Southeast Dry Zone
Yala
Scrub, rock outcrops and brackish lagoons on the southeast coast, holding the highest density of leopards recorded anywhere in the world.
- From Colombo
- 5 hours
- Good for
- Leopards · Elephants · Dawn starts
Gates open at 5.30am. That first hour is the whole game — by nine the cats are down and you are driving around looking at buffalo.
Block one is the busiest section and the one with the leopards. If your dates fall in the September–October closure we will move you to Wilpattu, which sees a fraction of the vehicles.
Routes that include Yala
3 daysYala Safari Short Break
Three days and two parks — elephants at Udawalawe, leopards at Yala — for people who have a week in the country and want one thing done properly.
from$390pp
See the route
12 daysSri Lanka End to End
The full circuit in twelve days — ancient cities, the mountain railway, a proper safari and the south coast — without the 5am departures that usually come with it.
from$1480pp
See the route