Yala National Park Safari Packages

Overview

Yala National Park is famous for having one of the highest leopard densities of any park in the world, alongside elephants, sloth bears and crocodiles. It sits in Sri Lanka's dry southeast, and its main block-one section is typically closed for an annual break in September.

What's included

Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle
Professional English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide
Fuel, Parking & Highway Tolls
Government Taxes
Yala National Park Entrance & Jeep Safari Fees
Meals as arranged

Highlights

One of the highest leopard densities of any national park in the world
Wild elephants, sloth bears, spotted deer and crocodiles
A private jeep with a tracker, not a shared seat
Dawn or late-afternoon game drives, when the animals move
Peacocks, painted storks, bee-eaters and the park’s lagoon birdlife
The option of Udawalawe instead, for reliable elephant herds

How the day runs

1

Before dawn: Into the park at opening

Jeeps line up at the gate before it opens. The first hour after sunrise is when leopards are most often on the tracks and the light is at its best, so the early start is not negotiable if you want the sightings.

Park gate at opening
Private jeep and tracker
The first light along the tank bunds

2

Morning: The game drive

Block one of Yala mixes scrub, rock outcrops and lagoons, which is what makes the wildlife so varied. Your tracker works the radio network and the waterholes: leopard, elephant, sloth bear, crocodile, buffalo, spotted deer and a long list of birds.

Leopard
Wild elephant
Sloth bear
Crocodiles at the waterholes
Spotted deer and sambar
Peacocks and the lagoon birdlife

3

Midday: Out of the park

The middle of the day is quiet for game viewing, so the drive ends late morning. Breakfast or lunch is taken outside the park.

Breakfast or lunch outside the park

4

Late afternoon: A second drive, if you want one

The afternoon session runs until the gates close at dusk and is a genuinely different drive, with the animals coming back to the water as the heat drops. Most people who have travelled a long way for a leopard take both sessions.

Afternoon game drive
The waterholes at dusk
Sunset over the park

Gallery

Good to know

Where it is: Sri Lanka’s dry south-east, roughly 300km from Colombo, five to six hours by road
Best as: An overnight rather than a day return from Colombo: the driving alone is 10–12 hours
Game drive times: Dawn until mid-morning, and late afternoon until the gates close
Annual closure: Block one normally closes for its annual break in September
The alternative: Udawalawe is closer, open all year and far more reliable for large elephant herds
Bring: Neutral clothing, a hat, sunglasses, a long lens if you have one, and something warm for the dawn start

Best time to go

February to July is the driest stretch, when the waterholes shrink and the animals concentrate around them. Those are the best leopard odds of the year. December to March is the most comfortable weather overall. Block one usually closes for its annual break in September; if your dates fall then, Udawalawe or Kumana is the answer and we will say so.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do Yala as a day trip from Colombo?

We would rather you did not. Yala is five to six hours from Colombo each way, so a same-day return means 10–12 hours in a vehicle for one game drive, arriving at the worst time of day for sightings. An overnight nearby costs little more and is a completely different experience.

Am I guaranteed to see a leopard?

No, and anyone who guarantees it is selling something. Yala has one of the highest leopard densities anywhere, which makes the odds good, particularly on a dawn drive in the dry months, but these are wild animals on their own schedule.

Is the jeep private?

Yes. You get your own jeep and tracker rather than a shared seat, which means you decide how long to sit at a sighting and are not moved on for someone else’s schedule.

Udawalawe or Yala: which should we choose?

Udawalawe if you want elephants: the herds there are large, resident and seen on nearly every drive, and it is closer to the coast. Yala if the leopard is what you came for, and you can accept that you might not see one.

Is Yala suitable for children?

Yes, and children generally love it, though the dawn start and several hours of rough track are a lot for very young ones. The afternoon drive is the gentler of the two if you are travelling with small children.

What if Yala is closed for its annual break?

Block one usually closes in September. Other blocks sometimes stay open, and Udawalawe and Kumana run all year. We will tell you what is actually open on your dates rather than sell you a closed park.