The short version
If leopards are the dream, Yala is the usual answer. If you want reliable elephants and often a simpler day, Udawalawe is frequently the kinder park. Sightings are never guaranteed in either.
How a safari actually works
You leave the touring vehicle. Park drives are in open jeeps with a tracker. Your chauffeur-guide gets you to the lodge and the gate; the jeep is a separate arrangement. Train tickets, jeep hire and park entrance fees are not included unless we say so.
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. Stacking both parks on consecutive dawn starts tires everyone, especially children.
Which journey they sit on
Yala appears on the Signature and Nature and Wildlife journeys. Udawalawe is a centrepiece of the wildlife itinerary. A tailor-made trip can choose one park well rather than both poorly.
For a limited time, confirmed bookings include a free safari jeep at one selected park (the jeep only, not tickets) until the end of October.