Ker & Downey Africa > Journal > Unique night experiences in Africa
Night time in Africa offers travelers a plethora of unique experiences.
When the sun sets and night falls upon the African bush, the landscape transforms. The pitch black skies become bedazzled with a blanket of stars, shimmering down on the trees and reflecting in the rivers and lakes. The sounds of the bush start to change as some animals take rest for the night, while others are just waking up. The nocturnal sounds of hooting owls, cackling hyenas, grunting hippos and bellowing lions are heard amongst the singing of frogs, crickets and other critters.
There is so much magic to experience in the bush when the lights are out. It is an opportunity to spot the more elusive animals, like genets or even the rare aardvark. It is both a reflective and thrilling time, filled with opportunity and potential. And there is no better place to be when night falls, than right in the thick of it.
Here are some of our top night experiences in Africa to have when darkness falls on the bush, located at some of our favorite luxury safari lodges and camps:
Experience a truly remarkable smorgasbord of stars in the clear Sossusvlei Desert sky each night at the ultra-exclusive Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. Located deep in the world’s oldest living desert, this stargazing paradise borders the International Dark Sky Reserve of the NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia.
This prestigious status is given to a select few regions in the world where the skies are void of light pollution and boast the most extraordinary stargazing on Earth. A sophisticated on-site observatory, state-of-the-art Celestron CPC 1100 GPS (XLT) computerised telescope and a large stargazing skylight above your bed are all available. Guests are encouraged to get lost deep in the secrets of the sparkling African skies each night – an unrivalled experience that is hard to find elsewhere in the world.
Sanctuary Baines’ Camp is an intimate safari camp situated on a private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Renowned for its diverse wildlife species, it is known as one of the premium destinations in the world for a dynamic safari experience. The camp is named after the famous 19th century explorer, Thomas Baines, and there is an adventure to be had around each corner.
Teeming with wildlife, the Okavango can either be explored by morning and evening game drives, or mokoros (or dug out canoes). Seasonal night drives are a thrilling experience where guests are able to spot some of the nocturnal animals and birds that aren’t visible during the day. After an exciting evening out on safari, the adventures continue with an indulgent soak under the stars in your own private star bath. Each suite also features a mobile four-poster bed which can be wheeled onto the private balcony for a night under the star-studded sky.
Sand Rivers Selous, located high on a rocky peninsula in the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania were some of the first to introduce the idea of fly-camping to the world. Essentially, fly-camping involves sleeping out in the wilderness with minimal facilities. It is the ultimate form of connecting to the African bush and exploring deep into off the beaten track spaces.
This bucket list experience at Sand Rivers Selous typically involves a walking safari during the day, observing large and small animals on foot. A comfortable tent, hot water bucket shower, and delicious meal awaits at the end of the day and your adventure deep into the wilderness. Evenings are best enjoyed around a crackling fire under a blanket of stars listening to the nocturnal calls of the bush. There is nothing quite like it in the world.
Unlike fly-camping, a starbed or treehouse experience is a more permanent structure, but with the same concept: to get as deep into the wild as possible, and sleep under the stars listening to the sounds of the African bush come alive at night. Located in one of the most game-rich regions of Kenya, the great Masai Mara National Park, Serian The Nest perched high in the trees.
Situated on the western side of the great Mara River, the treehouse is only accessible by foot. A Maasai guide will escort you to the treehouse on a walking safari in the day, and leave you overnight to sleep under the stars to the sounds of grunting hippos below. The Nest comes well equipped with a flushing toilet, bucket shower, meal service, infrared spotlight and even a night-vision camera to capture the thrilling action of the night!
Get in touch with our expert team today to experience a night safari that places you in the very heart of the African bush!
The Okavango Delta is located in northern Botswana, in southern Africa. It is the largest inland delta in the world, where the Okavango River flows into the Kalahari Desert, creating a vast, intricate system of waterways, lagoons, and islands. Unlike most river deltas, which drain into the sea, the Okavango Delta’s waters evaporate or are absorbed by the desert sands, making it a unique and lush oasis within an otherwise arid region. The delta is famous for its incredible biodiversity and phenomenal game viewing, and, as such, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering one of Africa’s premier wildlife safari experiences.
The best time to visit the Okavango Delta is during the dry season, from May to October, when wildlife viewing is at its peak. Contact us if you wish to experience a bespoke African safari in the Okavango Delta.
Some of the top Okavango Delta lodges include:
We have access to the most luxurious lodges and tented camps in the Okavango Delta area and can plan the best authentic experiences and bucket-list adventures. Contact our team today.
Yes, a river cruise along Botswana’s Okavango River is often a highlight of a luxury safari experience, enabling you to witness life unfold along the riverbanks and observe wildlife from a different perspective. A trip along the Okavango River, via motor boat or on a mokoro – a traditional wooden dug-out canoe – also offers excellent bird watching opportunities, including rare migratory birds. The twisting channels and shallow lagoons are teeming with wildlife, making for the perfect trip.
Yes, the Okavango River is superb for fishing, with many luxury lodges offering catch-and-release fishing safaris.
The Okavango Delta offers excellent game viewing opportunities, including along the river banks and the open grasslands of the delta. On a luxury safari experience, expect to see:
Yes, the Makgadikgadi salt pans, one of the largest salt pans in the world, are within relatively close proximity to the Okavango Delta, enabling you to explore this fascinating natural wonder while on a trip to the Okavango Delta. Contact our safari specialists and let us create a bespoke itinerary just for you.
Highlights of an Okavango Delta tour often include a Mokoro canoe safari, exploring the labyrinth of waterways and crystal clear channels where animals concentrate, and thrilling game drives, with the opportunity to spot the Big 5. Contact us today to book your once-in-a-lifetime safari to the Okavango Delta.
Both new and seasoned safari-goers will delight in the range of experiences and activities available in the Okavango Delta and its game reserves, such as the Moremi Game Reserve. Just some of the activities we can arrange include:
However you want to enjoy your time in one of the world’s largest inland deltas, we can make it happen. Contact us today and let our safari specialists craft a bespoke itinerary in the Okavango Delta.
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