When you think of Sri Lanka, you think of beautiful beaches, tea plantations and delicious curries. However, did you know that it is one of the best places in the world for a safari? When we were planning our trip, there was only one place to book the safari for; Yala. We then did some research and found that an afternoon safari in Yala National Park gives you the best chance of seeing the elusive wildlife, including leopards.
Here is my quick guide to help you prepare for your safari in Yala. I’ll include everything you need to know to help you plan your perfect safari
Afternoon Safari in Yala National Park | Your Quick Guide
Why Yala?
When we booked Sri Lanka, we knew that Yala was a must. It is famous for being the best place, arguably in the world, to spot a leopard. Not only that, but there is plenty of other wildlife there to enjoy too, including some of the more famous animals like elephants, water buffalos and sloth bears.
Perhaps the best things about Yala is the scenery. The colours of fired-earth and sage green vividly light up the scrubland, and marry up nicely with the cooler tones of the lagoons and coastal dunes. In the afternoon light, we found that this colour palette was more impressive than ever.
I should add that lots of people suggested that Yala was too busy for their liking. If you read around the internet you’ll see people complain about the sheer number of jeeps around. There were a few moments where I thought this, but because of the size of the park they became diluted quickly. It was nowhere near as bad as I had feared, or in comparison to the eco-park in Habarana. It didn’t take away from our experience and we still had an amazing time. As our guide said, Yala is known as the best place for a safari for a reason…
Safari Timings and Advice
There are two time slots available in Yala and each one lasts around 3-4 hours. You can go early in the morning, or late afternoon. As you might have guessed, I would strongly recommend an afternoon safari in Yala National Park. Our safari driver and our Sri Lanka guide both said that this was the best time to see leopards and you are far more likely to see one at this time. Plus, the morning safaris require a very early start, which is not what you want on holiday.
When it comes to seeing the animals, a good, knowledgeable driver is essential. We asked our driver in Sri Lanka to book a private safari with somebody who he knows. He recruited a local man called Bindu, who had been driving in the park for decades. He frequently drove us away from the crowds and would point out animals that we wouldn’t have had a chance of seeing. Bindu also drove the slowest compared to other jeeps, who would always speed and overtake us but miss an elusive lizard or bird hiding in the bush.
With jeeps in mind, I cannot stress how important it is to book a private jeep. These will be slower and will ask you what you want to see. We spent the last hour searching for a leopard – my husband was desperate to see one – and our guide drove slowly around the main area where there were recent sightings.
Top Tip: Book multiple afternoon safaris if you can. Wildlife is unpredictable and you never know what you will see.
Where to Stay
Yala National Park has a lot of excellent hotels which you can’t really go wrong with. We stayed at Jetwing Yala, which was really good with a superb room and delicious food. However, we also saw other amazing hotels such as the Cinnamon Wild Yala and the Jetwing Jungle Lodge. All of these hotels had a good location, with animals roaming around the site during the day and night.
These were also the mid-range options and, even then, they were pricey. For some of the more exclusive hotels, prices are similar to the luxury safari experiences in Africa. However, if this is what you are looking for, the Wild Coast Tented Lodge is a dreamy hotel. If not, I would suggest one of the three above.
Wildlife Highlights
The wildlife in Yala is extremely diverse and you can expect to see some amazing animals. Some of my favourites are:
- Leopards – Yala has the highest concentration of leopards anywhere in the world. Bindu said that your odds of seeing one are about 3 in 5, so you are more likely than not.
- Asian Elephants – We saw lots of elephants in Yala, especially swimming in the watering holes. You will see these all over and, if you’re lucky, you can see a large bull tusker.
- Sloth Bears – Perhaps the rarest animal in the park, but definitely one of the cutest. Sloth bears are extremely shy and often hide away from jeeps. You have your best chance of seeing them with an experienced, private jeep.
- Birdlife – Where to begin with the birdlife? We were really lucky and saw all the birds I had hoped to see, including the gorgeous bee-eater. Make sure that you tell your guide that you are interested in birds, otherwise they will drive past them in pursuit of bigger game.
- Crocodiles – There are lots of muggar crocodiles in Yala. During the afternoon, you’ll either see them warming up on the banks of the watering holes or swimming around.
What to Pack
When we did our afternoon safari in Yala National Park, we brought the following kit:
- Neutral-colored clothing (greens, browns, khaki) so that we could blend into the environment. As the jeeps are covered, you won’t need a raincoat.
- Our Canon R7 with a 400mm lens. I’d argue that the lens was potentially too small, but we still managed to get some great photos.
- Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses – whilst the jeep is covered you’ll be amazed at how easily you can get burnt!
- We brought a lot of water with us as we would be driving for about 4 hours.
- Money for tipping is very much expected in Sri Lanka and the guides will see a low tip as offensive. We were told that 5,000 rupees (around £12) is the usual done-thing.
Final Thoughts | Afternoon Safari in Yala National Park
Our afternoon safari in Yala National Park was an incredible experience. We managed to see a lot of the animals we had hoped to see, along with some breathtaking scenery which we did not expect. My best advice would be to ignore people who say that the jeeps ruin it. Where there times were there were more jeeps than I would have liked? Yes. Did it take away from the magical experience overall? Not one bit and I would recommend Yala to anyone in Sri Lanka.
