Why visit
Yala is Sri Lanka's best-known national park for leopard sightings, with elephants, birds and a coastline of dunes. It sits on both the Signature and Nature and Wildlife journeys.
How a safari actually works
Park drives are in open safari jeeps with a tracker, not in your touring car. Your chauffeur-guide gets you to the lodge and the gate on time; the jeep is a separate arrangement. Train tickets, jeep hire and park entrance fees are not included unless we say so. For a limited time, confirmed bookings include a free safari jeep at one selected park (jeep only, not tickets) until the end of October.
When to go
Dry months generally mean easier wildlife viewing. Some blocks close seasonally. We time drives for early morning and late afternoon. See best time to visit Sri Lanka and Yala versus Udawalawe.
How many nights
One night allows a single drive. Two nights, with a morning and an evening safari, is the more satisfying stay if wildlife is a reason for the trip.