6 Safari Tours in Ella to Build a Day Around

1.Drop to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa & Yala Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 296 reviews · 4 - 10 hours · from $11Our pick

Travel from Ella by air-conditioned vehicle, pause for a three-hour open-jeep safari in Yala National Park, then continue to Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Galle and nearby towns. Guides including Sasanka, Dilan, Ishan and Tikiri are praised for spotting wildlife and explaining what you see. Park entry costs extra.

“We had a great safari with our lovely guide Sasanka! He was very knowledgeable and tried to show us as many animals as possible despite it being dry season. Highly recommend!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Yala Safari with Tangalle/Mirissa/Galle Drop-off

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 198 reviews · 9 hours · from $10Best value

Travel from Ella to Yala National Park by air-conditioned car, spend about four hours in a 4x4 jeep with an English-speaking guide, then continue to Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Unawatuna, or Galle. Guides such as Isuru, Kavee, Srimal, and Chutte are praised for spotting wildlife, including leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and birds.

“the transfer war smooth and the safari was amazing! Our guide/driver Isuru explained us everything about Yala park and the animals we were seeing. He was very attentive and despite he was driving he managed to spot a lot of fauna for us! We even see a leopard and a sloth bear (incredibly). The park was crowded at the entrance, but inside is so big that you will barely see other jeeps around. Absolutely worthy, I would definitely book it again”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Shuttle to Tangalle/Mirissa/Galle w Udawalawe Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 166 reviews · 7 hours · from $48Top rated

Use this Ella to south-coast transfer as a practical wildlife stop. Your air-conditioned vehicle collects you in Ella, then you switch to an open safari jeep for about three hours in Udawalawe National Park. Guides such as Pathum, Koshala, Mahesh, and Manesh are praised for spotting elephants, crocodiles, birds, buffalo, and monkeys before the driver takes you to your hotel.

“Overall, the roadtrip was easy and comfortable, and our driver was lovely and even offered to pause at some sights. The safari was very fun and our guide Manesh was lovely, explaining things to us and pointing things out as we drove along. As a transit from Ella to Tangalle, it was a great bypass, and something I would recommend to anyone interested!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Yala National Park Safari Tour in a 4×4

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 155 reviews · 8 hours · from $49

You leave Ella before dawn or later in the day, ride two hours to Yala, then join a private 4x4 safari through forests, scrub, grasslands, and lagoons. Guides such as Sasanka, Dilan, Muthu, and Tikiri are praised for spotting leopards and small animals. Expect a long day, a separate cash park fee, and a real chance of seeing elephants and crocodiles.

“What an adventure that was! Very happy with our driver who got us to our 4x4 car was a nice and smooth journey despite early morning! Naja our tour guide at the park was amazing at spotting animals and wanted to make sure we will see as much as we can.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Yala Safari with Drop at Tangalle/ Hiriketiya/ Mirissa

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 74 reviews · 9 - 16 hours · from $11

Leave Ella by air-conditioned car, spend about four hours in Yala National Park with an English-speaking guide and 4x4 jeep, then continue to Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Galle, or Hikkaduwa. Expect elephants, crocodiles, deer, birds, and a chance at a leopard, with the LKR 13,000 park ticket paid separately.

“We had a good time and we managed to see all the animals. Our driver was very nice. On the way to the Safari he stopped for us in order to take pictures of the waterfall in Ella. Totally worth it. Thank you again!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Tuk-Tuk Safari Liptons seat,Tea Fields Hike,TeaFactory Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 46 reviews · 7 hours · from $60

Leave Ella by tuk-tuk for a countryside ride through Bandarawela or Haputale. Walk tea-estate paths with an English-speaking guide, enjoy a picnic, reach Lipton Seat, then tour Dambatenne Tea Factory, built in 1890. The day ends in Haputale, so plan your onward transport rather than expecting a return to Ella.

“Excellent experience despite heavy rain. Our guide did a wonderful job working around the cloud cover and rain, to create an interesting and fun tour”

Check availability →Read our full review