Originally Posted by
invisible
I am not sure about night drives and what can you see during these.
The same animals as on a sunset drive.
The difference is that night drives start later, which improves your chances of seeing strictly nocturnal animal, whose peak activity period starts an hour or two after sunset (there are exceptions, it varies from species to species).
There's also usually much less traffic on the roads compared to the sunset drive.
Yes, starting your drive at 7.15 a.m. is too late, unless it is a cloudy and cool day. There's are reason why camp gates (not the entry gates) open at 4.30 a.m. from November through January.
Your conclusion is therefore spot-on: hit the road as early as possible, especially in summer.
Your experiences at the entry gate don't sound like much fun. Something to be avoided, by the sound of it, certainly during school vacations.
Johan