Sri Lanka · SRI LANKA LEOPARD SAFARIS

The 7 Best Leopard Safaris in Sri Lanka

7 tours  ·  from $18

Leopards here climb, sleep in the open and cross the track in front of jeeps, which is why the early gate matters. These 7 drives are compared on park, hours inside and what a private vehicle costs over a shared seat.

Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park - Entering Yala at 6 a.m. by safari jeep
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Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park

1.Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 281 reviews · from $20Our pick

Join Shehan Safari for a 4 to 14-hour Yala National Park jeep trip, usually with hotel pickup and up to six people per jeep. Guides including Tikiri, Mudhu, and Rashandra focus on leopards during the first and final golden hours, while also searching for elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, birds, and smaller wildlife.

“Had a very nice tour with Mudhu. He picked us up from our hotel and was great at spotting animals along the tour route in Yala National Park. We saw a bunch of animals up close -- elephants, peacocks, water buffalo, iguanas, toucans -- as well as some leopards in the distance. Would recommend to other travelers.”

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Leopard Safari in Yala National Park(Full Day/Half A Day) - Choosing between five hours, seven hours, and a full day
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Leopard Safari in Yala National Park(Full Day/Half A Day)

2.Leopard Safari in Yala National Park(Full Day/Half A Day)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · from $22Top rated

Set out from Tissamaharama, Yala, or Kirinda in a private open-top 4WD with a driver-tracker such as Ranga or Amila. Choose a 5-hour, 7-hour, or full-day safari to seek leopards, elephants, sloth bears, jackals, and birds. Park entry costs extra.

“We had an amazing day with Amila! He was so accommodating and worked hard to find all the animals. We saw a leopard and a sloth bear, which is the most rare animal in the park! 4:30 am pick up is early, but worth it. We did the full day tour and honestly, I think that jusRead more”

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Yala National Park Special Leopard Safari Tours By Dinuka Safari

3.Yala National Park Special Leopard Safari Tours By Dinuka Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · from $22

Spend up to 12 hours in Yala National Park with Dinuka Safari, sharing a jeep with no more than six people. Guides such as Dilanka and Ishan track leopards across jungle, plains, lagoons, and coastal areas, with hotel pickup, binoculars, and private service for groups of four or more.

“Communication via WhatsApp went well. Pick up was right on time. The driver spoke reasonable English, he must have good connections since we saw the all, bear, Elephant, leopard, crocodile tons of birds, deer and water buffalo. It was truly a amazing experience .”

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Special Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park by Malith & the team - The first two hours are built around leopard tracking
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Special Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park by Malith & the team

4.Special Leopard Safari Tour in Yala National Park by Malith & the team

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 60 reviews · from $85

Start before dawn with Malith and the Yala Wild Safaris team, reach Yala’s gate early, and spend 6 to 11 AM seeking leopards before covering elephants, crocodiles, deer, peacocks, and birds. Hotel pickup, a maximum of six people, and guide-shared photos add practical value.

“The whole safari experience was undermined by the wreckless and unsafe driving as they determined to reach the national park before anybody else. On countless occasions, sat at the back of the jeep, I hit my head hard on the metal bRead more”

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Yala National Park: 7 hour & 12 hour Leopard Safari Tours - Seven hours or twelve hours in the park
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Yala National Park: 7 hour & 12 hour Leopard Safari Tours

5.Yala National Park: 7 hour & 12 hour Leopard Safari Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 46 reviews · 7 - 13 hours · from $18Best value

Set out from Tissamaharama, Kirinda, Weerawila, Palatupana, or Kataragama in a 4x4 jeep with an English-speaking guide. Look for Yala’s leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, birds, and deer, with breakfast included and lunch on the 12-hour safari.

“It was amazing! The drive was a little crazy but to be expected 🤣 our guide was awesome and we were the first car to a leopard! It was a dream come true. We also saw crocodiles, buffalo, monkeys, and elephants. Long day but the leopard made it worth it!”

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All Inclusive Leopard Nest Treehouse Safari in Yala - The afternoon game drive in Yala National Park
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All Inclusive Leopard Nest Treehouse Safari in Yala

6.All Inclusive Leopard Nest Treehouse Safari in Yala

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 12 reviews · from $200

You’ll travel from Colombo to Yala for two game drives, a private treehouse or luxury tent, alfresco shower, campfire drinks, dinner under the stars, and a dawn nature walk to a lake. Return transfers, meals, selected drinks, and a naturalist guide are included.

“The staff are very friendly and helpful. The road/track to the facility is an adventure (wear the seat belt or hold on tight as you will be thrown around) in its self, similar to some of the tracks around yala national park. Food was very generous portions not a lot of selection Read more”

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Yala National Park: Leopard Safari Full day tour with Lunch - Searching for Yala’s leopard
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Yala National Park: Leopard Safari Full day tour with Lunch

7.Yala National Park: Leopard Safari Full day tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 8 reviews · 12 hours · from $48

Leave your hotel around 5:00 AM for a full-day Yala safari in a modified game-viewing Jeep. Your English-speaking guide, including guides such as Yashara, searches for leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and birds. Lunch and drinks are included, but park fees cost about $40 extra.

“Our guide was amazing - knowledgeable, great at tracking and spotting animals. We saw so many animals! It would be helpful to have more Information on the breakdown of the day and on what to bring - for a full day safari, lunch is served and there is a 2 hour break where no vehicles are allowed in the park. I would recommend a book, swimwear/towel (swim in ocean), or taking something to help pass the time. Would recommend taking snacks. Also, you might get muddy, so dress accordingly and a towel or wet wipes might be useful. I would definitely recommend the full day as we saw elephants in…”

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