The gates of iSimangaliso close at dusk and self-drivers have to be out, so a permitted night drive is the only way to be inside after dark. That is the whole point: the park’s nocturnal species — bushbabies, genets, civets, owls, and the hippos that leave the water to graze — are invisible on a daytime drive.
It is spotlight work from an open vehicle, and it is cold in winter in a way that surprises people who have spent the day on a KwaZulu-Natal beach.
What to check before you book
- Whether conservation fees are included
- Duration and return time to the village
- Warm clothing — an open vehicle after dark needs more than you think
- Minimum age, which operators usually set for night drives
- Insect repellent, in a malaria risk area, on an after-dark activity
This is a malaria risk area; take current advice from a travel clinic.
