November 11, 2026
Key takeaways
- Narok County’s management plan for the Masai Mara National Reserve states that night game drives are not permitted there.
- KWS park gates open at 6.00 am and close at 6.00 pm; its fee schedule lists a night game drive in selected parks without naming them.
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy runs shared night drives in two evening slots, booked at least a day ahead.
- Mara conservancies allow night drives under their own rules, such as red-filtered lights and a set return time.
- After dark you look for different species, and sightings are less predictable than by day.
Night game drives Kenya: are they allowed?
Yes, but only in certain places. Night game drives in Kenya take place mostly on private and community conservancies, which set their own activity rules. In most state-managed parks and in the Masai Mara National Reserve, visitors must be off the tracks by nightfall.
The distinction is one of land management. National parks are run by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). National reserves such as the Masai Mara are run by county governments. Conservancies are private or community land managed for wildlife, usually with a small number of camps and their own code of conduct. Where you sleep therefore decides whether a night safari in Kenya is possible on your trip.
Can you do a night game drive in a KWS national park?
As a general rule, no: KWS park pages state that gates open at 6.00 am and close at 6.00 pm unless you are staying overnight inside the park. Game drives in tour vehicles are a daytime activity in parks such as Nairobi and Lake Nakuru.
There is one qualification. The KWS conservation fee schedule in force since October 2025 lists a night game drive, charged per person per trip on top of conservation fees, in “selected Parks and Reserves”. It is priced at USD 50 for non-residents. The schedule does not name the parks, and we could not find a published list at the time of writing (November 2026).
If a night drive in a KWS park matters to you, ask KWS or the park warden directly which parks currently offer it and how to book. Do not assume it is available.
Are night drives allowed in the Masai Mara National Reserve?
No. Narok County’s Maasai Mara National Reserve Management Plan 2023 to 2032 lists “no night game drives” among its visitor rules, and says walking and horseback safaris are not permitted in the reserve either.
Reserve tickets reflect this. Narok County’s entry fee covers 6.00 am to 6.00 pm. In the Mara Triangle, the Mara Conservancy states that gates open at 6.00 am and close at 7.00 pm, with no vehicles admitted after 6.30 pm.
Guests staying at lodges and camps inside or beside the reserve normally do morning and afternoon drives, or a full day out with a picnic lunch. That is how most of our Masai Mara National Reserve safaris are structured.
Where can you do a Masai Mara conservancy night drive?
In the community conservancies that border the reserve, provided you stay at a camp inside one. Each conservancy publishes its own rules, and a Masai Mara conservancy night drive is run by the camp’s guides in the camp’s vehicles.
Mara North Conservancy’s published game drive etiquette is a useful example of how they are controlled:
- night drives take place only in designated areas
- red filters must be used on spotlights
- vehicles must be back in camp by 10.00 pm
- all lights go off when a predator is stalking prey
- no more than five vehicles may attend a sighting
Other Mara conservancies have similar codes, though details vary. Conservancy stays usually cost more than reserve stays, as conservancy fees and camp rates tend to be higher. Day visitors from the reserve cannot simply drive in after dark.
| Area | Type | Night game drives? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masai Mara National Reserve | County reserve (Narok County) | No | Management plan 2023 to 2032: no night game drives |
| Mara conservancies (for example Mara North) | Community conservancy | Yes, under conservancy rules | Normally for guests of camps in the conservancy |
| Ol Pejeta Conservancy | Private not-for-profit conservancy | Yes | Shared drives, two evening slots, book a day ahead |
| KWS national parks and reserves | State-managed | Limited | Gates close 6.00 pm; a night drive fee is listed for selected parks only |
How does an Ol Pejeta night game drive work?
Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia runs night drives as a bookable, shared activity. Its 2026 tariff guide lists two slots, 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm and 9.00 pm to 11.00 pm, with a minimum of four people.
Cost and booking
The 2026 guide prices an Ol Pejeta night game drive at about USD 70 per adult and half that for a child. This is in addition to the conservancy entry fee, which is listed at about USD 110 per non-resident adult. Ol Pejeta asks for bookings at least a day in advance, and rates are subject to change, so confirm the current tariff before you travel.
Fitting it into an itinerary
You need to spend the night in or next to the conservancy. A day trip from Nairobi will not work. Our Ol Pejeta Conservancy safari guide describes the other activities, and the 5-day rhinos and Masai Mara safari includes an overnight there. See all Ol Pejeta Conservancy safaris for more options.
What animals do you see on a night safari in Kenya?
You look for animals that are active after dark and seldom seen by day. Nothing is certain, and some night drives are quiet. Species that guides commonly search for include:
- small carnivores such as genets, civets and white-tailed mongooses
- aardvarks and porcupines, both shy and not often found
- bushbabies and springhares, picked out by their eyeshine
- spotted and striped hyenas, jackals and bat-eared foxes
- owls and nightjars
- lions and leopards, which do much of their hunting at night
Night drives add variety to a trip. They do not replace daytime drives for those hoping to see the Big Five in Kenya, because visibility is limited to the beam of a spotlight.
What should you expect and bring?
Expect a slow drive of about two hours usually in an open-sided vehicle, with a guide or spotter sweeping a light across the bush. Temperatures fall quickly after sunset in the Mara and Laikipia.
- Wear a warm jacket, long trousers and closed shoes.
- Bring binoculars, which work well with a spotlight.
- Turn off camera flash and phone torches. They disturb animals and other guests.
- Photography is difficult in low light. A fast lens and a high ISO setting help, but many guests simply watch.
- Children: conservancies and camps set their own minimum ages, so check when booking.
How Ramja Safaris can help
Ramja Safaris can build a night drive into your route by including a night at Ol Pejeta or, on request, at a camp in a Mara conservancy. Tell us it is a priority when you request a quote, and we will check current rules, availability and fees with the conservancy before confirming.
Frequently asked questions
Are night game drives allowed in the Masai Mara?
Not inside the Masai Mara National Reserve. Narok County’s management plan for the reserve states that night game drives are not permitted. They are offered in the community conservancies that border the reserve, for guests staying at camps within those conservancies.
How much does a night game drive cost at Ol Pejeta?
Ol Pejeta’s 2026 tariff guide lists night game drives at about USD 70 per adult and half that for a child, in addition to the conservancy entry fee. A minimum of four people applies and rates can change, so confirm the current price before travelling.
Does Kenya Wildlife Service offer night game drives?
The KWS conservation fee schedule in force since October 2025 lists a night game drive fee for selected parks and reserves, but it does not name them. KWS park gates otherwise close at 6.00 pm. Ask KWS directly which parks offer the activity before planning around it.
Is a night game drive safe?
Night drives in conservancies are led by guides who know the area and follow the conservancy’s code of conduct. Guests stay inside the vehicle throughout. As with any wildlife activity there is some risk, so listen to the briefing and follow your guide’s instructions.
Can children go on night game drives?
It depends on the conservancy or camp. Each sets its own minimum age, and Ol Pejeta’s tariff guide lists a child rate for night drives. Ask about age limits when you book, and consider whether a young child will manage two hours in the cold and dark.
