DESTINATION · YALA NATIONAL PARK SAFARIS

Where to Book Yala National Park Safaris — Our Top 10

10 safaris  ·  from $14 a head

A trip has one free morning too few. These 10 yala national park safaris earn the slot, priced and timed so you can decide over breakfast and get back to the map.

Full day Safari - Yala National Park - 04.30 am to 06.00 pm with - Janaka safari - The wider cast of Yala wildlife
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Full day Safari – Yala National Park – 04.30 am to 06.00 pm with – Janaka safari

1.Full day Safari – Yala National Park – 04.30 am to 06.00 pm with – Janaka safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 603 reviews · from $57Our pick

Start at 4:30 am and spend about 12 hours exploring Yala National Park in a safari jeep shared by up to six people. Guides such as Su, Sudu, Darshana, and Sri Mal know the park well and work hard to find leopards, elephants, sloth bears, buffalo, crocodiles, and birds. Breakfast, lunch, fruit, and water are included, but the park entry fee is extra.

“A full day tour was great choice. We got to see a leapord in the morning, which our driver Ish spotted from at least a 100ms distance, and then a few elephants in the afternoon. In between we got to see lots of different animals, everything from waterbuffalos and warthogs down to critters such as kingfishers, mungos and different eagles. He did everything he could to make sure we were happy and satisfied.”

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Yala National Park: Half, 7-Hour, or Full-Day Safari & Meals - From your hotel to the park gate
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Yala National Park: Half, 7-Hour, or Full-Day Safari & Meals

2.Yala National Park: Half, 7-Hour, or Full-Day Safari & Meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 489 reviews · 4 - 12 hours · from $14Best value

Take a 4WD Jeep into Yala National Park with an English or Sinhala-speaking guide such as Ishan, Muthu, Dilan, or Tikiri. Choose a 4 to 12-hour safari, with hotel pickup, wildlife drives, and meals on selected options. Expect rough tracks, dusty roads, and a real chance of seeing leopards, elephants, crocodiles, birds, and sloth bears.

“Amazing experience. We got to see the leopards close. Plus lots of other animals. Nalaka was such a good driver and guide.”

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Yala National Park Wildlife Safari/ Game Drive - by Ajith Safari - Morning safari: cold air and the best start
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Yala National Park Wildlife Safari/ Game Drive – by Ajith Safari

3.Yala National Park Wildlife Safari/ Game Drive – by Ajith Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 351 reviews · from $18

Join Ajith Safari Jeep Tours in Yala for a 4 to 14-hour game drive in a shared jeep holding up to six people. Choose morning, afternoon, seven-hour, or full-day timing. Guides such as Naja, Kasun, Bale, and Dilan are praised for finding leopards, elephants, sloth bears, and quieter tracks.

“Kanaka was an excellent driver and we saw a family of elephants which was very surreal. Highly recommended!”

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Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park - The full-day option and its long pause
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Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park

4.Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 281 reviews · from $20

Join Shehan Safari for an early-morning or full-day Yala National Park drive in a shared jeep of up to six people. Hotel pickup, a driver-guide, and wildlife spotting are included. Leopards, elephants, and sloth bears are the main targets, with optional breakfast and lunch. Guides such as Tikiri, Mudhu, and Rashandra have earned particular praise.

“I accidentally booked for the spring day but they were very accomodating in letting us change. The driver arrived early and we were the first ones. He was early getting us to the safari gate as well. He had a Toyota hilux which could navigate Read more”

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Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Galle: Shuttle to Ella with Yala Safari - The 3 a.m. pickup from Hiriketiya and Tangalle
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Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Galle: Shuttle to Ella with Yala Safari

5.Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Galle: Shuttle to Ella with Yala Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 109 reviews · from $30

Travel from Galle, Unawatuna, Ahangama, Koggala, Weligama, Mirissa, Matara, Thalalla, Tangalle, or Hiriketiya to Ella with a Yala National Park safari on the way. Expect an early pickup, an open-topped jeep, wildlife such as elephants and crocodiles, and guides including Sasanka, Yasha, Tikiri, or Mudhu. Park fees and food cost extra.

“Had a really nice trip our driver sasanga is a really experienced driver he was so ambitious. And always knew the names of the animals. We saw some elephants a leopard amd lots of other animals. I’m very happy with the trip.”

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Leopard Safari in Yala National Park(Full Day/Half A Day) - Key points before you book
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Leopard Safari in Yala National Park(Full Day/Half A Day)

6.Leopard Safari in Yala National Park(Full Day/Half A Day)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · from $22

Set out from Tissamaharama, Yala, or Kirinda in a private open-top 4WD with an experienced driver who also tracks wildlife. Choose a 5-hour, 7-hour, or full-day drive. Early starts offer the best chance of seeing leopards, elephants, and the rare sloth bear. Ranga and Amila are among the named guides.

“We had an amazing day with Amila! He was so accommodating and worked hard to find all the animals. We saw a leopard and a sloth bear, which is the most rare animal in the park! 4:30 am pick up is early, but worth it. We did the full day tour and honestly, I think that jusRead more”

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Yala National Park Special Leopard Safari Tours By Dinuka Safari

7.Yala National Park Special Leopard Safari Tours By Dinuka Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · from $22

Spend up to 12 hours exploring Yala National Park with Dinuka Safari, led by drivers such as Ishan or Dilanka. Expect a six-person jeep, hotel pickup and drop-off, binoculars, and time to search for leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, birds, and more. Park entry costs extra.

“Very flexible and quick to deal with (e.g. regarding the pick-up location). We went on a full-day safari with my family, so there was plenty of time to look for different animals. We were lucky to spot a leopard at the beginning, but each of the many species of animals in Yala is worth seeing. The driver tried to make sure we didn't miss anything.”

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From Ella: Yala National Park Jeep Safari Tour - The morning pickup from Ella or Hali-ela
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From Ella: Yala National Park Jeep Safari Tour

8.Yala National Park Jeep Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 25 reviews · 10 hours · from $75

Travel from Ella or Hali-ela in an air-conditioned vehicle, then take a four-hour afternoon jeep safari through Yala National Park. Your English, Tamil, or Sinhala-speaking driver helps spot elephants, leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer, and birds. Park fees, lunch, snacks, and drinks cost extra.

“Great day trip to Yalla Nat Park. But from Ella return, makes for many hours on the roaf”

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Galle/Unawatuna/Weligama/Mirissa: Yala National Park Safari - Entering Yala at sunrise
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Galle/Unawatuna/Weligama/Mirissa: Yala National Park Safari

9.Galle/Unawatuna/Weligama/Mirissa: Yala National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 25 reviews · 8 hours · from $83

This eight-hour Yala National Park trip includes hotel pickup, a private air-conditioned ride, highway tolls, an English-speaking guide, and a Jeep safari. You will search for leopards, elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, birds, and other wildlife. Park entry costs about $40 extra per person, and early starts offer the best chance of a quieter drive.

“The safari was incredible, made especially good by our jeep driver, Pradeep, he was so knowledgeable and was so determined to find a leopard for us, which we did! He was hidden away in the bushes but we still saw him. As well as a elephant, who came up so close to our jeep, you could see how happy Pradeep was for us, he really did make our experience special. Our drive to and from Weligama, was pretty slow, we did go on the toll roads but not sure our driver went out of 4th gear! However, it was still only 2 hours 40 minutes with a stop, which we…”

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Tangalle/Hiriketiya: Yala National Park Safari in a 4x4 - From your hotel to the Yala entrance
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Tangalle/Hiriketiya: Yala National Park Safari in a 4×4

10.Tangalle/Hiriketiya: Yala National Park Safari in a 4×4

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 7 hours · from $41

Start with hotel pickup around Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Thalalla, or nearby coastal towns, then ride to Ruhunu Yala National Park for a seven-hour 4x4 safari. Guides such as Dilan and Sasanka are praised for spotting wildlife. Expect elephants, leopards, crocodiles, buffalo, birds, and a cash entrance fee of about $40 per person.

“Dilan was a very good tour guide and made sure to stop at every chance to be able to see the wildlife on the safari would highly”

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