Date: 2026.05.02
Yala National Park is truly one of the best wildlife destinations in Sri Lanka, and our recent full day safari experience was unforgettable.
We arrived in Tissamaharama the night before and stayed near Yala National Park to start the safari early in the morning. Our experienced safari driver, Mr. Chamara, picked us up at 5.00 AM for the adventure. We were a group of 4 people, and the full day safari package cost only USD 70 per person, including:
- Yala National Park entrance tickets
- 4×4 safari jeep
- Experienced safari driver
- Breakfast and lunch
The first safari session started at 5.30 AM and continued until 12 noon. Early morning is definitely the best time for wildlife spotting. During this session, we saw many beautiful bird species and different animals while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the park.
Our main target was to see a leopard, and luckily around 8.28 AM (according to my camera time), we spotted a young leopard called “Sapu.” She was not fully grown yet, but incredibly beautiful. It was such a special moment for all of us.
Throughout the full day safari, we were lucky enough to see 5 leopards, including both male and female leopards. Thanks to Mr. Chamara’s experience and knowledge, we were always in the right places at the right times. He was very quick to respond to animal movements and knew exactly where to drive for the best sightings.
After lunch and a short rest, our second safari session started at 2.00 PM and continued until 6.00 PM.
During the afternoon safari, we saw:
- Sri Lankan Leopards
- Asian Elephants
- Sloth Bears
- Mugger Crocodiles
- Spotted Deer
- Wild Boar
- Grey Langur Monkeys
- Many different bird species
This was one of the best wildlife safari experiences we have ever had in Sri Lanka. Yala National Park is a paradise for wildlife lovers and photographers. Seeing leopards in their natural habitat was truly exciting and unforgettable.
We were highly satisfied with this safari experience and would highly recommend a full day safari at Yala National Park for anyone visiting Sri Lanka.