Sri Lanka · YALA SAFARIS

The 15 Best Yala Safaris & Jeep Tours

192 tours  ·  from $5

Yala holds the densest leopard population on earth and the gate opens before six. These 15 compare the dawn runs, the half days and the full twelve hours on price, block, and whether lunch and park fees are inside the number.

Yala National Park Safari Tours: Morning/Evening/Full Day - Choosing between five, seven, and twelve hours
Evening Experiences, Full-Day, Hambantota Tours, Morning, National Parks, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yala Safaris, Yala Safaris in Hambantota

Yala National Park Safari Tours: Morning/Evening/Full Day

1.Yala National Park Safari Tours: Morning/Evening/Full Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 818 reviews · 5 - 12 hours · from $25Our pick

Choose a 7-hour morning safari with breakfast, a 5-hour evening drive, or a 12-hour full day with breakfast and lunch. Guides such as Ishan, Maduka, Darshana, and Madu track leopards, elephants, crocodiles, and birds from comfortable jeeps. Pickup covers Tissamaharama, Kataragama, Yala, Kirinda, and nearby areas. Park entry costs extra.

“We saw a group of elephants, several crocodiles, and even a leopard—all thanks to our driver and guide, Delanka. The only small downside was that the guide also had to drive, so he couldn’t explain everything as comprehensively as we would have liked. I think this tour would be even better with one dedicated driver and one dedicated guide for explanations.”

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Full day Safari - Yala National Park - 04.30 am to 06.00 pm with - Janaka safari - The 4:30 am pickup and first entry
Full-Day, National Parks, Safari, Tour Reviews, Yala Safaris

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

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 603 reviews · from $57Top rated

Start around 4:30 am for a full-day Yala National Park safari in a shared jeep of up to six people. Guides such as Su, Darshana, and Sudu know the park well and work hard to find leopards, sloth bears, elephants, and birds. Breakfast, lunch, water, and fruit are included, but the park fee is extra.

“The experience of the driver/guide to give us the best opportunity to see what we wanted Taking us of the main tracks added to our experience. Lunch and breakfast were great”

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ELLA: Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa/Galle & Yala Tour - Leaving Ella before sunrise
Ella Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yala Safaris, Yala Safaris in Ella

Ella: Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa/Galle & Yala Tour

3.Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa/Galle & Yala Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 518 reviews · 3 - 9 hours · from $10Best value

Leave Ella before dawn or at noon, ride a shared jeep through Yala for three hours, and look for leopards, elephants, crocodiles, sloth bears, buffaloes, monkeys, and birds. Guides such as Sasanka, Dilan, Ishan, and Chathura are praised for spotting wildlife and explaining what you see. Your air-conditioned transfer continues to Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Weligama, or Galle.

“Our safari was excellent and our guide Ishan make such an effort to make sure we got to see all the animals that were available including Leopards and Elephants!”

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Yala National Park: Half, 7-Hour, or Full-Day Safari & Meals - Choosing between a morning, afternoon, or full day
Full-Day, National Parks, Safari, Tour Reviews, Yala Safaris

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

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

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

Ride a 4WD jeep through Yala National Park with guides such as Ishan, Muthu, Dilan, and Sasanka. Choose a 4 to 12-hour safari, with sunrise and sunset departures, hotel pickup, and meals on selected options. Expect bumpy tracks, dusty roads, and real chances to see leopards, elephants, crocodiles, sloth bears, and hundreds of birds.

“was very friendly and knowledgeable. pick up was on time. the information we were sent in advance was very helpful. great value for money. we loved the trip!the guide”

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Yala National Park Wildlife Safari/ Game Drive - by Ajith Safari - Choosing between the morning and afternoon safari
National Parks, Safari, Tour Reviews, Wildlife, Yala Safaris

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

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

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

Ajith Safari takes you into Yala National Park by shared 4WD jeep, with morning, afternoon, 7-hour, and full-day choices. Guides such as Naja, Bale, Kasun, and Dilan have helped visitors find leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and birds. Hotel pickup, lunch on full-day trips, and bottled water are available, but park admission costs extra.

“Highly recommended, we enjoyed so much, on time and very helpful. The jeep driver showed us all the animals in yala national park and was very prompt. Must visit.”

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ELLA: Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa/Galle & Yala Tour - Leaving Ella before sunrise
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ELLA: Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa/Galle & Yala Tour

6.Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa/Galle & Yala Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 336 reviews · from $35

Travel from Ella, Haputale, or Bandarawela to Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Galle, and nearby towns, stopping at Yala National Park for a safari. Your air-conditioned transfer vehicle meets an open-sided jeep, with guides such as Sasanka, Tikiri, Muthu, and Yashara helping you spot wildlife. Expect a very long day, especially on morning departures.

“Sasanka was a great guide and showed us some great sights in Yala.”

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From Ella: Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa & Yala Safari - What the day may look like from Ella
Ella Tours, Safari, Tour Reviews, Yala Safaris, Yala Safaris in Ella

From Ella: Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa & Yala Safari

7.Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa & Yala Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 296 reviews · 4 - 10 hours · from $11

Combine your transfer from Ella with a roughly three-hour Yala National Park safari. An air-conditioned vehicle collects you in Ella, then a local jeep guide such as Sasanka, Dilan, or Ishan searches for elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, birds, and leopards before dropping you at Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Galle, or nearby towns.

“Sasanka was great- got us a leopard sighting and was very knowledgeable on everything- would recommend highly”

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Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park - What happens inside the park
Leopard Safaris, National Parks, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yala Safaris

Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park

8.Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park

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

Start early at Yala National Park and ride in a safari Jeep with a driver-guide such as Mudhu, Tikiri, or Rashandra. The focus is leopards, elephants, and sloth bears, with other animals explained after the morning golden hours. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and optional breakfast and lunch are available, but the park fee costs extra.

“The tour could give specific information earlier that we could enjoy our day more. But unfortunately they sent a location through e-mail but when clicked the link there was written that it’s untrusted site, I tried to continue to see further ‘which Read more”

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Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Tangalle: Yala Safari Tour - Choosing sunrise or a later safari
Hikkaduwa Tours, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yala Safaris, Yala Safaris in Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Tangalle: Yala Safari Tour

9.Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Tangalle: Yala Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 263 reviews · 9 hours · from $45

Travel by air-conditioned vehicle from Hikkaduwa, Galle, Weligama, Mirissa, or Tangalle to Yala National Park, then spend about three hours in a safari jeep. Guides such as Dilan, Sasanka, Chathura, and Tikiri are praised for spotting hidden animals and finding leopard sightings. Entrance fees cost extra.

“It was amazing! Our driver Tikiri, tried everything to make sure we saw all the animals, but sadly they were a bit scarce as it had rained a lot the night before. It is a truly amazing experience and highly recommended!”

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Full day / Half Day WildlifeAdventure in Yala-National-Park - The early-morning start and the park gate
Full-Day, Tour Reviews, Yala Safaris

Full day / Half Day WildlifeAdventure in Yala-National-Park

10.Full day / Half Day WildlifeAdventure in Yala-National-Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 258 reviews · from $42

Explore Yala National Park in a private 4WD with hotel pickup, a safari driver and tracker, bottled water, and a choice of half-day, standard full-day, or leopard-focused full-day trips. Look for leopards, elephants, sloth bears, buffalo, crocodiles, deer, and birds. Park entrance fees are paid separately.

“You will receive a confirmation email from the day before and a photo of your car to pick you up, so you can rest assured. It's early morning but you'll be picked up on time. The guide driver seemed very used to finding many animals. Unfortunately, we couldn't find the leopard because it was raining the night before, but the driver tried very hard to find it while keeping in touch with his fellow drivers. The car shakes a bit because of the rough road, but I experienced a great view.Auto-translated”

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Galle/Mirissa/Tangalle: Transfer to Ella & Yala Safari - The three-hour Yala safari
Galle Tours, Safari, Tour Reviews, Yala Safaris, Yala Safaris in Galle

Galle/Mirissa/Tangalle: Transfer to Ella & Yala Safari

11.Galle/Mirissa/Tangalle: Transfer to Ella & Yala Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 235 reviews · 4 - 9 hours · from $11

Travel door to door from Galle, Mirissa, Tangalle, or nearby coastal towns to Ella, with a 3-hour open-jeep safari in Yala National Park. Guides such as Dilan, Sasanka, Ishan, and Tikiri are praised for spotting wildlife. The park fee is extra, and sightings are never guaranteed.

“Ishan is the best guide ever. It’s was very good experience, we saw all animals, so I am very happy. Thank you so much”

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From Ella: Yala Safari with Tangalle/Mirissa/Galle Drop-off - The pre-dawn pickup from Ella
Ella Tours, Safari, Tour Reviews, Yala Safaris, Yala Safaris in Ella

From Ella: Yala Safari with Tangalle/Mirissa/Galle Drop-off

12.Yala Safari with Tangalle/Mirissa/Galle Drop-off

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 198 reviews · 9 hours · from $10

Travel from Ella to Yala National Park by air-conditioned car, spend about four hours on a guided 4x4 safari, then continue to Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Unawatuna, or Galle. Guides such as Isuru and Kavee are praised for spotting wildlife, while the direct transfer saves you a separate travel day.

“Everything is well arranged. just hoping the minibus could be upgraded, especially the front seat, because the tour is quite long and starts in early morning. Anyway, the guide Chutte really bring us excellent experiences, will recommend to friends!”

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Special Leopards safari - Yala National park - 04.30 am to 11.30 am - Leaving Tissamaharama or Kataragama
Leopard Safaris, National Parks, Safari, Tour Reviews, Yala Safaris

Special leopards safari Yala National park – 04.30 am to 11.30 am

13.Special leopards safari Yala National park – 04.30 am to 11.30 am

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · from $36

Meet early for a small-group Yala safari from 4:30 to 11:30 am. Your driver, possibly IG, Suthu, or Janaka, takes you through the park in search of leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer, and birds. A luxury jeep, binoculars, water, and breakfast are included. The park entry fee is extra.

“Great experience, our driver picked us up right on time and got us to the gate very early in the queue On entering the park we saw a leopard almost immediately, and then some elephants with a baby. We drove for awhile , seeing many of Read more”

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Yala National Park Safari Tours - Half Day & Full Day - The 5-hour half-day safari
Full-Day, Hambantota Tours, National Parks, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yala Safaris, Yala Safaris in Hambantota

Yala National Park Safari Tours : Half Day & Full Day

14.Yala National Park Safari Tours : Half Day & Full Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 161 reviews · 6 - 12 hours · from $25

Choose a morning, afternoon, or full-day 4WD safari in Yala National Park from $25 per person. Guides such as Ishan, Madu, Darshana, and Yasanka help spot leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and birds. Hotel pickup, drinks, binoculars, and selected meals are included, but park entry costs extra.

“Fantastic afternoon safari. Very well organised from start to finish. Tuktuk service provided to take me to and from the safari jeep from my hotel. Drinks provided. The driver for my safari, Yasanka, was amazing - had a brilliant eye for spotting the animals, was friendly and helpful, and he made the tour extra special. I would definitely recommend! Many thanks!”

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From Ella: Yala National Park Safari Tour in a 4x4 - Leaving Ella before dawn
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From Ella: Yala National Park Safari Tour in a 4×4

15.Yala National Park Safari Tour in a 4×4

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 155 reviews · 8 hours · from $49

Leave Ella before sunrise for a private trip to Yala National Park. An air-conditioned transfer takes you to the park, where guides such as Sasanka, Dilan, Muthu, and Tikiri search for leopards, elephants, crocodiles, birds, and more from a sturdy 4x4. The advertised price is $49, but the park entrance fee is extra and payable in Sri Lankan rupees.

“Tikiri was a great guide. We saw 3 leopards, Elephants, Crocodiles and water buffalos. The Ride was a bit rough but so funny and just driving around in that beautiful Nature was perfect.”

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New in Yala Safaris

★ 5.0Morning 07 Hour Private Safari at Yala National Park by Yala La Safari ToursFrom $944 reviews
★ 5.0Yala Camping by Ajith Safari All InclusiveFrom $5908 reviews
★ 5.0Yala Safari – Yala National Park3 reviews
★ 5.0Yala National Park special Half-Day & Full-Day Safari AdventureFrom $3527 reviews
★ 5.0Yala National Park Private Safari TourFrom $895 reviews
★ 5.0Yala National park: Half day & Full Day & Private – Safari ToursFrom $224 reviews
★ 5.0Sri Lanka Yala Wildlife Safari ToursFrom $255 reviews
★ 5.0Yala National Park Safari – Half day and Full dayFrom $2044 reviews
★ 5.0Yala National Park Private SafariFrom $1065 reviews
★ 5.0Yala National Park | Private SafariFrom $385 reviews
★ 4.5Yala National Park Morning or Afternoon Leopard SafariFrom $189 reviews
★ 5.0Best Value Yala Safari: Spot Leopards, Elephants & Bears (Shared)From $2013 reviews
★ 5.0Yala National Park Guided SafarisFrom $2353 reviews
★ 5.0Private Yala Safari & Transfer/Tangalle/Mirissa/GallaFrom $7812 reviews
★ 3.0Yala National Park Entrance Ticket with Private SafariFrom $474 reviews

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