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Southern Province, Sri Lanka Jeep & 4WD tours

Our most recommended Southern Province, Sri Lanka Jeep & 4WD tours

Yala National Park: Private Safari at Golden Hours

1. Yala National Park: Private Safari at Golden Hours

After being picked up from your hotel in the local area or Park Entrance you will enter Yala National Park to explore the light forests, scrubs, grasslands, lagoons, and magnificent range of animals. With your private 4WD Jeep and expert guide, the ‘Golden Hours’ of the day will be used to focus on leopard spotting, either the first 2 hours or the last 2 hours of the day. Throughout this safari, you will search for the world’s most concentrated number of leopards, sloth bears, and elephants, as your knowledgable guide and driver expertly navigates the vast area and roads. The morning tour will begin at 5am from your hotel, to take in sunrise as the park opens at 6am. Whilst the afternoon option allows you to explore from 2pm until sunset when the park closes at 6pm. Situated on Sri Lanka’s south-east, hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean, Yala is a wildlife sanctuary and home to 44 varieties of mammals and 215 bird species. Leopards, elephants, water buffalo, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, spotted deer, peacocks, and crocodiles can all be found in this rich environment.

From Ella: Shuttle to Mirissa/Galle with Udawalawe Safari

2. From Ella: Shuttle to Mirissa/Galle with Udawalawe Safari

After pick-up from your hotel in Ella, Haputale or Bandarawela, head for Udawalawe National Park, where you'll switch to an open concept safari jeep in order to have the best views. An early morning start ensures you'll see the animals during one of their most active times of day. See herds of elephants for sure and have fun watching for crocodiles, monkeys, water buffaloes, various endemic birds species and much more. Along the way, you'll learn about and observe the natural habitats of the local wildlife while you snap some amazing photos. Then, at the end of your 3-hour safari adventure, switch back to the comfortable, air-conditioned car for the ride on to Mirissa/Weligama/Unawatuna or Galle where you'll be dropped off at your hotel.

Sri Lanka: Yala National Park Private Safari

3. Sri Lanka: Yala National Park Private Safari

Enjoy the unspoiled natural beauty and amazing wildlife of Sri Lanka on a private safari through Yala National Park. Discover leopards, elephants, water buffalo, and more among tall trees, scenic lagoons and golden sand dunes. With the highest concentration of leopards of any national park in Sri Lanka, Yala National Park is a great place for wildlife enthusiasts to get their fill. Catch a glimpse, and maybe some great photos, of these elusive predators. Watch elephants playfully bathing in the mud, and encounter other fascinating animals, including sloth bears, wild boars, spotted deer, and golden jackals. Check out the vast array of interesting birds. Keep your camera ready as you roam through these animals' natural habitat on this wonderful private safari through Yala National Park.

Yala National Park: Leopard Safari Full day tour with Lunch

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

After being picked up from your hotel in the local area at around 5:00 AM, you will enter Yala National Park to explore the light forests, scrubs, grasslands, lagoons, and magnificent range of animals. Over nearly 400 square miles, the park consistently wows visitors, with its range of lagoons, riparian zones, monsoon jungles, and more, supporting a veritable arc of fauna. As you traverse the park, get the best view of it all from a modified game viewing safari Jeep. After exploring the vast park for a few hours at the helm of your knowledgeable guide, you’ll stop for a picnic lunch at a beautiful viewing spot. Unwind for a while after lunch and get ready to enjoy your second round of the game drive.  As you criss-cross through the stunning landscape, you have the opportunity to see elephants, sloth bears, toque monkeys, wild boar, water monitors, marsh crocodiles, and perhaps the crown jewel of Yala National Park, the spotted leopard—of which the park has one of the highest densities in the world. After your full day of safari exploration, you’ll be transported back to your accommodation, thrilled at the preserved piece of nature that you have experienced.

From Ella: Full-Day Yala National Park Safari Tour

5. From Ella: Full-Day Yala National Park Safari Tour

Visit Ruhunu National Park and explore its 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I, established in 1938. Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of elephants, leopards, spotted deer, sambhur, crocodiles, mongoose, wild boar, wild buffalo, and many other animals. More than 130 bird species are recorded, including the resident and winter visitors. Head to the National Park to take an afternoon safari around 1:00 PM, as the time of day when you can see leopards and sloth bears emerge out of the shady jungle and roam around. Head to great spots for birdwatchers. The water holes and tanks are a birdwatcher's paradise, offering the chance to see the famous peacock dance. For wildlife lovers, Yala is a must see site in Sri Lanka. Once you've finished your tour, return back to your hotel in Ella.

From Hikkaduwa: Udawalawe National Park Safari Tour

6. From Hikkaduwa: Udawalawe National Park Safari Tour

Ride in a jeep and be fascinated by an elephant safari in the Udawalawe National Park. Learn about the herd of elephants that permanently reside in the park from your knowledgeable guide on this adventurous tour. Begin your tour at Hikkaduwa and be picked up by your driver. Proceed to the National Park and spend a thrilling 3-hour trip spotting wildlife on a safari jeep. Find the gracious herd of elephants that live in the park thanks to its abundant water sources. Learn about the hundreds of elephants that annually migrate to the park from nearby protected areas. Finally, head back to the car and be transferred to your hotel in Hikkaduwa.

Bentota: Yala National Park Safari Jeep Tour

7. Bentota: Yala National Park Safari Jeep Tour

Head off on a wildlife and nature adventure on a Jeep safari tour in Yala National Park. Keep an eye out for indigenous animals, including sloth bears, jackals, and more. Learn about Sri Lanka's most-visited park from your local guide. After your hotel pickup in Bentota, sit back and relax in your car as you make your way to Yala National Park. The park is Sri Lanka's second-largest wildlife park and an important nature reserve for around 50 butterfly species and many bird species. Upon arrival, embark on your safari drive by Jeep, keeping an eye out for local leopards and elephants in their natural habitat. Spot other indigenous animals, such as sloth bears, jackals, mongoose, axis deer, buffalos, wild boars, sambar deer, and hares. After the safari, journey back to Bentota to be dropped off back at your accommodation.

From Bentota: Elephant Transit Camp and Udawalawe Safari

8. From Bentota: Elephant Transit Camp and Udawalawe Safari

See many dozens of wild elephants at close proximate to your safari jeep on the Udawalawe safari. You will never get so close to wild elephant-like in Udawalawe. Udawalawe national park is a haven for wildlife lovers, and it is one of the best places for watching elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, buffaloes, deer, and many other creatures. On your return journey visit the Elephant transit camp, where dozens of orphan elephants gather for feeding. Take a walk along the cobbled stone alleys of Galle Fort and discover medieval-period Dutch-styled constructions. Most buildings in this medieval city are now converted into restaurants, galleries, museums, hotels, and shops. Later stroll along the south coast beach and enjoy the refreshing sea breeze while taking a glimpse of endangered sea turtles. Round out the day with a visit to one of the island’s most famous mask-making cities, and learn about exquisite Sri Lankan masks for an activity-filled, full-day tour. Be picked up from your hotel in Bentota or Kalutara in the early morning and drive for around 3.5-hours to Udawalawe National Park. Get up close to spectacular wildlife as you spend 3-hours on a 4x4 jeep safari tour spotting a large array of wild animals in this animal sanctuary. Sightings include wild elephants, crocodiles, jackals, deer, buffalo, and sloth bears. The next stop is Galle Fort, a Dutch fortification and UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the houses, palaces, galleries, restaurants, cafes, and shops in this historically rich town. Take some time to look at the local stores and find typical Sri Lankan handmade products and souvenirs. From here, head to Unawatuna Beach. Enjoy a swim in the warm water or relax on the beach. Discover the cultural heritage of the island at Ambalangoda, a coastal town famous for its mask-making. Visit a mask museum and learn about the meaning of these colorful works of art and their role in traditional dance rituals and festivals. Pass by local fishing villages, harbors, and fish markets and be dropped off at your hotel between 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM.

Hikkaduwa: Yala National Park Jeep Safari Private Day Tour

9. Hikkaduwa: Yala National Park Jeep Safari Private Day Tour

Discover Yala National Park, the second-largest wildlife park in Sri Lanka on a Private Jeep Safari Tour from Hikkaduwa. Experience unspoiled natural beauty and amazing wildlife. Begin with a pickup from your hotel in Hikkaduwa. From there, relax on your drive to Yala National Park. Upon arrival, embark on a safari drive by Jeep, keeping an eye out for local leopards and elephants in their natural habitat. Encounter other indigenous animals such as sloth bears, jackals, mongoose, spotted deers, buffalo, wild boars, sambhur, and hare. Have your camera at the ready as you roam through these animals' natural habitat. You'll also get to see a variety of butterflies and species of birds. After the safari, journey back to your accommodation in Hikkaduwa.

Tangalle: Half-Day Udawalawe Safari

10. Tangalle: Half-Day Udawalawe Safari

Your experience begins as you are picked up in the morning or afternoon from your hotel in Tangalle. From there, relax on the 2-hour drive to the Udawalawa National Park. Along the way, learn how the park was created in the 1970s to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River. Upon arrival to the park, go for a safari drive by Jeep and look for the thriving elephant population in its natural habitat. You can also search for other indigenous wildlife, such as buffalo, wild boar, sambhur, and hare. Now the third-most-visited park in Sri Lanka, Udawalawe is also an important nature reserve for 50 species of butterflies and many species of birds. At the conclusion of your big day out, you'll journey back to Tangalle to be dropped off back to your accommodation.

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What people are saying about Southern Province, Sri Lanka

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 3 reviews

We had an amazing time at the safari, our driver Nalaka went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience. I'm so glad he was our driver because he knew all the tips and tricks that gave you the advantage on the rest! He explained what he was going to do and had a good knowledge of the animals once inside. Honestly our experience was all the better purely because of him

Muthu was an excellent driver! He helped us see almost every animal in Yala National Park! We saw leopards, elephants, water buffalo's, crockodiles, deers, monkeys and lots more! He did everything possible to make our 3 hour afternoon safari the best ever!

Amazing tour and skilles driver. He found every possible animal and was driving good. Nice day!

to do absolutely, but you have to be very lucky to see the leopard

Amazing guide, amazing day out. Muthu was awesome!