A Wildlife Guide to the Night Safari's Animals and Zones

Image Source

First things first, it’s good to note that your Night Safari tickets will come with a Guided Tram Ride. Lasting 40 minutes, the tram takes you through six geographical zones and gives commentary on the safari’s animals.

The animals in the park are kept in open-air enclosures which mimic their natural habitats. Keep your eyes peeled as the tram transports you from the Himalayan Foothills to the Indian Subcontinent. You might see exotic creatures such as Nile Hippos or spotted hyenas up close.

The main tram station is right next to the entrance, making the tram ride an ideal first activity.

Image Source

After the tram ride, head to the Fishing Cat Trail, one of the best walking trails in the Night Safari. Here, you can admire the fishing cat’s hunting skills. This crafty predator stalks fish by the water’s edge and disturbs the surface to imitate moving insects. When a fish swims to the surface looking for insect prey, the cat pounces.

Another unique creature you can find along the trail is the Sunda pangolin. The pangolin is an anteater-like mammal covered in hard keratin scales. It rolls up into a ball when threatened. Other interesting animals you might come across include the Himalayan tahr, barking deer, and Indian gharial.

Image Source

The end of the Fishing Cat Trail is connected to the Leopard Trail, which will be your next stop. The trail’s Clouded Leopards are one of the most ancient cat species. They can climb trees upside down by gripping the branches with sharp claws and using their tail to balance.

Watch out for the Gir lions, a species found only in India’s Gir forest. Gir lions rest 20 hours a day to conserve energy for hunting. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch them on the prowl.

Along the way, Malayan Flying foxes may glide past you. Don’t be alarmed — these flying foxes are frugivorous (meaning they only eat fruits) and won’t harm you.

Image Source

Accessible from the end of the Leopard Trail, the East Lodge Trail brings you into a magical forest where Africa meets Asia. You’ll see species from sub-Saharan Africa such as aardvarks and bongos alongside Malayan tigers and Sulawesi babirusa.

You may not have heard of bongos but you’ll surely be struck by their otherworldly appearance. These antelopes have gorgeous reddish-brown coats with white stripes and long spiralled horns.

Image Source

Venture down under at the Tasmanian Devil Trail, which is inspired by the habitats of Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. In this area, you can see the Tasmanian Devils, carnivorous marsupials known for their sinister growls. Other Night Safari animals here include wallabies, sugar gliders, and barn owls.

Image Source

The Night Safari has refreshed their Creatures of the Night presentation to include new species such as the Indian Crested Porcupine, Raccoon Dog, and Bearded Pig. The night show is held at the Night Safari Amphitheatre. Take a seat to watch animals display their natural talents and learn about the threats they face in the wild.

What are the Night Safari’s show times?

The Night Safari show time is at 7.30pm and 9pm daily, with an additional 10pm show time on Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays. You can start booking seats on the safari’s online portal two hours before each presentation.