Everything guests askbefore they book.

A 4-hour private jeep safari in Yala costs US$68 per jeep for up to 6 people, and a shared seat starts at US$58 for one or two travellers. A 6-hour private safari is US$75 and a full day is US$110 per jeep. Park entrance tickets are paid separately.

On our own Yala and Bundala jeep safaris the tickets are not included: your payment covers the jeep, driver and guide only, and you buy the park entrance ticket separately, which is about US$43 per foreign adult in Yala. Our Viator listings with tickets included are priced differently and say so.

For three or more travellers a private jeep is cheaper: US$68 for the whole jeep against US$87 for three shared seats on a 4-hour safari. A shared jeep only saves money for one or two people, at US$58 against US$68.

Early morning is best: the 4:30 AM start puts you at the gate as it opens, when leopards and elephants are still active and the light is good for photographs. The afternoon drive from 1:45 PM is the next best, ending in golden light.

February to July is the best stretch: the park is dry, animals gather at waterholes and leopard sightings are at their most frequent. Bundala is best from December to March, when the migrant birds are in.

Yala Block 1 usually closes for about six weeks from early September to mid-October each year for maintenance, but the exact dates are set annually by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Ask us for this year's dates - when Block 1 is shut we run safaris in Bundala or in Yala Blocks 5 and 6 instead.

No one can promise a leopard - this is wild country and the animals move where they like. Yala Block 1 has the highest leopard density in Sri Lanka, our trackers know the territories, and a longer drive improves your chances, but we will never guarantee a sighting.

Udawalawe is the most reliable park for elephants, with herds visible all year on open grassland. Yala holds around 350 elephants and Bundala has between 15 and 60 depending on the season, with December the best month there.

Bundala is the best park for birds: it is a Ramsar wetland and UNESCO biosphere reserve where lagoons and dunes draw thousands of waterbirds, especially from December to March. Yala is also one of Sri Lanka's 70 Important Bird Areas, with more than 215 species and 6 endemics.

Six. One jeep carries up to 6 guests, and a private jeep costs the same whether there are two of you or six. For 7 or more people message us on WhatsApp and we will arrange extra jeeps.

Pickup and drop-off are free from Tissamaharama, Weerawila, Kataragama and Kirinda. We also collect from Palatupana, Bundala Junction, Weligatta, Yodhakandiya and Hambantota Port, and Matara can be arranged as an optional extra.

Yes, children of any age are welcome and infant seats can be arranged on request. A private jeep is the easier option with small children because you set your own pace and can turn back early.

Bring a hat, sunscreen, a light jacket for the cold early start, a camera and your passport, which is needed when the entrance tickets are bought. We supply drinking water in a cool box, and binoculars are provided on the Viator tours.

You can pay online by PayPal or card when you book, or by bank transfer once we have confirmed your booking. If we cannot run your date, an online payment is refunded in full. The park entrance fee is paid separately, and we will tell you the current amount when we confirm.

Cancel 24 hours or more before the start time and you get a full refund; inside 24 hours there is no refund. If a safari has to be cancelled for bad weather, you choose between a new date and a full refund.

Yes. We run two shared shore excursions from Hambantota Port: Yala National Park at US$100 per adult with the park entrance included, and Udawalawe with the Elephant Transit Home at US$110 per adult with all tickets included. Your driver meets you in the arrival hall with a name sign.

Use the price calculator to pick your park, package and group size, then send the booking to us on WhatsApp or by email. You can pay straight away by PayPal or card, or wait for us to confirm availability and pay by bank transfer.