Zambia has been named the top African destination for night safaris, according to new research from safari specialists Yellow Zebra, which analysed 73 parks and reserves across the continent to identify where travellers can enjoy the strongest after‑dark wildlife experiences.

The study scored countries on night‑driving permissions, biodiversity, guide training and sky darkness, producing a weighted Night Safari Index out of 10.

Zambia leads the ranking with a score of 8.38/10, thanks to night driving being formally built into its national park system and its rigorous ZAGOTA Level 2 guide qualification, which specifically certifies guides for night vehicle safaris . South Luangwa is highlighted as a standout location, offering exceptional leopard sightings alongside honey badger, civet, genet, bushbaby and porcupine—all realistic in a single drive .

Top three countries for night safaris

  • Zambia (8.38/10) – Best overall night‑safari conditions, strongest guide quality, and national‑park‑level night‑driving access
  • South Africa (7.49/10) – The continent’s strongest Big Five score for night viewing, making it the best destination for travellers prioritising iconic species after dark.
  • Zimbabwe (6.21/10) – Renowned for highly skilled guides capable of tracking elusive nocturnal species, contributing to its strong performance in the index .

‘Noctourism’ on the rise

The report notes a growing trend in ‘noctourism’, with travellers increasingly planning trips around after‑dark nature experiences such as stargazing and night wildlife viewing . Botswana, for example, ranks fourth overall and offers the darkest skies on the continent, with the lowest Bortle score for stargazing .

How the ranking was created

Yellow Zebra’s team assessed each park on four factors:

  • Whether night driving is permitted
  • The wildlife active after dark
  • The rigour of guide training
  • The darkness of the night sky

These scores were then aggregated to produce country‑level results across 10 metrics, including wildlife density, Big Five likelihood and guide quality .

Why it matters for travellers

For travellers seeking deeper, more immersive wildlife encounters, night safaris offer access to species rarely seen during the day – from leopards and civets to porcupines and bushbabies. The new index provides a data‑driven guide to where those experiences are most rewarding.