5 Best National Parks for Safari Tours in Sri Lanka
Are you wondering which national park is ideal for taking a Sri Lanka safari tour? Sri Lanka has many stunning national parks that are perfect for spotting diverse wildlife, such as elephants, leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, monkeys, spotted deer, water buffalos, and various bird species.
It is a fantastic experience that should be on your Sri Lanka Itinerary, so book your jeep tour and visit one of the best national parks. Each national park in Sri Lanka is unique. So, whichever one you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
In this post, you can find out which are the best national parks, when to go, including entrance fees, jeep tour prices, and what to expect on your safari tour in Sri Lanka.
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- 5 Best National Parks for Safari Tours in Sri Lanka
- Best Time for a Sri Lanka Safari Tour
- Sri Lanka Safari
- The best national parks for Sri Lanka safari
- 1. Yala National Park
- 2. Udawalawe National Park
- 3. Wilpattu National Park
- 4. Minneriya National Park
- 5. Kaudulla National Park
- Tips for Sri Lanka safari tours
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Best Time for a Sri Lanka Safari Tour
The best time to visit Sri Lanka is between December and March in the south/west and March to October in the north/east.
Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons: the northeast monsoon season, which runs from December to January, and the southwest monsoon season, which runs from May to September. During this period, it is harder to spot animals, and a safari tour on a rainy day is not much fun. However, during the dry season, animals are more often seen when they search for water or cool off at the lake.
For the ultimate experience, book a morning safari tour or take a full-day Sri Lanka safari tour.
Read our → Sri Lanka Itinerary
Sri Lanka Safari
Sri Lanka has over 20 national parks scattered throughout the country, all perfect for wildlife spotting.
If you have limited time in Sri Lanka, we recommend visiting Yala or Udawalawe National Park. But depending on where you are staying in Sri Lanka and what you would like to see, such as leopards, elephants, or sloth bears, these are the best national parks to choose from, depending on your preferences.
For the best safari experience in Sri Lanka, book a combined tour that visits both national parks.
Good to know
The first two official national parks in Sri Lanka since 1938 are Yala and Wilpattu National Parks.
The best national parks for Sri Lanka safari
1. Yala National Park
The Yala National Park is the best place to see leopards and elephants in Sri Lanka. You can easily reach Yala from Ella, Mirissa, or Galle and take a half-day or full-day Sri Lanka safari tour.
Yala National Park is home to 44 species of mammals and 215 species of birds. Yala is famous for having the world’s biggest concentration of leopards and is one of the best places in the world to spot leopards. There are around 60-70 leopards scattered throughout the park.
Recommended post → Guide to Yala National Park
We recommend visiting Yala National Park from February to July. During this period, the weather is dry, and the water level in the park is low, making it easier to see the animals when they go to drink or cool off at the lake.
You can book a transfer from Ella to Mirissa/Galle/Hikkaduwa (any hotel), which includes the Yala Safari Tour.
Yala National Park Entrance Fee & Safari Tour Price
The entrance fee to Yala National Park for foreign adults ranges from 31 USD to 36 USD per person. But the price depends on the number of people in the jeep (2-6 pax). Usually, the entrance fee is 71 USD for two foreign adults, 100 USD for three adults, and 129 USD for four adults.
The Yala National Park safari price depends on the safari tour you book, such as a private safari, group tour, or full-day safari.
Group jeep tours usually start from 27 USD per person, and private tours start from 100 USD per person.
Book your Yala Safari Tour via Viator or GetYourGuide.
Best Hotels near Yala National Park
Most people take a day trip to the Yala National Park from Ella, Galle, or Mirissa. But for the best experience, stay around Yala.
Another alternative is to stay in Tissamaharama, as you will be close to the restaurants and budget hotels. These are our accommodation recommendations.
- Luxury: Wild Coast Tented Lodge
- Mid-Range: Jetwing Yala or Cinnamon Wild Yala
- Budget: Kaaya Eco Resort Yala
2. Udawalawe National Park
Yala is famous for its leopards, while Udawalawe National Park attracts visitors for its elephants, making it the perfect place for the best safari in Sri Lanka. Over 500 elephants live in the park, which offers a great chance to see wild elephants (even on the afternoon elephant safari).
The Udawalawe National Park was established in 1972 to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River.
We recommend visiting Udawalawe National Park from January to March. The Udawalawe National Park is located in the south of Sri Lanka, and you can easily reach it from Ella, Mirissa, or Unawatuna.
Udawalawe National Park is best for elephants and bird watching, although there is a chance of seeing leopards.
Udawalawe National Park Entrance Fee & Tour Price
The entrance fee to Udawalawe National Park for foreign adults is 25 USD in the high season and 20 USD in the low season. However, this price does not include tax (15%) and tourist service fees, which also increase the cost.
Jeep tours usually start from 30 USD per person.
Check safari tour prices and availability HERE.
Where to Stay near Udawalawe National Park
We recommend you stay in Ella or Mirissa and take a day trip to Udawalawe National Park. These are our Ella accommodation recommendations.
- Luxury: EKHO Ella
- Mid-Range: Mountain Heavens or 98 Acres Resort & Spa
- Budget: Ella Mount View Guest Inn
3. Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu is the largest national park in Sri Lanka and one of the best places for safari tour. Although not as popular as Yala, it is well worth a visit. It has a denser forest cover than other national parks and is larger than Yala, covering more than 130,000 hectares.
Wilpattu is located 40 km west of Anuradhapura, and the travel time is approximately 50 minutes.
The safari tours usually take 4-5 hours and are the perfect place to spot sloth bears and leopards. The Wilpattu National Park is open daily from 6 AM to 6 PM.
You can visit Wilpattu all year round, but the best time to visit is in the dry season, from May to early October.
Wilpattu National Park Entrance Fee & Tour Price
The entrance fee to Wilpattu National Park is 15 USD for foreign adults and 8 USD for foreign children. However, this price does not include tax (15%) and tourist service fees, which also increase the cost.
Jeep tours from Colombo or Negombo usually start from 105 USD per person.
Check safari tour prices and availability HERE.
Where to Stay near Wilpattu National Park
Most people take a day trip to the Wilpattu National Park from Colombo or Negombo. Another alternative is to stay in Anuradhapura. These are our Colombo accommodation recommendations.
- Luxury: Shangri-La Colombo or Hilton Colombo
- Mid-Range: Mandarina Colombo
- Budget: Grand Oriental Hotel
4. Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National Park is located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, so it is the perfect choice for those staying in Sigiriya. Join a morning or afternoon safari tour and see the stunning wildlife in Sri Lanka.
Minneriya National Park, part of the elephant corridor that connects Kaudulla and Wasgamuwa National Parks, is a great place to see herds of elephants throughout the year. The national park is also an important habitat for two endemic monkeys of Sri Lanka, the purple-faced langur and the toque macaque.
The best time to visit Minneriya National Park is from May to October. Get a wonderful experience in Sri Lanka and visit in August/September to see the famous Elephant Gathering of the Asian wild elephants.
The entrance fee to Minneriya National Park is 15 USD. Safari tours usually start from 28 USD per person.
Check safari tour prices and availability HERE.
5. Kaudulla National Park
The Kaudulla is one of the best national parks near Polonnaruwa, so if you spend enough time in Sri Lanka, we recommend you take a jeep safari tour. Although the park can be visited all year round, the best time to visit Kaudulla National Park is between July and December, especially in October. You can join a morning or afternoon safari tour, which takes about 3 hours.
Kaudulla National Park opened in 2002 and is one of the best places to see elephants and birds in Sri Lanka. The Kaudulla National Park is home to Asian elephants, water buffalos, monkeys, crocodiles, spotted deer, and more than 160 species of birds.
The entrance fee to Kaudulla National Park is 18 USD. Jeep tours usually start from 45 USD per person.
Check Sri Lanka safari tour prices and availability HERE.
The afternoon safaris are less popular, but there are more chances to see elephants at Kaudulla.
Where to Stay near Kaudulla National Park
The national park is easily accessible from Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee. But you can also stay around the Kaudulla National Park. These are our recommendations.
- Luxury: Ekho Lake House
- Mid-Range: The Deer Park Hotel
- Budget: Giritale Hotel
Tips for Sri Lanka safari tours
- Wear closed sports shoes and lightweight, quick-dry clothes, as the weather is always warm and humid. But the weather is cold during early morning safaris, so bring a sweater or light jacket.
- Most safari tours include water, breakfast, or lunch, but bring enough water and snacks.
- Safari tours cannot guarantee leopard spotting, but Yala National Park has the best chance of seeing leopards.
- Some people may be unwell on a full-day safari tour as the road is very bumpy. Therefore, we recommend taking anti-nausea tablets with you.
- Do not feed animals!
- Use sunscreen and wear a hat.
- Kumana National Park and Bundala National Park are other national parks worth visiting in Sri Lanka.
- If you want to pass wild elephants on the way to Yala National Park, take a detour on the B35 Road.
- Always be ready to take photos, as you will see lots of wildlife and birds.
- Take a zoom lens with you.
- Use the toilet before going on a safari tour.
- Most safari tours do not include the entrance fee to the national park.
- The entrance fee can only be paid in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR) at the entrance gates.
- The safari tours usually take 3-5 hours.
Important note
Please don’t support places where elephants are kept in chains, so don’t visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka!
We hope you found our guide to the best safari tours in Sri Lanka useful and that it will inspire you to visit some of the beautiful national parks. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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