How a Yala safari works
You do not drive your own car into the park. Visitors go in by safari jeep, with a driver who knows the tracks and the rules inside the park. Your hotel pickup, the jeep and the park tickets are arranged before the day.
Most guests stay in Tissamaharama, Kataragama or near the park gate, so the drive to the entrance is short. If you are coming from Ella or the coast, the safari can be built into the transfer between hotels.
Morning, afternoon or a full day
The morning drive is the most popular. You leave early, reach the gate as it opens and spend the cooler hours in the park, when animals are more active. You are usually back at the hotel before lunch.
An afternoon drive runs into the late light and suits people arriving in the area that day. A full day gives you time to stay out when others go back, and to wait at a waterhole rather than move on.
What you might see
Yala is known for leopards, but nothing is guaranteed. A good drive is about patience. Elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer, water buffalo, peacocks and many birds are all part of the park, and the coastal scenery is worth the trip on its own.
When to go
The park is open for most of the year. It usually closes for a few weeks in the dry season, often around September and October, so check the dates before you plan your trip around a safari.
What to bring
Jeeps are open at the sides or the top, and the tracks can be dusty.
- A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- A light layer for the early start
- Binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens
- Water and a small snack
- Neutral colours rather than bright clothing
