Most restcamps offer several game drives with a Kruger park ranger throughout the day.  These allow you to experience the park at times outside normal hours which are usually sunrise to sunset.  This is a list of what is offered at Satara Restcamp.  A full list for all restcamps is found here.  Sunrise and sunset drives can be good too but sometimes frustrating for birders if the other people in your group aren’t as interested in birds.  With a night game drive leaving at 8pm. birds are pretty much off the table unless you find an owl so you can just relax and enjoy whatever happens along!

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Since we are primarily birders, the timing of the night drive was perfect.  We had to be inside the camp by 6:30pm although we checked in around 6-ish and booked the game drive as we checked in.  Then we had enough time for a quick dinner and met the ranger just before 8pm.  We all piled into a large Land Rover with open sides and some people were given torches to spotlight the animals.

We were spotting nocturnal animals such as Civets, Genets & Jackals before we had reached the main road.  In the photos below, I have posted some unedited photos to show you just how dark it is, then the same photos with some editing and lightening to see the subjects better.

The most exciting part was seeing a whole pride of lions dining on a kill, probably a wildebeest.  Our ranger/guide drover as close as possible.  The lions didn’t seem to care although a few of them were eyeing up the vehicle.  I was acutely aware that we had completely open sides, there was nothing to stop them from jumping in.  Apparently they don’t do this otherwise they wouldn’t be running the trips!

This lioness is looking in our direction, looks like she is saying, “Hey guys, room service is here”!

Hyena skulking in the bush waiting for the leftovers.  This was a big kill and there were several other scavengers including jackals patiently waiting their turn but some were too far to be photographed.

I’ve done a few of these sunset and night game drives over the years and this one was by far the most exciting!