Night game drives launched in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park
The nightlife at Murchison Falls National Park & Queen Elizabeth National Park has just gotten better with the launch of night game drives by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). This innitiative is hoped to enhance the visitors’experience at the park due to their exposure to a wonderful night game.
On top of generating revenue for the government,this move will enable tourists to view rare nocturnal wildlife species that are hard to see during day time.
The launch of this new move was embraced by the King of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom (omukama solomon Iguru),as a sign of acceptance and he was the first to experience this long awaited programme.New four wheel drive cars that are expected to carry out the game drives were bought and these are expected to carry a maximum of 8 visitors.
These cars are open-roofed and covered on top to provide protection and good view to the visitors at night.
For the start,this innovation will operate in two other national parks but expected to be extended to Kidepo National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
One of the directors of UWA,Stephene Masaba,stated that “other parks shall be considered after seeing that this has been a success in these two Parks”.On the launch of the night game drive,viewers were able to see some animals such as antelopes,wild rats,elephants among other mammals,and they witnessed an entirely different perspective of the park.
Though a variety of mammals can be seen at dawn,this night drive will enable visitors to see some traditional nocturnal animals such as hyenas,leopards,hippos,genets,porcupines,civets,numerous reptiles,bush babies and night jars.
Guests will experience a magnificent sundowner before being driven to designated view or picnic points.
The night game drives are expected to start at around 8pm and expected to end at 10pm.
Booking for these night game drives will be done just like for other tourism products at either UWA’s headquaters or park offices.
The fees according to UWA are that; each tourist will pay $30 for a day game drive and $40 for night game drives.
