If you have been dreaming of spotting leopards, elephants and bright colourful birds in the wild, but don’t want to pay the prices of an African safari. Have you ever considered an affordable safari in Sri Lanka?
You’ll find some of the best national parks in Sri Lanka for wildlife spotting. Although you won’t see some of the big animals on safari, as you would in Africa, you still have the chance to spot a leopard, the shy sloth bear and plenty of elephants.
But choosing the right beautiful park to go on safari can feel a little overwhelming, especially if you have limited time.
And with each park offering something different, it’s easy to feel unsure about where you’ll have the best chance to spot your dream wildlife.
Over the last 15 years, we have been visiting Sri Lanka every year and have been on safari in Yala National Park. We can still remember the thrill, the bumpy ride and the exciting moment a leopard stepped out right in front of us.
You can experience this too.
In this guide, we will break down the best national parks based on our experiences. Whether you’re chasing the leopard, watching herds of elephants or getting off the beaten track, we’ll help you pick the park that is perfect for you.
By the end, you’ll be able to pick the right safari in Sri Lanka and feel confident planning the rest of your Sri Lanka itinerary.
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Best National Parks for wildlife and safari
While this island might be small, it is certainly packed with plenty of wildlife, including a number of national parks, which is ideal for a safari.
BUT not every park is the same, the season, crowd level and the different animals you may spot will vary from park to park.
While Yala is the most popular and famous park in Sri Lanka and there is a higher chance of spotting the leopard, this one isn’t for everyone.
It is by far the busiest national park in Sri Lanka, so if you are wanting to avoid the crowds, then you might want to avoid Yala National Park and choose an alternative.
That way, you can choose what is the right park for you, depending on the wildlife encounters, the crowd levels and when the perfect season is to visit.
So, you can feel confident with your choices.
Yala National Park
Located on the southern regions of Sri Lanka, Yala National Park is the second largest national park but the most popular.
Yala is known to have the highest density of leopard population in the world, so there is a higher chance of spotting at least one while on safari, although there is no guarantee.
We spent an entire day on safari in Yala, and we spotted one leopard cross the road in front of us. We did spot one of two other leopards hidden in the trees in the distance.
As they were so far in the distance, a long lens camera or binoculars is ideal for spotting wildlife in the distance.
If you are lucky, you might spot a sloth bear, but sightings are very rare.
Other known animals you’ll see are different bird species, plenty of elephants, crocodiles, lizards, rabbits and deer.
As with the popularity, comes the crowds, with teams of jeeps bumping along the dirt road, just on the search for different animals.
Our Top Tips for Visiting Yala:
Famous for: leopards
Best time to visit: During the dry season between January to August and November to December. This is when the water levels are at the lowest, drawing wildlife to the watering holes.
Who is it best suited for: Couples, families, wildlife enthusiasts, solo travellers, backpackers
Quick tip: Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds.
Udawalawe National Park
Located in the southern regions of Sri Lanka, the national park was created to relocate any displace animals, because of construction of Udawalawe Reservoir.
While not as popular as Yala National Park, it will mean there will be far fewer crowds. This will offer a better experience with spotting wildlife.
Udawalawe has the largest population of Sri Lankan elephants, so you’ll spot an elephant or a few hundred on your safari.
You could pair your experience of Udawalawe National Park, with Udawalawe Elephant transit home.
What we loved about the elephant transit home, is that they care for and rehabilitate orphaned elephants and releases them back into the park.
It was an amazing experience to watch the baby elephants being fed and then watching them have some playful time after. A few elephants tried to go back for seconds, but the handlers wouldn’t allow it.
You’ll also encounter plenty of bird species, deer, crocodiles and lizards.
Our Top Tips for Visiting Udawalawe National Park:
Famous for: The largest elephant population
Best time to visit: During the dry season of May to September. The animals will tend to be looking for water sources, which will make it easier to spot them.
Who is it best suited for: Families, first-time going on safari, backpackers, couples
Quick tip: You’re best booking a guided tour, with an experienced driver and tracker.
Wilpattu National Park
Located on the northwest coast of Sri Lanka, it is the largest national park and the oldest in the country.
Other than Yala, Wilpattu also offers the best opportunity to spot leopards compared to the other national parks in Sri Lanka.
Sadly, many rush off to Yala National Park and completely skip Wilpattu, which is a shame. But take this as an advantage, as it will be far quieter, with less crowds.
Which means rather than be stuck in a traffic jam of jeeps, you could take Wilpattu at your leisure.
You could plan you itinerary to co-inside with a trip to Kalpitiya to get some whale and dolphin watching. You’ll not only get to see land mammals, but mammals in the water too.
Our Top Tips for Visiting Wilpattu National Park:
Famous for: Wilpattu is famous for Villus, which is a natural sand-rimmed water basin that fills with rainwater. This attracts all kinds of wildlife. You’ll also have a good chance of spotting leopards, elephants, crocodiles, birds and the rare sloth bear.
Best time to visit: During the dry season of May to September when wildlife gathers at the villus.
Who is it best suited for: Couples, solo travellers, wildlife enthusiasts, families, backpackers
Quick tip: Bring binoculars as the park is large and open, having a pair will help you spot any leopards lazing in trees or near the villus.
Minneriya National Park
Located within the cultural triangle, which makes this the ideal safari to include, while visiting Polunnaruwa and the east of the country.
Minneriya National Park is known for the term “the gathering”. It’s when herds of elephants migrate to Minneriya tank in search of water and fresh grazing.
So, you won’t just encounter one of two elephants, you’ll encounter dozens if not hundreds gathering in one place.
While elephants are the star of the show, you might be lucky to spot deer, crocodiles, birds and the sloth bare, although this will be a rare sighting.
Not as popular as Yala National Park, although during peak season, it can get a little busy with safari jeeps.
Our Top Tips for Visiting Minneriya National Park:
Famous for: The gatherings, which takes place during the dry season. Elephants migrate to the villus in search of water.
Best time to visit: between July and October and August and September, to see the gatherings.
Who is it best suited for: families, first time on safari, couples, backpackers,
Quick tip: Visit in the afternoon, when elephants head towards the water tanks to graze, drink and bathe in the water.
How to plan a safari in Sri Lanka
By now you should have some idea which national park is ideal for you, now let’s plan your perfect safari in Sri Lanka.
Do you need a guide?
We would 100% recommend you hiring a guide to take you on safari in Sri Lanka.
Let’s face it, they should know the area, should be experienced and take you to best places for wildlife spotting.
But you do need to book a guide that is ethical and keeps you at a safe distance from the animals.
The worst thing to happen, is your guide gets you too close to an elephant or other animals, which causes them upset and distress.
Unfortunately, on our trip to Yala, the guide took us too close to an elephant, which we could clearly see was in distress with our presents. This caused the elephant to nearly charge at our jeep.
We swiftly made it clear to the guide that we shouldn’t get this close to elephants. Let’s be honest, we are stepping into the animal’s home, which we should be respecting.
Which leads us onto, making sure you do your research on appropriate guides to take you on safari, check the reviews and make sure you are completely happy with them and that they are ethical.
Now you have two choices, when hiring a guide.
You can hire a private jeep for you and your group, or you could share a jeep with other like-minded travellers.
Hiring a private jeep is an expensive option, especially if you’re travelling on a budget. If you’re travelling as a family or with a group of travellers then the cost of the jeep will be split between the group.
If you’re travelling solo or a solo backpacker, we would recommend sharing a jeep with other like-minded travellers. Not only is it cheaper, but a great way to make new friends and shared experiences.
Essential safari tips no one tells you
Safaris in Sri Lanka are utterly a magical experience, but only if you plan it well, know what to expect and how to get the best out of the experience.
So, here are some of the essential safari tips no one tells you.
Best time to visit
While we might recommend visiting during the dry season or early morning/late afternoon, but travelling during the wet season or midday, may offer a different perspective, you could encounter different wildlife, etc.
Just don’t write it off completely, it’s about doing what is right for you and your travel style.
What to wear
You should wear comfortable clothes that will keep you cool in the Sri Lankan heat. But you shouldn’t wear bright colours, leave those at home.
The aim is to blend in with the surroundings, so you don’t startle or scare the wildlife. Wear earthy, neutral tones like khaki, olive, tan, or brown.
Be patient
Unfortunately, you can’t just click your fingers, and wildlife will just appear in front of you. It takes time to locate them.
Be patient and enjoy the experience.
Have realistic expectations
News flash, a safari is not a zoo. If you were looking for wildlife to just be there, then maybe visiting a zoo should be on your list. Although we don’t like the thought of animals being caged, taken out of their habitat just for our amusement.
With that being said there are no guarantees you’ll spot a leopard or sloth bear. In fact, we didn’t see a bear, only the back end of it disappearing into the bushes, but we did see plenty of other wildlife.
But what we saw on safari in Yala, maybe completely different to what you see in any of these national parks in Sri Lanka.
We don’t want you to go on safari in Sri Lanka, only to be disappointed that you didn’t get to see what you hoped to see. Thats the fun of going on safari, it’s the unpredictability of it.
Conclusion
So, choosing the right national park in Sri Lanka, at the right time of year, in a style that suits you, that’s the difference between a poor experience or one that you’ll remember for life.
Whether you are looking to see the shy sloth bear, a brazen leopard walk in front of you, or herds of elephants grazing in the distance, Sri Lanka has a safari for every type of traveller.
The thrill of the quiet moments, the bumping road that leads to the unknown, now that is the magic of a safari.
Are you planning your first safari in Sri Lanka? Not sure which park will suit your travel style? Or have you been and wanted to share your favourite with us? Drop us a comment below. We’d love to hear from you, chat and swap stories.
Continue your travel planning, with these useful posts:
- Best train journeys in Sri Lanka
- 7 Day Sri Lanka itinerary
- 2 Week Sri Lanka itinerary
- 10 Day Sri Lanka itinerary
- Best places to visit in Sri Lanka
- Staple foods in Sri Lanka you must try
- Temple dos and don’ts
- Travel guide to Sri Lanka
- Things to do in Colombo
- Things to do in Galle
