Yodakandiya Tours
Private Tour : YALA National Park with Experienced Driver and Guide
4.5

Private Tour : YALA National Park with Experienced Driver and Guide

By Yala Wild Safaris
Recommended by 93% of travellers
93% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 6-120
Duration: 5h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Private transportation
  • All Fees and Taxes
What's not included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • We Pick up from Hotels in Yala, Kirinda, Tissamaharama, Akurugoda, Kataragama, Deberawewa, Weerawila & Bundala Area Free of Charge. Exact Pick up Time will email after the reservation confirmed.
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        • Near public transportation
        • Infants must sit on laps
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 100002P6

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Most travellers can participate
        • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 100002P6

        From
        ₹8,975.10
        per adult (price varies by group size)
        Select date and travellers

        Similar experiences

        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Yala Wild Safaris
          350
          Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka
          Joined in July 2014
        • smrithismrithi
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Excellent safari - experienced guide - exceptional hospitality
          Malit knows Yala national park and leopards like the back of his palm. Till the end he never gave up and ensured we caught a good glimpse of the regal Sri Lankan leopard!
          Written 27 December 2024
        • S8780GZannar
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Well arranged tour
          The trip was very well arranged. We were picked up from our hotel in Galle the night before, had a traditional family dinner, and stayed overnight in jungle accommodation. While the accommodation was quite basic, it had all the essentials. Early in the morning, we were picked up to head to the park and were among the first vehicles to enter. Although we didn’t get to see a leopard or a sloth bear, the encounters with elephants were extraordinary. Keep in mind that there are many other jeeps in the park, and it can get rather crowded at times. The tour included a traditional lunch meal and fresh fruit. The guide was both entertaining and knowledgeable.
          Written 26 December 2024
        • D1680HRjenniferj
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing day on safari
          We had an unforgettable time on safari with our guide Prasanna. We saw leopards, bears, elephants, crocodiles, flamingos and a warthog!! We were so lucky to be able to spot all of these animals thanks to our guide who really knew his way around the park and put so much time and effort into us having the best experience possible. Couldn’t recommend Prasanna, Malith & the team enough.
          Written 5 December 2024
        • Hanne N
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          The best whole day safari.
          Read very good reviews about Malith and his team, got very quick reply on mail and WhatsApp and had very easily arranged a trip to Yala N.P. A fantastic whole day safari with start 4.30 am - first to get in the park at 6 am. - and the last to leave at 6.10 pm. We saw everything (including lots of birds) but bears - the driver really tries to find out, what you’re interested in and is excellent to spot birds and animals. We had a nice breakfast (sandwiches) and a big lunch in the park. All in all a wonderful day. We VERY HIGHLY recommend Malith’s Yala Wild Safaris. For us it was also fantastic to stay in the camp (see review), but you can also get picked up in Tissamaharama.
          Written 5 September 2024
        • Adventure14036620053
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Safari with SU
          Our safari with SU in Yala National Park was an unforgettable experience. He was knowledgeable and passionate, ensuring we saw everything from leopards to elephants. The well-maintained vehicle offered great visibility and the small group size made it a more personal adventure. Thoughtful touches like refreshment breaks added to the overall enjoyment. I highly recommend SU for an amazing Yala safari!
          Written 31 August 2024
        • fblanco13
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great experience! Excellent service.
          Don't hesitate to book. Malith was amazing. Outstanding customer service and communication. Easy booking and prompt service. A+
          Written 24 July 2024
        • C2697POanthonyh
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Morning Safari with an expert guide
          My family and I did a morning safari with Yala Wild Safaris. Our guide Malith was very knowledgeable about both the park and it's wildlife. Although we did not sight a leopard he did his best to get us a sighting taking us on lesser used tracks. We did however see plenty of other wildlife. The food provided was also very good. I would recommend using Malith and the team at Yala Wild Safaris for your Yala safari.
          Written 24 July 2024
        • jameshP63KJ
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing company; beautiful location.
          Absolutely amazing. Yala is beautiful and these guys really know what they’re doing. Had several sightings of leopards - in five safaris I saw 7 leopards, and had sightings on each tour. The guides are really knowledgeable. I think a lot of drivers just drive around and wait for the call that a leopard has been spotted, but these guys seek the animals out themselves. If you want to just see the park and have a chance at seeing a leopard, then by all means book yourself a morning or afternoon safari. However, if like me you want meaningful encounters with the amazing animals in this park, I’d do at least one full day safari. No matter how long you spend there’s always something new to see.
          Written 21 April 2024
        • maddiecretney
          0 contributions
          3.0 of 5 bubbles
          Full day shared safari tour Yala block 1
          We did the Full Day Shared Safari Tour Yala Block 1. The safari was fine. While it is better value than some other options, I was disappointed with the guide - if you would call him such. He barely said ten words to us all day, and most of the time didn’t point out sightings of smaller, more obscure animals. We could see the other guides doing this in the other jeeps, and often we didn’t know what we were even looking at. He didn’t tell us anything about the park or the animals we saw. We saw elephants, leopards, crocodiles, buffalo, deer, wild boar, lizards and an assortment of beautiful birds. Sadly no sloth bears. Breakfast was fine. Lunch was decent.
          Written 10 March 2024
        • maximilian1988
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Exceptional Wildlife Adventure at Bundala National Park Tour
          I had an incredible experience on the Bundala National Park tour, which deserves a full five-star rating. The organization of the tour was flawless, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish. We were fortunate to see a diverse array of wildlife, which was the highlight of the tour. The punctuality and efficiency of the tour team were impressive, contributing to a perfect day out. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to explore the natural beauty and wildlife of Bundala National Park. Everything was just perfect!
          Written 5 January 2024
        • 640lionelf
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Best safari ever
          Fantastic safari we saw loads of wildlife including several leopards, thé lunch was delicious we would recommend this safari to all. Our guide was pasanna if hé is available i definetely recommend him .
          Written 12 December 2023
        • 202lianav
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Bundala safari
          We went with them on a safari in Bundala park. Our guide, Danesha, was great, he showed us different bird species and explained a lot of things about their behaviour. He also told us different things about his work with wild animals in Sri Lanka and about his teamțs efforts to preserve the natural habitat. He also made and sent us a great video of our safari a few days after the experience. I would 100% percent recommend Yala Wild Safaris as the best safari agency for Bundala/Yala.
          Written 24 November 2023
        • Curiosity06458704008
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A great safari worth the price!
          Me and my friend did a whole day private safari tour to Yala nationalpark. The tour guide had much experience and a genuine interest for wildlife and the animals. He was also very friendly and easygoing. They picked us up and drove us home to the hostel. Lunch and water was also included into the price. Would recommend to others!
          Written 19 November 2023
        • X2504PHianc
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          The Best Safari to Take To see Yala National Park
          Had a fantastic day exploring the Yala National Park with our guide Darshana. He made the safari very special with his in depth knowledge and enthusiasm. We managed to see and learn about so many animals. Great lunch too even thou we had to contend with some sneaky monkeys who also thought it looked good. Would recommend this tour and Darshana to anyone who wants a fun and super interesting day in Yala
          Written 18 October 2023
        • Killian_max
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Can see wild elephants and leopereds
          There are three or four wild life conservation's in Sri Lanka. Out of those 5 yala is the best. If you want to see leopard no other place like this
          Written 23 April 2023
        See all 350 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

        Popular mentions

        4.5
        4.5 of 5 bubbles58 reviews
        Excellent
        50
        Very good
        4
        Average
        0
        Poor
        3
        Terrible
        1

        These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
        This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

        Xavier M
        Burgundy, France41 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Back from Safari!
        I recommend YALA Wild Safaris with Malith who has a lynx eye to spot even the smallest animals!
        His knowledge and experience of Yala Park makes us see more animals than we could imagine!!!
        Breakfast with these fresh fruits and sandwiches 🤤🤤🤤 special mention for my husband’s birthday 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
        What he made us live will forever remain in our memory and our hearts!
        Another huge thank you!! 🙏🏼 ගොඩාක් ස්තූතියි
        Automatically translated
        Written 19 November 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Lukas Dnk
        19 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        We booked a private full day safari tour including pickup from Hiriketya. Our guide Hishan did an amazing job in spotting the animals in the park and explaining all about them. We saw: Asian Elephants (male, female, juvenile), Malabar Pied Hornbills, Jackal, wild boars, Sambar Deer, Sri Lankan Axis Deer, Mongoose, various Kingfishers and other birds. The highlight of the day was the hunting Leopard that we say in the afternoon - we were the only ones that day who spotted it thanks to Hishan’s expert driving.
        Written 23 April 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Hando_au
        Melbourne, Australia7 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2020
        We saw a leopard.
        After reading many reviews we settled on Yala Wild Safaris and it turned out to be a good choice. A family run operation with a long association with the park.
        Malith our driver suggested he pick us up at 4.30am when others from where we were staying were leaving at 5.30am.
        We took his advice and as a result entered the park 1st and came across a large, young male leopard within 15 minutes. We observed it as it observed us and then it wandered into the jungle. We also had close encounters with elephants, mongoose, Samba Deer, giant monitors, peacocks etc.
        It was a remarkable and enjoyable day.
        Maliths knowledge of the park and the wildlife is extensive and his driving skill is excellent. Highly recommend for a great day out.
        Written 8 February 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Roro La Velle
        London, UK16 contributions
        2.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jul 2023 • Family
        I am adding an email sent to the owner of this company. Despite the initial mail and a reminder, I did not receive a response so I am posting this account of our experience here to allow others to make an informed decision.
        _______________________________________________________________________________

        Now that I am back in London, I wanted to give you some feedback on our experience.

        We were picked up on time and were at the ticket office by 510am only to find out that the naturalist I had requested would not be there until 6. So we had no guide. Did we not pay for this?

        We then arrived at the gate at 515 and were then told the gate didn’t open until 545. When I asked why we had arrived 30 min earlier, your driver said it was to be first in.

        When the gate opened, your driver aggressively battled to be first, almost shoving the jeep next to us off the road. We then travelled in a dusty caravan at at least 50kmh into the park. We passed a stone feature at the side of the road and when our driver saw that others had stopped, he flew in reverse at full speed for about 200m to muscle his way into a tangle of a dozen jeeps in order to get a glimpse of a leopard. The words of may partner were ’this makes me embarrassed to be a human’.

        I told the driver this was not good and to get us away away from the pack of jeeps at all cost. We would rather see no wildlife than feel we are driving through Delhi rush hour.

        As the experience currently stands, I would not take any of my clients on the safari. We do tours regularly at Chitwan National Park in Nepal and the behaviour of the drivers is nothing like this. And I can tell you that the majority of tourists that visit Yala with you and your competitors will feel exactly as we did.

        I would like to suggest you liaise with the other operators and share the story because you are headed down the wrong path. If you are able to provide a tour the features the serenity of nature rather than an aggressive tangle of diesel-spewing jeeps, we would be willing to give it another try. If not, we will find other activities for our guests.
        Written 31 August 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Marr550cc0
        London, UK236 contributions
        2.0 of 5 bubbles
        What an awful day out, the bumps are horrendous
        We drove down the same roads at least 10 times in the hope to see a leopard or elephant
        I don’t know what all the fuss is about, 6 hours of hopeful thinking we will find an animal or two.
        Very expensive and not worth the early wake up I’m afraid.
        Sorry but the UK offers well organised safaris - I believe all guides should be trained.
        Shame as the park is stunning, spoilt by so called ‘guides’ racing each other to locate an animal.
        Written 2 April 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear Sir/Madam, Hope you are lost somewhere. I don't think you have done the tour with us. you can share the invoice we have provided online for the payment if you did the tour with us. because everybody doing a tour with us getting a payment invoice online. Please email me and contact me directly if you have anything related to this the I can check with our guides. Otherwise please do the necessary arrangements to place this review in the correct place. Thanks
        Written 3 April 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Åsa C
        8 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        An amazing experience!! I wanted to join the best guide and Malith didn't disappoint. He has good knowledge of the park and most importantly about the leopards I came to see. He showed great respect not to disturb and as a biologist myself that is very important! We had three amazing sightings of leopards (and of course a lot of other animals).
        I highly recommend this company for a great safari in Yala!
        Written 22 December 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Moumita P
        Mumbai, India45 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dec 2019
        The safari was a really good experience. Menaka who drove us made sure we left as early as 4.30 in order to get in the park before the other vehicles. With his sharp sight, he was the first one to spot a leopard sitting high up on a tree. Overall we spotted 2 leopards, a big herd of Elephants, Peacocks across the park, so many species of birds, mongoose, boars, deers. If in Sri Lanka then Yala must be visited for sure. Thanks Menaka
        Written 20 April 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Parthvi V
        3 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2020 • Couples
        We had a great experience. Our guide, Kavindu, had a great knowledge of the national park itself and we were one of the first ones into the park which is important in terms of animal sightings. Kavindu also explained about the animals and made sure we had the best experience. We saw two leopards, elephants, crocodile, deer, wild buffalo, wild boar and many different bird species. Would highly recommend them!
        Written 28 January 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Marcel
        2 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Mar 2020 • Couples
        Very great safari tour. We were the second car in the park and our driver always tried to find places where there were no other jeeps. We saw leopards, elephants, buffalo, wild boar, and lots of birds and monkeys. All in all, it was a very successful day, thanks to a very committed guide
        Written 8 March 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        milica g
        Belgrade, Serbia14 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2022 • Friends
        This company is very professional and punctual. Communication was very quick and smooth, reservation and confirmation as well. We had a great time at park but didn't have luck to meet leopard at afternoon safari. I guess we need to come back once again :)
        Written 8 January 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Showing results 1-10 of 53
        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Private Tour : YALA National Park with Experienced Driver and Guide provided by Yala Wild Safaris