Yala National Park Jeep Safari
Overview
Yala is Sri Lanka's best-known national park, about 979 square kilometres of scrub, lagoons, rocky outcrops and beaches on the south-east coast. It's famous for the Sri Lankan leopard, and its western section has one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. You're also likely to see elephants, water buffalo, crocodiles, spotted deer, peacocks and many other birds.
Choose a morning safari, leaving your hotel in the Tissamaharama area at around 5am to be at the gate when it opens, or an afternoon drive that ends as the light turns gold. You travel in an open 4x4 jeep with a driver-tracker, who knows the waterholes and listens for alarm calls that give away a leopard.
Sightings are never guaranteed, but February to July, when water is scarce and animals gather at the pools, is usually the most rewarding time.
Highlights
- Search for Sri Lankan leopards
- Elephants, buffalo and crocodiles
- Open 4x4 jeep with a driver-tracker
- Dawn or late-afternoon game drive
- Lagoons, dunes and rocky outcrops
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Tissamaharama and Yala area
- Private safari jeep with driver-tracker
- Bottled water
- National park entrance and tracker fees
- Breakfast or lunch
- Tips
Request this tour
Send us your dates and a SkyRay advisor will confirm availability and price.
Itinerary
Frequently asked questions
There's a good chance, but wildlife is never guaranteed. Your tracker will do everything to find one, and elephants and birds are seen on almost every drive.
The main section of Yala usually closes for a few weeks during the dry season, around September and October. We check the dates when you book.
Both are good. Mornings are cooler and animals are active early; afternoons end in beautiful light. A full-day safari is also possible.
