Yala National Park Wildlife Safari/ Game Drive - By Ajith Safari

Amazing full day safari in the Yala Park! Hishan was our driver and he showed us to know the park very well! He managed to show us the complete list of animals: Leopards (twice), a sloth bear with two cups, 10ish elephants, crocodiles, buffalos, deer and many more! I’d recommend the full day safari, as it includes lunch on the beach location in the park ;).

Terrible experience, don’t book here!! Although the communication beforehand was good, the trip and service during the safari were a complete shock. The driver/guide didn’t bother talk to us or explain anything. He just kept driving up and down the busy main road without a plan. There seemed to be no joy or passion and no intention to find animals the park is known for what so ever. Furthermore, we booked the 7 hour safari. Ofcourse we took into account the time to drive to the park. But we spent a maximum of 3:15 hours in the park, including a 30 minute stop to eat. In my opinion not even close to delivering what was promised. The nature of the Yala park and the animals we did see were magical. So I do recommend visiting the park, but find another safari operator.

My trip supposed to include hotel pick up but was only informed the day before that if they picked me up will be another $50 USD. Why was I not informed weeks ago? Would have cancelled. Another issue was that the park office board showed a much cheaper entry fee then this company charged me almost 40 % more. I did speak to the owner and apparently the park officials did not update the entry fee poster although I sent him photos . I did ask for a receipt copy to confirm the paid fee but it was given away to the entry officer ?? Really Not happy how this ended. Best is to clarify chargers before and they should offer a receipt copy so no false accusations can be offered. However the driver was pleasant and really tried to find us a leapord which we missed out on. Would like trip advisors opinion and investigation please

Dylan was very dedicated to show and find us the leopard which we did in the end!! It was a great day.

We were quite disappointed with the early morning safari experience. We had to wake up and be ready for pickup at around 5:00 am, so we were really looking forward to seeing some wildlife. Unfortunately, during the safari we did not manage to see any elephants, leopards, or alligators. We did see some deer, monkeys, and a variety of birds, which was enjoyable, but overall the experience was somewhat disappointing. Given the very early start and the time spent on the tour, we felt that it did not quite live up to our expectations and, unfortunately, felt that much of our time was wasted.

We went on a full day safari drive with our driver Niro who is an exceptional driver. He made sure we were the first at the entrance of the park to ensure sighting of the leopard. He speaks confidently and shows great knowledge of the wildlife in the park. We had a lovely packed breakfast, snacks and cold drinks for the day. We saw the leopard twice in one day because of Niro's skilled driving and communication with the other drivers. We highly recommend this safari.

Although we didn’t see any leapards we found the three hour safari amazing. The guide pointed out so much we wouldn’t have even noticed. We were picked up at 4am to avoid the overpowering mid morning heat. All admission costs were in the overall cost of our excursion.

very memorable trip i'v ever seen and good service that wild range crew

Professional company and our safari driver was brilliant identifying different species Went over the allocated time as he wanted to make sure we saw as much as we could Saw 1 very well hidden leopard and lots of bird species, deer, crocodile, few elephants, peacocks, water buffaloes Bush safari so different to the Sigirya elephant safaris. Worth the visit

I joined the safari tour and got to see elephants, crocodiles, and rabbits. Although we couldn't see any leopards, our tour guide, Muthu, worked really hard to help us find the animals. It was a great experience!

Tikiri was our guide! He was awesome, made sure that we saw the leopards, elephants, deer and crocodiles. Good tour- good guide, would recommend.

Yala national park tour was a very fun and we see the leopard jeep and guide very good thanks for everything

Our journey was really good. I am really happy with it. We saw many animals, also elephants, leopard. Our driver, Dilan was amazing. He is the best. Thank you for this experience🥰

Wow it was a fantastic day that will memorable for lifetime. Our guide was exceptional he was well knowledgeable about the park and the first sighting on the day was a leopard. That was a remarkable experience and we will definitely back to Sri Lanka and Yala next year.

We had an amazing guide, his name was Tikiri. He was kind, and made every effort to make us feel comfortable and happy! During the safari, he pursued places that he knew had interesting animals. Thanks to him, we saw tigers, elephants, buffalo, crocodiles. An excellent experience! Highly recommended

Bucket list adventure. Best place to see the leopards in the world. We highly recommend this tour and we enjoyed a lot.

Wonderful Tour. Our tour guide Bale was really good. We were able to see many elephants and leopards, very good at pointing them out and getting us to a great place to get a clear visual. Highly recommend!

Great experience Elephants as many as you can wish , beautiful encounter with e leopard Special thanks to our wonderful guide Dylan Greetings from Belgium

We stayed for 3 days at Varahana Bungalow. Ideal to stay inside the park because best sightings are early morning and late evening. Positives - location of bungalow, excellent service, fab jeep driver Theekshana hired privately (0778130444) - he may not be fluent in English. Negatives - frogs inside washrooms (for the squeamish) , bad time because of Pada Yatra pilgrimage where many thousands walk across jungle causing animals to relocate away from this area. Dusty because of drought. Animals tend to be inside thick jungle because of the heat.

Fantastic company very reliable, they respond every time you message them. They arrive on time , keep in contact with you fantastic safari of yala and also udawalawe park. Suresh was our guide he was brilliant and great fun, the driver was Bale we seen so many animals. This is a really trustworthy company definitely worth booking with .

We did 3 safaris on our Sr Lanka trip and this one was probably the least value for money. The driver drive like a madman both in and out of the park. Felt like we were trining to come first in a race.

The car was perfect on time and it was a nice jeep. The driver was very good at spotting animals. We would have liked that he spoke better english so that we could get an explanation of the animals and the park.

The driver was professional but didn’t take us through the whole park. We happened to be driving only on perimeter and saw almost nothing for 2-2.5 hours. He kept driving straight and didn’t take any turns to go into the depth of the park

We had booked and confirmed with this company months ago and were so looking forward to our safari. When we arrived in Hambantota they didn’t turn up. We phoned them and they first said we cancelled then hung up. When we phoned back they changed their story and said they were waiting for an hour for us and then left. We even arrived 30 minutes early! Only when I threatened that I would report them did they agree to our refund. Which left us too late to organise an alternative safari. Very disappointed!!!

Kesh with Sri Lanka Review No: 01 Yala National Park – Sri Lanka’s Wild Paradise 🐆 If you’re dreaming of a true wildlife adventure in Sri Lanka, Yala National Park is a destination you simply cannot miss. Located in the southeastern region of the island, Yala is the most famous and visited national park in Sri Lanka, offering an unforgettable safari experience filled with raw nature and incredible wildlife. 🐾 A Wildlife Lover’s Dream Yala is world-renowned for having one of the highest densities of leopards on the planet, making it one of the best places to spot this elusive big cat in the wild. But that’s not all—this park is home to: 🐘 Sri Lankan elephants 🐻 Sloth bears 🐊 Crocodiles 🦌 Spotted deer & sambur 🦚 Over 200 bird species With such rich biodiversity, every safari drive feels like stepping into a real-life wildlife documentary. 🌍 Unique Landscapes What makes Yala truly special is its diverse ecosystem. Within one park, you’ll find: Dense jungles 🌳 Open grasslands 🌾 Lagoons & wetlands 💧 Rocky outcrops 🪨 Even stunning beaches along the Indian Ocean 🌊 This variety creates the perfect habitat for a wide range of animals and makes every safari visually breathtaking. 🚙 The Safari Experience A safari in Yala is the highlight of any Sri Lanka trip. You’ll ride in a 4x4 jeep through rugged terrain, guided by experienced trackers who know exactly where to find wildlife. 🕓 Best times for safari: Early morning (6:00 AM – 10:00 AM) Late afternoon (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM) Each drive is unique—you might see a leopard resting on a rock, elephants crossing your path, or birds flying over peaceful lagoons. 📅 Best Time to Visit The ideal time to visit Yala is during the dry season (February to June), when animals gather around water sources, making them easier to spot. However, Yala offers something special all year round, from lush green landscapes in the rainy season to peaceful, less crowded safaris. ✨ Why Visit Yala? ✔️ Best place in Sri Lanka to see leopards ✔️ Incredible variety of wildlife ✔️ Unique mix of jungle, lakes, and beaches ✔️ Perfect for nature lovers & photographers 🌟 Final Thought Yala National Park is more than just a safari destination—it’s a journey into the heart of Sri Lanka’s wild beauty. Whether you’re chasing the thrill of spotting a leopard or simply enjoying the serenity of nature, Yala promises an experience you will never forget. 👉 Plan your next adventure with us and explore the wild side of Kesh with Sri Lanka!

We had a mixed experience with Ajith Safaris. We booked a full day safari with breakfast and lunch in Yala and a half day in Udewalawe. The Yala Safari was not what we expected and the Udawalawe Safari was almost missed due to lack of communication! However, it did end up being amazing! Thanks to an excellent guide. The Udawalawe experience was quite stressful as we were only staying for 1 night. For this reason alone, I would not recommend Ajith Safaris. In addition, we found out it would have been cheaper to do it through our Udawalawe hotel. (Unsure about Yala). Yala We were emailed by ‘Diamond Tours’ 2 days prior and again the night before with the confirmation of pick up time. We were picked up on time by our driver/guide for the day, Chickory (apologies for incorrect spelling). Collecting another 3 people along the way. We were aware of how busy Yala can be, so booked a full day safari, expecting to go further in to the park, away from the crowds. However, this was not the case. We stayed in the area where Leopards are often sighted, going round and round the same tracks. This was disappointing as it was inevitably very busy. At one point we joined a queue of jeeps to see a Leopard but it had gone by the time we reached the front of the queue. We did see a Leopard (Lucas) and our guide was very knowledgeable about the birds and animals. There was not much to see after 09:30/10:00 once it had got hot and we just sat stationary for ages. Bored and hot! After a long lunch we did see more animals. It would’ve been better to do am/pm or both rather than a full day. I understand you would need to pay the park entrance fee twice though if you did 2 separate safaris. The breakfast was traditional Sri Lankan food and very tasty. The lunch was served at a new building with a cafe and facilities. We stayed here while the park was closed between 12:00 and 14:00. The food was good, but it had not been kept in a cool box so we were a bit wary of eating the chicken. In hindsight, had we have known about the cafe, we would have eaten fresh food from there. (Cash only by the way as no network coverage in the park). Udawalawe. For our Udawalawe Safari we had not had any confirmation for our afternoon safari the next day, so we contacted Ajith Safaris via WhatsApp. We received a reply 3 hours later, confirming the booking and saying they would contact us the following morning with our pick up time. This did not happen, so we messaged them again on the morning of the safari but did not get a reply. We waited at the hotel reception at 12:25 for the 12:30 booking but nobody arrived. We tried called the number on the website but the line was terrible and we could not understand what was being said. We asked the hotel reception to call for us. They did and were told that a jeep had been out to pick us up but no one was there so they didn’t wait. They were then hung up on! They called them back and someone else advised that a jeep was on its way. 10/15 mins later our driver/guide Koshala arrived, checked our booking details and took us to the park. After the stress of getting to the park, we had the most amazing safari experience. We have been on safari in Kenya and South Africa but this experience was very special. The terrain in Udawalawe is very open with lots of lakes. This made the elephant viewing uninterrupted and we were able to observe the elephants grazing, bathing and interacting with each other at a respectful distance. It was a lot less busy than Yala too. Our guide Koshala taught us so much about elephant behaviour that we had not known before. It was clear he had a passion for his work. Udawalawe is teeming with elephants but we also saw Jackals, Mongoose, Turtles, Monkeys and of course Peacocks, as well as lots of other beautiful birds. Take plenty of water to Udawalawe as none is provided. Check prices carefully. It would have been cheaper and a lot less stressful, to do it through our Udawalawe hotel.

I have read a lot of negative comments about Yala NP saying it's way too busy, chasing and upsetting the wildlife etc. We have had two trips there recently, yes there are quite a few jeeps but the park needs the tourism to support the great balance of care and maintainance this park has. The animals don't seem at all bothered by the vehicles, the drivers are extremely aware and respectful. The park is shut for two hours during the hottest part of the day so the wildlife can rest quietly. Also the volune of tourists provide so many jobs for the local people, guides, drivers, wardens, cafe staff and even the toilet cleaners. In my opinion Yala is perfectly managed.

Our group had an absolutely fantastic and memorable safari in the Yala National park with Ajith’s team and our driver! He made the effort to come pick us up early and provide us with the best experience he could, being able to view so many animals including many elephants, water buffalo, deer, gorgeous different types of birds to name a few. The best sighting for us was seeing leopards! It was such a surreal experience seeing it up close, and our driver made sure we were able to soak it in! Grateful we were lucky enough to see them, and for Ajiths team who looked after us the whole day. A huge thank you

Booked the night before, received a confirmation email after they charged my credit card. All of that to have a complete no show in the morning, we woke up at 4:30am to be there ready before 5 and no one came. Now I have to find a way to get the bank to block the payment. Don’t book online it’s just a scam.

We had a fantastic time with Ajith Safari. Our driver/guide Ishan was fantastic. Again thanks for wonderful experience.

We chose this operator because of the reviews but after booking initially found communication slow. On the day before the tour they were insistent that we pay the park fee in rupees to the driver as the park did not accept foreign currency. When asked about credit card payment they said the machines might not work. After much persuasion they finally agreed that i could pay at the ticket booth but wanted me to apologise in advance to other group members for any delay. I rang up the park the day itself and was told that credit card payment was possible and was in fact common. They said that the cost was 22420 rupees for the two of us. This included the service fee and the jeep fee. The other two visitors in our jeep. paid 18000. They had also insisted on payment at the booth! The total was about 41000 rupees for the four of us, with all fees. When the driver came to our hotel, he was very unhappy that we insisted on paying at the ticket counter and it took 5 mins of heated conversation between the driver and his office before we were allowed on board. He told us, and the other 2 visitors, that he wanted us to pay 26000 per couple, making a total of 52000, instead of what the four of us actually paid (41000). Possibly because of this disagreement with the driver, the tour was frustrating, as there were times we asked him to stop to allow us to photograph birds or animals, but he did not do so. Any queries about what we saw were either ignored or given brusque answers. Needless to say, we saw no leopard... Of the four tours on this trip, this was by far the most unsatisfying.

We have just returned from Sri Lanka and had an amazing time in this beautiful country however one word of caution regarding Yala Park - on paper it sounds great but there are apparently up to 400 jeeps that have access to the park daily and is therefore very busy. On our last day a leopard was seen up a tree and after multiple phone calls to drivers a traffic jam happened which apparently is not unusual.It was bedlam jeeps queued up ,jeeps stuck and a poor leopard that was wondering what on earth was going on ! We were stuck for at least an hour. It was also so sad to see the roving elephants get irritated with all the vehicles, their noisy and polluting diesel engine's and we saw a wing mirror ripped off by an elephant as the driver did not care about driving across the family moving down the road - this maybe greed or it maybe stupidity but let’s try to look after these beautiful creatures. Below is a shot of the beauty for us it was worth it but just so you are aware …………….

Yala park is too busy, few elephants and hunting for 3 hours for a glimpse at a leopard while driver was driving like crazy is. Lunch break is 2,5 hours of mainly waiting. Guide spoke almost no English. Udawalawa has elephants everywhere, go there.

Not many Elephants......they all have been outside the park on the road. We have been in Section V, more calm not overcrowed with Jeeps.

The communication is not good with the main office. First, our pickup time was 0500 then it was 0545 and they arrived 40, repeat 40 minutes late…we were not happy about that. Otherwise, our driver was excellent and really made the effort for us to see wildlife especially, the leopard.

Unfortunately, this safari was very disappointing and ended up being one of the biggest letdowns of our Sri Lanka trip. We had high expectations for Yala, but the experience felt rushed, short and poorly organised from the start. Our driver arrived late for pickup, which already reduced the time in the park. The safari itself felt surprisingly short and we spent much of the time simply driving around without explanation or guidance. The driver shared almost no information about the animals, nature or the park, so it never felt like a real wildlife experience — more like a quick ride through the park. We did not see anything particularly special and there was little effort to make the experience engaging or informative. Considering the cost and reputation of Yala, this was very disappointing. Sadly, it left a negative mark on an otherwise amazing trip through Sri Lanka. We understand wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but professionalism, communication and guiding are — and those were missing here.

We booked a 4 hour safari. Got 2.5 in the park and an odd explanation..: "4 hours includes picking up from the hotel..." I am not sure that this is consistent with reality since I asked to meet at the park entrance and they said they will meet us at their office which is close by. It was not close by at all. The safari was fine, 2.5 hours when you pay for 4 - not so muc

Booked via Yalawild. The pick up from Tangalle in a luxurious mini van , the swift connection beside Yala onto the safari jeep and then a really enjoyable safari , guided by Chathura - a lovely guide with the Ajith safari team. Didn’t manage to see leopard, but that’s Mother Nature - and it wasn’t through want of trying!. Saw plenty of other wildlife and it really was a fantastic organisation.

If you want to spend five hours in a beautiful forested area just to see one or two elephants and a large number of deer and buffalo, then go for it. At the end of our tour, after driving around for four hours, we managed to spot a leopard dozing on a tree branch. Vehicles are not allowed to leave the designated roads inside the park. If you see an elephant or other animal in the distance, you can’t go closer. Most importantly, on these narrow dirt roads, if a jeep driver stops because they’ve spotted an elephant or a leopard (which is almost impossible), all the vehicles gather there. No one wants to leave because everyone wants to see it and take photos. The road gets blocked, and it takes a long time for your turn to come. In short, if you have plenty of time and money, go. At least you can say you went on a safari.

Two trips to Yala, one in the afternoon, along with many other jeeps we went along spotting elephant, birds and we did sit with many others to see a leopard. Second trip was early morning, not as early as the crowds but if you ignore the need to see a leopard this time of day the experience is so much better, we saw sunrise,scenery, birds and small animals and reptiles along with the water buffalo swimming and the deer grazing. This I thought was a lovely morning.

Wonderful experience, we saw elephants, water buffalo, mongooses, monitor lizards, deer, a leopard and lots of different birds.

I went with my partner, brother and brother’s partner on the 7 hour morning tour towards the end of January. We had Tikiri as our driver and would highly recommend him. He was knowledgeable about all the animals and birds we were seeing, and gave interesting facts so we all learnt a lot. He was able to see a leopard in a spot that none of the other drivers were able to see, so we ended up positioned at the front which was very exciting. Later he parked perfectly so that a group of 8 elephants (including babies) ended up walking really close to our vehicle. This was a special moment for us. I’m particularly conscious of only using companies that protect the animals and take care not to disturb or harm them. Tikiri was respectful of all the animals (gave them space and turned off the engine while waiting) and they didn’t seem distressed by our presence.

If you are taking the morning safari take a sweater it was a little cold until the sun rise. The driver collected us from our hotel on time, we booked online the evening before. 4 hrs was long enough for us.

There were so many jeeps zooming about, clouds of dust everywhere. Total lack of respect for the animals and the environment. Then the obligatory 'rest stop'. A cement monstrosity with disgusting toilets and equally disgusting coffee. It is an absolute shame that this beautiful place is not better managed and that numbers are not limited.Not a leopard in sight.

Very good service. The vehicle came at the promised time and the driver/guide was able to navigate us so that we were able to see a Leopard, a tusker, other elephants and so many other wildlife. The vehicle was in good condition. All in all a great Safari experience

We were so lucky and saw a leopard! Our guide was great at making sure we had a loevly morning. A great company to go with in Yala!!

Do not use this company - and be careful because they have lots of names. I booked Yala Wild Safaris (info@yalawild.com) . I got an email confirmation from Diamond Tours which said my tour with Ajith Safari Jeep Tours was confirmed. Why they are terrible: - over priced. We could have done the tour for significantly less through our hotel .On our hotel safari they saw a leopard and had a beautiful experience. - My children were not well the night before - when I asked to push it back by a day they refused. They were rude and uncaring. Only when my friend messaged them harshly did they back down. - The driver was obnoxious. No love of what he was doing or care for us. Awful. - breakfast was expensive and yuck. We threw almost all of it in the bin Our hotel - La Safari Inn does great tours, and Slow Safaris was excellent too. These guys however don’t deserve to be in business.

We thoroughly enjoyed the safari—10/10. Ishan was excellent at identifying the best spots and demonstrated strong knowledge of wildlife and animal behavior

We booked a full day safari to Yala National Park. They did not register this properly, so we left the park after the morning. The driver barely spoke English which caused a lot of misunderstanding. We were charged to pay again. Eventually we all sorted it out with the manager and did also get an afternoon safari. So good to contact the company before having your safari.