There’s a night safari journey at the Bali Safari Park but is it an unforgettable experience for the right reasons? And will your nighttime adventure make you glad that you paid a visit to Taman Safari, Bali?
We take a close look at the safari experience and explain what you can expect and whether the Safari park delivers on the promise of wildlife conservation combined with nocturnal animals or not.
Where Is The Night Safari?
The Bali Safari Park or Taman Safari Bali or Bali Safari And Marine Park as it’s variously known is in Blahbutuh in the Gianyar Regency.
That’s a relatively short drive from Denpasar and an hour to an hour and a half from the beach towns of Canggu, Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak, it’s a slightly shorter driver from Ubud.
Address: Lebih, Blahbatuh, Gianyar Regency, Bali 80515, Indonesia
Online: Taman Safari Bali
How To Get To The Night Safari
The best way to get to the night safari is probably a Grab or Gojek ride, however, you may find that it’s impossible to get home from the night safari after it finishes if you haven’t arranged a return trip with the driver.
Many people decide if they’re going on the night safari at Bali then they will rent a private car and driver for the day which is cost-effective (roughly 500,000 IDR/$35 USD/$50 AUD for car, driver and petrol) and means that you can see other attractions before arriving at the Bali Safari Park.
What’s The Best Time To Visit The Night Safari?
There’s no bad time to visit Bali or to enjoy the night safari. You’ll be under shelter for the majority of your time at Taman Safari Bali, so if it does rain, your nighttime adventure will still be an unforgettable experience for all the right reasons.
Is There An Entrance Fee For The Night Safari Journey?
Yes, there is a ticket fee for the Night Safari and it’s 500,000 IDR ($35 USD or $50 AUD) per person for locals or expats with a KITAS/KITAP and 1,100,000 IDR ($70 USD or $110 AUD) per person for foreigners.
There is also an option for a premium version of the night safari which costs an extra 400,000 IDR ($30 USD or $40 AUD) over the standard entry fee.
The Night Safari Package
The fee includes a welcome drink, the walking safari, a night safari journey (in a specially designed caged tram), dinner and attendance at the African Rhythm of Fire Dance Show.
The premium fee entitles you to attend an event where you hand feed animals including tigers, an upgraded dinner that includes four courses and a cocktail, and a photo with an unspecified animal (you will not be given access to vulnerable endangered species or dangerous species so there won’t be a photo with a Sumatran tiger, for example).
However, as the dinner on this ticket takes place in a different area of the night safari, you won’t be able to enjoy the fire show if you upgrade.
What To Expect At The Night Safari
This is more than just a safari according to the organizers and you will enjoy a walking safari among small nocturnal animals before being allowed to see the majority of the animals at the Bali Safari and Marine Park in their natural environment (this is a tram ride).
You can see everything from Sumatran elephants to lions and tigers enjoy the night time. The park represents an educational experience that helps to fund its conservation efforts and it has won several awards for good standards and the quality of the overall experiences.
However, don’t get too excited by the included BBQ dinner buffet, that’s the typical kind of tourist buffet you can get on any coach trip and the food isn’t great.
Where To Stay Near The Night Safari
You can actually stay in Taman Safari Bali at the African-themed Mara River Safari Lodge hotel. If you want an unforgettable adventure where you wake up and can see wild animals directly from your bedroom, then this is a great place to stay.
However, it’s a long way from the night life of Bali and you probably wouldn’t want to stay here for the whole of a Bali holiday.
There are some other nice hotels nearby too and they include:
Komaneka at Keramas Beach – these huge beachfront villas are an amazing place to stay with ocean views from the bedrooms!
Desa Swan Villas & Spa – this amazing luxury villa complex has shuttle buses to the safari and marine park and one of the best spas for massage on the island.
Rumah Luwih Bali – a very relaxed, colonial building with high-quality bedrooms. You can be sure of an ocean view and the gentle sound of the waves every day.
Vision Villa Resort – an oddly, business-like establishment that delivers very good value for money but without very many family-friendly frills.
Wyndham Tamansari Jivva Resort – an extraordinarily attractive resort with a stunning entranceway. They have a very pleasant outdoor dining area.
Where To Eat Near The Night Safari
There are some nice restaurants in the Bali Safari and Marine Park including:
Tsavo Lion Restaurant – this takes place next to the African Savannah zone of the park and you can see a thousand amazing animals while you eat, including the pride of lions that live nearby. Amusingly, they offer a vegan option but the lions won’t be partaking of it.
Nkuchiro Restaurant – if you’re in the mood for a BBQ dinner or an elegant afternoon tea or even a breakfast with giraffes, this is a great place to eat.
Uma Restaurant – this pleasant Asian village-themed restaurant doesn’t offer the thrilling experience of animals at the dining table but they do have vegetarian options and can even prepare food to order if given advance notice.
You can also find some great places to eat around the Bali Safari And Marine Park including:
Swan Restaurant Keramas – an excellent Balinese restaurant with an ocean view and amazing customer service. The fish is all fresh catch of the day and the sunset is spectacular here.
Andrawina Restaurant – a fabulous place with a lovely view and offers access to a private swimming pool. We go for Sunday Brunch occasionally and it’s great value for money.
Breman Bar & Restaurant – an interesting place that combines European and South American culinary styles. The beer is a bit expensive but the food is excellent.
FAQs
Is Bali Night Safari Worth It?
Yes. This Bali safari is entertaining and pleasant and while we would argue animals are always better off in the wild, here they live as they would in the wild.
What Time Is The Night Safari In Bali?
This Bali safari begins at 6 p.m. and takes place during the night time. The walking safari is closed to new arrivals at 7.15 p.m. The night safari closes at 9 p.m.
Yes, the Bali Safari and Marine Park is recognized for its ethical treatment of animals.
Final Thoughts On The Night Safari
If you’re in the mood for an educational experience where you can witness a range of animals at close range in a pseudo-wilderness modelled on their own habitats at night, then you will enjoy the night safari.
As always, we’d prefer that animals in Bali could be in their natural habitat, but conservation efforts like these are important to ensuring the future of wildlife on our planet.
