Night brings on a dangerous yet active time for all wild animals for this is the time when the heat cools off. The night is full of dark mystery, terror, silence and predation.
Crepuscular creatures began to stir with the dying of the light. You could be a part of this memorable experience by going on night drives into Africa’s game parks.
The opportunities range from Kruger National Park, Mkuze Game Reserve, Mountain Zebra National Park and Itala Game Reserve. And budget night drives cost under $25
Mountain Zebra National Park: one of South Africa’s most ruggedly beautiful but least-visited preserves, offers night drives for 100 rand (about $13 at 7.6 rand to the dollar) a head. The park’s mix of dry river valleys, high grassy plateaus and recessive mountain chains rising in the distance to 7,000 feet, with black rhino, Cape buffalo and herds of foaling zebra.
Addo Elephant National Park: Night drives at Addo cost 180 rand a person. Here the vehicle are bigger and the guides more. Elephants have to sleep on their feet in brief power naps. Given the bulk they must support, elephants don’t dare to rest too long from eating.
Night drives force us to develop our senses. We’re reminded how much we lean on sight and how, by animal standards, we’re amateurs.
Well if you do go for the drive, hope for a guide who enriches the experience with silence and is yet informative.
Source: The New York Times
