Starlight Safari.?

[BeachMouse1]

Anyone done the Starlight Safari? Is it worth it? Have done the Wild Africa Trek and Savor the Savanna wondering if this is a must do?
Thanks

 

[JODEE2090]

We did the Starlight Safari on 11/29. There were 12 adults total. It was cold that night, so they handed out blankets. To be honest, I wasn't overly impressed. Most of the animals we saw we seen from the outside patio after we had dinner at Boma. If you have done those other tours, I think you we be disappointed.

 

[Eblues93]

For those that have done the Starlight Safari, could you comment on how rough it typically is? The safety info makes it sounds like it could be rough (not for expectant mothers, people with back trouble). I have one booked for next week, and my 11 year old got a mild concussion early this week, so am trying to decide if it is something she can go on.

 

[scrappinginontario]

If you ride the Safari vehicles (which I believe you do), those are rough in general. The roads the vehicles follow were created with bumps and ruts to mimic a real Safari. If you’re been cautioned your child be careful I would not recommend the Safari.

 

[nherbert]

We just did the 7pm Starlight Safari last night - if one of your favorite rides is the safari at AK, and if you really like the savanna part with the giraffes, zebras and wildebeests then you will love the starlight safari!
I am going to temper my review with the knowledge that the giraffe is my favorite animal, I just love how proud and regal they are even though they have to de one of the oddest shaped animals on the planet - like god asking a child to design an animal - what about the legs? Make them long. What the neck? Oh, make it long too. What else? The tongue make it blue and long
Anyway back to the starlight safari…it is as advertised an hour long ride in a safari vehicle around the savanna’s at AKL. The seats are around the edge of the vehicle so holds around 12 people, and the vehicle stops a lot so you can stand up. The ride is in the dark, so you are given night vision googles, these work amazingly well. An animal can be right next to the vehicle but it’s so dark you can’t see them without the googles.
If you love giraffes, this is the tour for you, they were so active (for giraffes), we got soooo close to so many of them, and watched them try to eat stuff that was so high with their very long tongues. There were lots of other animals as well, I won’t name them all (as I can’t) but the list is endless and you get so much closer to them than you do on the AK safari. Some were resting but many were up and about.
Was it bumpy? No worse than the safari at AK. Lots of stops, so not the continuous bumpy of the AK safari. Was it cold? Well it is December, they had blankets. But no I didn’t find it terribly cold, I was still wearing a t-shirt, and my son was in shorts.
The guides were amazing, we had Emily talking and Adam driving, so much knowledge and it’s not like the scripted safari, as they have to talk about the animals as they come up on the safari and it is obvious they KNOW these animals, and we could ask so many questions, it was a totally brilliant experience.
I haven’t done wild Africa trek, do that in a few weeks so I will report back with a comparison. But I am staying at AKL and we can look at all the animals during the day from our balconies, but the ride with the guide answering questions and the googles at night was something I feel so grateful to have experienced.
Highly recommend, especially if you are a fellow giraffe lover!