Recently Viewed
Yala Safari: Explore Wildlife in Sri Lanka's Top Park
4.1
12 Ratings
Tissamaharama
Embark on a thrilling wildlife adventure in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s second-largest park. Spot the elusive Sri Lankan Leopard, observe wild elephants, and marvel at the diverse birdlife.
Embark on a thrilling wildlife adventure in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s second-largest park. Spot the elusive Sri Lankan Leopard, observe wild elephants, and marvel at the diverse birdlife.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Hambantota Port - Hambantota is the principal town in the Hambantota District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. This area, which was severely affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, is currently experiencing significant development projects, including the completion of a new seaport and international airport in 2013.
- Yala National Park - The…
- Hambantota Port - Hambantota is the principal town in the Hambantota District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. This area, which was severely affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, is currently experiencing significant development projects, including the completion of a new seaport and international airport in 2013.
- Yala National Park - The safari offers a brief game drive through the wilderness of Yala. With diverse natural habitats and rich ecology, there are countless wonders to behold. From elephants to leopards, and crocodiles to sea birds, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the raw beauty of nature, all while adhering to proper safety protocols. Travelers will be in a rugged terrain (4WD) game vehicle. The safari prioritizes safety, especially concerning wild elephants and other large wildlife. While the vehicle may pause at times, it is strongly recommended not to exit the jeep for safety reasons, particularly when encountering solitary elephants, which may become aggressive if disturbed. It is also important to always follow the guidance of the safari guide during the tour.
- Hambantota Port - Situated on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, Hambantota Port is a prominent deep-sea port recognized for its strategic position along major international shipping lanes. It has become a central point for investment and development, with aspirations to establish itself as a leading maritime hub in the region.
What's Included
- Entrance tickets to Yala National Park.
- Port pick-up and drop-off service.
- Complimentary water bottle per person.
- 3-hour Jeep safari adventure in Yala National Park.
- Expertise of an English-speaking safari driver and tracker.
- Entrance tickets to Yala National Park.
- Port pick-up and drop-off service.
- Complimentary water bottle per person.
- 3-hour Jeep safari adventure in Yala National Park.
- Expertise of an English-speaking safari driver and tracker.
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks.
- Entrance fees
- Expenses of personal nature.
- Gratuities (optional)
- Food and drinks.
- Entrance fees
- Expenses of personal nature.
- Gratuities (optional)
Additional Information
Embark on an unforgettable safari at Yala National Park starting from Hambantota Seaport and explore the vibrant wildlife of Sri Lanka. The adventure begins with a convenient pickup at the port, followed by a picturesque drive to Yala, the island’s most renowned national park. Known for having the highest leopard density in the world, the park is also…
Embark on an unforgettable safari at Yala National Park starting from Hambantota Seaport and explore the vibrant wildlife of Sri Lanka. The adventure begins with a convenient pickup at the port, followed by a picturesque drive to Yala, the island’s most renowned national park. Known for having the highest leopard density in the world, the park is also home to elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and over 200 bird species. With guidance from an expert, traverse through lush forests, grasslands, and lagoons, where each turn reveals new wildlife encounters. Perfect for nature enthusiasts and adventurers, this safari promises a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the wild. Reserve your spot now for an exhilarating adventure!
Location
Tissamaharama
If you don’t require pick-up or transportation, we can meet you at Tissamaharama Junction.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.1
(12 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Patricia_h
Dec 5, 2025
What a wonderful tour!! - We were in Hambantota for the day (cruise ship) and decided to go to Yala. We booked this tour where we were promptly picked up at the port in a jeep and that was wonderful as we enjoyed the breeze and we could see daily life and a lot of animals on the way to the park. Once there, we were convinced our guide had special eye powers as he was able to catch a lot of animals along the way. We took some great pics. We were leaving thinking we missed the elusive leopard and he pointed one out which was great so we saw all the big 5. We left the park and not far from there we came across two different elephants in different places right on the road!! What an experience to be so close to these amazing species!! Our guide was very informative, kind and professional. Highly recommend this tour!!
Review provided by Viator
Mikekrob
Dec 13, 2024
Do it - An absolutely brilliant way to see a game park from a cruise ship without paying cruise company prices
Everything ran like clockwork
We got to the park
Our guide was outstanding and we were treated to a medley of wild animals
Absolutely with the £100 each we spent
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dominique_r
Dec 11, 2024
Lovely safari - Loved the safari in beautiful Yala National Park. Saw many animals, monkeys, crocodiles, a variety of colorful birds, many elephants, even a baby elephant.
Review provided by Viator
868gracer
May 2, 2024
Great jeep safari in Yala National Park - The driver who met us at the port and took us to meet the safari guide was great. The safari guide was skillful in finding the animals for us to see. We were extremely pleased with the experience from beginning to end. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Escape13245
Jan 17, 2024
Great excursion. Highly recommend. - Everything went very smoothly. Easy pickup from Gate 2. Oceania shuttle brought us out to the gate. One hour AC bus ride to 4x4 pickup site. We were in large 4x4 by ourselves. A tour guide came aboard at entrance of the park. He was excellent. We got to see elephants, warthogs, water buffalo, mongoose, boars, jackals, monkeys, various deer, many exotic birds.
Time in the park is about 2-3 hours. Overall, a very well organized excursions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Miklosgyorgy_l
Feb 21, 2025
Partly safari - If they want to see animals for sure, they should book a longer safari-tour. We could visit only one block of the park.
Review provided by Viator
Derek
Feb 28, 2024
Great Animal Spotting. - Our cruise ship docked at Hambantota and visiting Yala is pretty much the no 1 attraction from there. We had a great experience and saw countless wild animals and birds. After a medium sized bus from the port we were all split up onto jeeps. There are 6 seats in the jeep and we had a jeep on our own with a driver who was good at spotting the animals and pointing them out. His English was limited so sometimes we didn't know what he was saying but it wasn't a problem. Once into the park and after a surfaced section of road it becomes a very undulating and bouncy ride on a network of rough tracks. Getting into the rear of the jeep and coping with the very bumpy ride was ok for us but would not be for older or people with back problems. Would have given 5 stars but our driver lost track of time and we were 45 minutes late getting back to the bus. Not our fault but the other bus passengers were not amused. Would recommend having binoculars to get the best of the day but many animals including elephants were right beside the jeep.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_g
Feb 22, 2026
Midday game drive NOT recommended - Just back to our cruise ship from our tour (Feb 22 2026).. This is the third ‘nature’ outing for this cruise. Having been on numerous ‘real’ safaris, It confirms why safaris have morning and evening game drives, and leave the middle of the day for relaxation and lunch - because the animals are not active mid day. The 3 star rating is fair because I don’t know how good the game watching was in early morning. Suffice it to say say we did not see many animals, and certainly no leapords. We had.a few long range looks at some deer, and 1 crock on a sandbar. Along with some monkeys on the road. The driver spoke little English, and the 4 wheeler kept the driver isolated from us in the raised rear seating area, so there is no conversation. When he saw something, he’d tap on the window, point and say “deer”, or “buffalo”, or crocodile”. That was the extent of guide conversation for 3 hours (before we atopped and switched to a car for the ride back - unexplained). The drive/guider seemed in a hurry, and drove fast over atrocious pot-holed game trails that physically beat you/your back/your neck. We finally had enough and told him we were ready to go back to the ship. We drove partway back, and transferred to a car, with a driver who spoke almost no English. We got lost trying to find the gate to the cruise ship. The 3 stars are in fairness to the Yala park because I don’t know what the game watching might be at appropriate watching times; it may well be good. Starting the park drive at 10:AM is definitely not the answer.
Review provided by Viator
Chrisbl4266wv
Mar 4, 2024
badly organised and dissapointing - We received a text the day before changing the time of our trip from 1pm to 8am. not a big problem. They said they would be waiting for us when we got off the ship, they did not say we had to get to the dock gate (approx 5 minute drive). We then sat in bus for 45 minutes whilst they waited for other people presumably who did not have the correct joining instructions. Approx 1 hour drive to destination. If you want to see birds, water buffalo, deer, crocodiles back and an elephant behind bushes this trip is for you. No sign of leopard. The place was rammed with safari trucks. Our driver was good a spotting what we saw.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kim_m
Feb 16, 2024
Will not recommend. - Highly unorganized. No bathroom breaks. For hours in the cars. Wasted a lot of time for ride share. Had we been picked up in time. We would have seen more animals.
Review provided by Viator
More activities from this operator
