Southern & Uva Provinces · Sri Lanka
Yala National Park
Safari Guide
Leopards, elephant herds and a wild coastline in Sri Lanka’s best-known national park. Choose your safari session, then book locally or from Colombo.
About the park
Leopard country
on the south-east coast
Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most famous wildlife park, on the south-east coast near Tissamaharama and Kirinda. Its main block has one of the highest densities of leopards in the world, in a landscape of dry scrub jungle, rocky outcrops, lagoons and wild beaches.
Book a Yala safari: US$60 per jeep for a half day, or US$120 for a full day with a meal and beverages. Alongside leopards, Yala is home to elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, water buffalo and more than 200 species of birds. A private jeep with an experienced tracker gives you the freedom to wait patiently at a sighting, and staying a night nearby means you can be at the gate when it opens.
Comparing parks? See our guide to national parks in Sri Lanka, or browse our private safari tours in Sri Lanka.
Inside the park
How Yala
is laid out
Yala covers almost 1,000 square kilometres, but visitors only see part of it. The park is divided into blocks, each with its own entrance and network of sandy tracks, and the coastline runs along its southern edge.
Block 1
The most visited part of the park, with tracks winding between lagoons and rocky outcrops. It has the best record for leopard sightings, and the most jeeps in peak season.
Quieter blocks
Other blocks see far fewer visitors. Sightings can take more patience, but you will often have them to yourself. Ask us if you prefer a quieter safari.
The coastline
The park meets the Indian Ocean at Patanangala, a rocky beach used as a rest stop, where a memorial remembers the 2004 tsunami.
Animals to look for
Big cats, big herds
and quiet lagoons
The Yala leopard
Yala’s big cats are often seen resting on rocks or in trees, especially in the dry months from February to July.
Herds and sloth bears
Herds of elephants roam the scrub, and sloth bears come out to feed on palu fruit around June.
Lagoon life
Crocodiles, painted storks, peacocks and eagles gather around the lagoons and water holes.
Safari times
Choose your
safari session
The park is usually open from about 6 am to 6 pm. Each session is in your own private jeep with an experienced tracker.
6:00 – 11:30 amMorning
Morning safari
The most popular session. Leopards and bears are most active in the cool of the early morning.
2:00 – 6:00 pmAfternoon
Afternoon safari
Golden light and active animals as the heat fades. Ideal if you arrive in Yala around midday.
6:00 am – 6:00 pmFull day · our pick
Full-day safari
The best chance of leopards. A full day in the park, reaching the quieter areas, with a meal and beverages included.
Yala’s main block usually closes for part of September and early October. Times are approximate, and we confirm everything when you book.
Booking options
Three ways to
book your Yala safari
Every safari is private, with hotel pickup and an itemised quote. Pick the option that fits where you are staying, then message us on WhatsApp.
01
US$60 half day
US$120 full day
Per jeep · 1–6 people · full day includes a meal and beverages · park tickets extra
Local Yala safari
Our private Yala safari tour includes your 4×4 jeep and driver, with pickup from your hotel. Park entrance tickets are paid at the gate.
- Pickup from hotels in Tissamaharama, Kirinda and around Yala
- Choose a dawn, sunset or all-day session
- Experienced local tracker in your jeep
02
From US$160
Car 1–3 people US$160 · van 4–7 people US$230 · jeep and tickets extra
Yala tours from Colombo
Three ways to see Yala from Colombo or Negombo:
- Day tour – leave early on the Southern Expressway, enjoy an afternoon safari and return the same night.
- 1 night near Yala – afternoon safari, a hotel near Tissamaharama, then a morning safari the next day.
- Yala camping – spend the night at a safari camp on the edge of the park, with safaris in the evening and at sunrise.
03
Price on request
Pickup anywhere in Sri Lanka
Pickup from your hotel
Coming from Ella, Udawalawe, Mirissa, Galle or anywhere on your route? Tell us your hotel and dates and we will plan the transfer and safari.
- Pickup from your hotel on the way
- Combine with Udawalawe or Bundala in one of our Sri Lanka safari packages
- Add a night near the park if you wish
Park tickets are charged per person, plus vehicle fees and taxes, and are listed separately in your quote. Pay on the day of the tour or in full in advance. Free cancellation until 24 hours before pickup.
Around Yala
Worth adding
to your trip
Between safaris, there is plenty to see around Tissamaharama. Kataragama, one of the island’s most important pilgrimage towns, is about 30 minutes away, and the beaches of the south coast are close by.
Kirinda
A quiet fishing village with a golden beach, big granite boulders and a small temple on the rocks, close to the Yala entrance.
Sithulpawwa
An ancient Buddhist rock monastery more than 2,000 years old, set among the forest and boulders of the Yala area.
Bundala
Lagoons and salt pans full of waterbirds, a short drive west. An easy half-day add-on to your Yala safari. Bundala National Park guide
Where to stay
Bases for
your Yala safari
Tissamaharama
The main base for Yala, about 30–40 minutes from the gate, with hotels and guesthouses for every budget around the old Tissa Wewa lake.
Kirinda & the coast
Quiet beach hotels close to the Palatupana entrance, ideal if you want an early start and the sound of the sea.
Safari camps
Tented camps on the edge of the park for a night close to the wild, with an evening drive and a sunrise safari.
We can book your hotel or safari camp as part of your trip, or arrange pickup from wherever you are staying.
Travel tips
Make the most
of your safari
Start early
Gates open around 6 am. The first hours of the day bring the best light and the most active wildlife.
Check the season
The main block usually closes for part of September and early October. We will suggest another park if your dates fall then.
Pack light
Neutral clothes, a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and a zoom lens. Dawn drives in an open jeep can feel cool.
Wildlife first
Stay in the jeep, keep voices low and never feed animals. A patient, quiet jeep usually sees the most.
FAQs
Your Yala questions
When is the best time to visit Yala National Park?
February to July is the best time, when the dry weather brings animals out to the water holes. The main block usually closes for part of September and early October.
What are my chances of seeing a leopard in Yala?
Good, especially on a full-day safari in the dry months, but leopards are wild animals and no one can promise a sighting.
Is a morning or afternoon safari better in Yala?
Both are good. Mornings are best for leopards and bears, afternoons have lovely light, and a full day gives you the most time in the park.
How far is Yala from Colombo?
About 5 hours by road via the Southern Expressway. We run Yala day tours from Colombo, or you can stay one night near the park or at a Yala safari camp.
Is a Yala safari suitable for children?
Yes. Children usually love a safari. A morning or afternoon session is a comfortable length for younger children, and we can bring child seats for the drive to the park on request.
What should I wear on a Yala safari?
Light, neutral-coloured clothes, a hat and sunglasses. Bring a light jacket for the early morning, as an open jeep can feel cool before sunrise, plus sunscreen and water.
Can I combine Yala with Udawalawe or Bundala?
Yes. Udawalawe is about 2 hours away and Bundala about 30 minutes, so many travellers do an elephant safari in Udawalawe on the way and add Bundala for birds.
Can NH Lanka Holidays arrange a private trip to Yala?
Yes. NH Lanka Holidays is a licensed, Sri Lankan-owned tour operator based in Negombo. We arrange the jeep, park tickets and hotel pickup, or include Yala in a longer private tour. You can pay on the day of the tour or in full in advance, and cancellation is free until 24 hours before pickup.
Nearby: Bundala National Park · Udawalawe National Park · Kumana National Park · All national parks in Sri Lanka
Ready when you are
Plan your Yala safari
with local experts
Tell us your dates and where you are staying. Our Negombo-based team will reply within 24 hours.