering the chance to observe nocturnal and crepuscular creatures (which are active after dark and at twilight, respectively). 

Safaris at night perfectly complement their more common daytime counterparts. The darkness around you and the starry skies above create an enthralling atmosphere that invites you to look and listen more actively – and greatly expands the array of animals you can spot. 

We’ve put together a guide to nighttime safaris in various destinations across the globe with tips for where to go and which species to look for.

Africa night safaris

Zambia night safaris

South Luangwa National Park is one of the best places to go for night safaris in Zambia. Here you can see spotted hyenas, leopards and lions prowling the savannah in search of prey.

Keep an eye out for smaller Southern African species like servals, civets and genets, too, plus big-eyed bush babies and Pel’s fishing owls in the treetops.

Botswana night safaris

Botswana’s brilliant wilderness can be even more captivating at night – especially in the Okavango Delta. Evening game drives here feature lions, leopards, honey badgers and hyenas.

Farther north in the Linyanti region, you might also be lucky enough to spot rare pangolins and aardwolves after dark, along with the usual nocturnal predators.

Namibia night safaris

Namibia is one of Africa’s top stargazing destinations, which makes night safaris here even more majestic. If you can tear your gaze away from the sky, look for leopards, genets, aardvarks, porcupines, pangolins and bat-eared foxes.

Etosha National Park is a particularly good place to spot rare brown hyenas as well as the more widespread spotted hyenas.

Tanzania night safaris

Nighttime safaris in Tanzania often include sightings of lions, leopards, genets, civets, servals, porcupines, bush babies and hippos.

Head out on an evening game drive in Tarangire National Park or Lake Manyara National Park alongside an expert guide and experienced spotter, who can help you track down elusive East African wildlife like aardvarks and aardwolves.

South Africa night safaris

South Africa is packed with epic safari destinations, and one of our favourite spots for night safaris is Sabi Sands.

An exceptionally high density of game means that you’re likely to come across all sorts of nocturnal animals, including the reserve’s famous leopards and lions as well as bush babies, owls and more. Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge offers some of the best night safaris in the region.

• The best of Zambia and Botswana's wildlife15 Day trip

Latin America night safaris

Amazon night safaris

The Brazilian Amazon is among the most biodiverse places on the planet, and many of its most fascinating species emerge after dark.

Here you can find black caimans, tarantulas, anacondas, frogs and owls, as well as distinctive mammals like armadillos, sloths and margays (small wild cats). A nighttime river cruise is a great way to combine comfort with intimate wildlife sightings.

Pantanal night safaris

Brazil’s Pantanal is a lesser-known alternative to the Amazon that boasts an equally impressive range of animals.

This is known as the best place on Earth to see wild jaguars, which are most active around twilight and at night; join the Onçafari team to track these elegant felines through the wetlands. You might also get to spot ocelots and capybaras, which are primarily crepuscular.

Costa Rica night safaris

Costa Rica is an incredibly biodiverse country full of national parks, rainforests and coastal habitats. A guided night hike in the central cloud forests around Monteverde reveals all sorts of nocturnal creatures: frogs, snakes, insects, bats and other mammals like elusive ocelots and kinkajous (or honey bears). 

We can also arrange night hikes in Arenal, Corcovado, Manuel Antonio or Guanacaste, followed by a traditional family dinner or stargazing experience.

Galápagos night safaris

Nighttime safaris in the Galápagos Islands give you the chance to spot some of the archipelago’s most intriguing species. There are swallow-tailed gulls – the only nocturnal seabirds in the world – and nocturnal hunters like the native hoary bat and fur seals.

You can also go night diving amid the glow of bioluminescent plankton to witness a wide array of Galápagos wildlife that’s active after dark, including sharks, turtles and rays.

Asia and Oceania night safaris

Borneo night safaris

The island of Borneo boasts a long list of nocturnal species that you can seek out on a thrilling safari drive or nature walk once the sun goes down. 

The main attraction may be the legendary Sunda clouded leopards, but there are plenty of smaller creatures to spot too. Look for civets, tarsiers, pangolins and slow lorises, as well as other felines like flat-headed cats and marbled cats.

You may also be able to spot pygmy elephants on a sunset cruise down the Kinabatangan River in Sandakan, as these animals are mainly crepuscular.

• Kinabatangan Wetlands ResortSandakan

Australia night safaris

Evening safaris are possible all over Australia and feature a wonderful variety of animals, including beloved marsupials like koalas and kangaroos – both of which are most active around twilight and after dark.

You can also see wallabies, echidnas, wombats, pademelons and Tasmanian devils on nighttime wildlife tours in some of our favourite Australian safari destinations.

New Zealand night safaris

New Zealand is a prime location for nighttime adventures, thanks to a combination of world-class stargazing and abundant nocturnal wildlife.

We recommend visiting the Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington for an after-dark guided tour to spot kiwi, glowworms, frogs, insects, owls and many other animals. The sanctuary also offers twilight tours and specialised kids’ night walks for children aged 5–11.