Optimal timing for 'nighttime' safari at AK

[scrapquitler]

Planning for an evening safari at AK on Sunday 3/26. Google says that sunset that day is at 7:40PM. What is the optimal time to play to ride the safari, before that, after that or as close to that time as possible??

 

[Robo]

Planning for an evening safari at AK on Sunday 3/26. Google says that sunset that day is at 7:40PM. What is the optimal time to play to ride the safari, before that, after that or as close to that time as possible??

Since "Sunset" is actually about 30 minutes before "darkness," I'd plan to board the ride somewhere around 7:30-7:45.

 

[maryj11]

I would go with 7:30

 

[cigar95]

I had a couple really good safaris in late January right at dusk, which is just a little after the time of the "official" sunset. That seems to be when the switchover happens. The animal activity on the savanna was unlike anything I've ever seen in the daytime. (But the forest section seemed almost abandoned.)
The "permanent twilight" effect (is that the correct name?) worked really well at that point, whereas in a fuller darkness I would think it would just look fake.

 

[scrapquitler]

Thank you all! I made our FP for 7:10, so we will probably get in line somewhere around 7:30 and hope for an optimal experience. I'm looking forward to this very much because in all the dozens of times we've done the safari, we haven't done the nighttime one yet. And I think I've got a good grasp what the permanent twilight will look like, since I'm assuming it's the same affect they do at AKL.