Safari Visitors Enjoy A Really Wild Night

10:23am UK, Monday December 28, 2009

David Bowden, in South Africa

The days of the traditional African safari may be numbered after one operator turned to battlefield technology to spice up the game-viewing experience.

Bosses at one of South Africa's most famous Game Lodges, Londolozi, have brought in night vision goggles - more often used to hunt the Taliban in Afghanistan - to stay on the trail of wildlife once the sun sets.

The equipment means that, as other guests head back to their lodges for their evening meal, the night vision crew can stay out as the bush comes to life in the dark.

"The whole idea was to try and get closer in with nature," Londolozi owner Dave Varty said.

"With the night glasses you could see what the lions see because their nocturnal vision is so good."

Using a normal spotlight to view the animals in the dark upsets them and stops them acting naturally.

But with the night vision, they return to bush business as usual with no idea they are being watched.

It means that a hippopotamus which spent the heat of the day cooling off underwater ventures out to graze in the open unknowingly spied on by the nightvision crew.

Buffalo which would steer clear of humans in the full glare of daylight brush close-by the darkened vehicle snorting and blowing.

And lions which have spent the day lazing around digesting last night's victim begin to stir and roar as they ponder tonight's killing spree.

"Predators will get active very late in the evening," head ranger Chris Goodman explained.

"And with the night vision you can follow them and view them as they hunt and mark their territory."

It is not quite Dr Doolittle, but there is no doubt being in the bush when it comes alive at night, and being able to see and hear what is happening, does bring a whole new dimension to game viewing.

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