Plain nightjar

In the heart of Grumeti, as the sun begins to set and the sky turns golden, there’s a quiet, magical moment that happens almost every evening. After a full day of exciting game drives, when the vehicles slowly make their way back along the dusty roads, something special begins to unfold.

At first, it’s easy to miss. As the light fades, the plain nightjar (Caprimulgus inornatus), a bird that blends almost perfectly with the landscape, starts to appear. Its feathers are plain, shades of brown, grey, and rufous, that help it melt into the surroundings. It’s a medium-sized bird, not flashy like some others, but incredibly well camouflaged in the dimming light. Many times, visitors to Grumeti mistake it for another bird, like the square-tailed nightjar. It’s not easy to tell them apart, especially in the evening light, but if you look closely, you’ll see the small pale mark on its wings, the mostly white outer tail, distinctive features that set the plain nightjar apart.

This bird is often seen on the roads just after sunset, where the warmth from the day still lingers in the ground. The heat from the road feels good to the nightjar, and it’s also a perfect place to hunt.

As dusk settles into night, the nightjar begins to hunt for insects, swooping low across the road, its wings moving gracefully through the air. The stillness of the evening is filled with the soft, rhythmic calls of the bird, as if it’s signalling that the night has arrived.

The best time to spot the plain nightjar is right after the game drives have ended. It’s a time when the roads are quiet, the air is cooling, and the landscape is painted with the colours of twilight. The nightjar comes out to enjoy the warmth left by the sun, and for a few moments, the evening feels timeless and peaceful.

It’s a bird that’s easy to overlook if you’re not paying attention, but once you spot it, it becomes a special part of the Grumeti experience. It’s the quiet end to a day filled with adventure and wonder, a reminder of the hidden beauty that exists in this vast, wild land.