The 15 Safari Tours in Hikkaduwa That Earn Their Price

1.Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Tangalle: Yala Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 263 reviews · 9 hours · from $45Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned vehicle from Hikkaduwa, Galle, Weligama, Mirissa, or Tangalle to Yala National Park. A local driver such as Dilan, Sasanka, Chathura, or Tikiri takes you on a three-hour Jeep safari, looking for leopards, elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, deer, and birds. The listed price is $45, plus the park fee.

“Chathura is a best driver ever! We were not scared with him, so professional and friendly! Hello from Belarus. We wish you all the best!”

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2.Galle/Mirissa/Tangalle: Transfer to Ella & Yala Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 235 reviews · 4 - 9 hours · from $11Best value

Travel from Galle, Mirissa, Weligama, Matara, Hiriketiya, or Tangalle to Ella with a three-hour Yala National Park safari en route. Your air-conditioned transfer vehicle meets an open-sided safari jeep at the park. Guides such as Dilan, Sasanka, Tikiri, and Ishan are praised for spotting wildlife and sharing useful nature facts.

“Our guide Dilan was really nice. We could spot elephants, buffaloes and lucky enough to spot one leopard. I had a great safari.”

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3.Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Tangalle: Udawalawa Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 114 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $27

Travel by air-conditioned car from Hikkaduwa, Galle, Mirissa, or Tangalle to Udawalawe National Park. A local guide such as Pathum or Mahesh leads the 4x4 safari, where you may see elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, deer, and birds. Add the Elephant Transit Home feeding visit for a useful conservation stop.

“We were a bit unsure at first when booking this activity. The reviews were too good, almost too good to be true. After the activity I cannot find anything negative to say. Our driver Janaka picked us up from our Airbnb precisely at 12 and drove us to the park. He was very talkative and told us many interesting facts about the country as well as showing us many locations on the way. The drive was very comfortable with AC and water in a nice car! At Udawalawe the safari jeep was already waiting for us (no waiting time) and our guide Pathum showed us the best spots in the…”

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4.Udawalawe Safari Private Day Trip with Lunch – All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 69 reviews · 6 - 12 hours · from $110

Join Bentota Travel Mart for a private Udawalawe day trip with hotel pickup, a 3 to 3.5-hour jeep safari, the Elephant Transit Home feeding session, and lunch. Drivers such as Dinesh and Ravin handle the road transfer, while a park guide helps you spot elephants, crocodiles, birds, monkeys, and smaller wildlife.

“Everything was excellent to the punctual pickup by Dinesh, smooth drive & handover to jeep & safari guide We saw loads of Elephants & even a 5 day old baby. Lots of other animals & birds seen & expertly pointed out to us. Would highly recommend Bentota Travel mart for this experience. Thanks to all!!”

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5.Udawalawa Safari & Drop Tangalle/ Mirissa/ Galle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 45 reviews · 8 - 9 hours · from $47

Leave Ella for a 4x4 safari in Udawalawe National Park, where you may see elephants, buffaloes, leopards, peacocks, and other birds. Visit the Elephant Transit Home at a scheduled feeding, then continue by air-conditioned vehicle to Mirissa, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Tangalle, or another listed stop. Guide Baeus has earned special praise for his wildlife skills.

“Baeus, our tour guide, was so informative, very professional and took great care of us! The transport pick up was reliable and on time, we had an incredible safari experience. There was a que to get into the national park but once we were inside, Baeus took us away from the crowds and other jeeps where we got so up close to the elephants. Brillant experience! Would definitely recommend :)) thanks Baeus”

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6.From Galle/ Mirissa/ Tangalle : Udawalawa Safari & Drop Ella

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 31 reviews · 8 hours · from $46

Travel from Hikkaduwa, Galle, Mirissa, or Tangalle to Udawalawe for a three-hour 4x4 safari, a baby elephant feeding session, and a drive to Ella. You may see elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, leopards, and birds. The $46 price excludes park and transit-home fees, so budget for roughly $43 more, plus food.

“Après un grand nombre de négociations, nous avons pu maintenir l horaire de départ fixé sur le billet. Autrement super organisation et très bon rapport qualité/ prix.”

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7.Value Tour: One Day Safari Trip to Yala & Udawalawe w/ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 13 reviews · 1 day · from $57

Leave your hotel before sunrise for Yala National Park, then stop for a local picnic lunch and feeding time at Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home. Finish with a 3 PM safari in Udawalawe. Guides such as Dilan, Ishan, Naja, and Sasanka have led recent trips, but the assigned guide can vary.

“Our tour was great! The tour guide Naja was fantastic and made sure we got everywhere we needed and that our lunch was provided. He took care to ensure we saw as many animals as possible which made the trip incredible! I would recommend for anyone wanting to see lots of animals as both parks combined satisfy that. Make sure you bring the money for the park entrances, in cash, for a smooth trip.”

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8.Shuttle to Down South Any Location w Yala Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 1 day · from $29Top rated

Travel by air-conditioned vehicle from Ella to Tangalle, Mirissa, Galle, or another southern stop, with a 3-hour open-jeep safari in Yala National Park. Guides such as Sasanka, Chathura, and Ishan help spot wildlife and explain animal habits. Bring food and allow a full day, since park fees cost extra.

“Ottimo safari, la nostra guida Ishan era super competente e gentile, ci ha spiegato le abitudini dei diversi animali. Il posto é spettacolare e pieno di specie diverse. Consigliato assolutamente!!!”

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9.Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama/Mirissa: Yala National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 1 day · from $43

You’ll leave your south-coast hotel before dawn, ride by private air-conditioned vehicle to Yala, then join a Jeep safari for three hours. Guides such as Sasanka and Vishwa help spot leopards, elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, deer, and birds. The park fee, about LKR 13,000 per person, is paid separately.

“Unser Fahrer Janaka hat uns pünktlich im Hotel abgeholt, für jeden von uns stand eine Flasche Wasser bereit und er sprach gut Englisch, auf der Fahrt hat er uns einige interessante Sachen erzählt und Musik für uns angemacht. Die Safari war auch toll, unser Safari Guide hat sich viel Mühe gegeben damit wir einen Leoparden sehen und immer versucht uns den besten Blick zu geben. Danach wurden wir direkt wieder von Janaka eingesammelt und sicher zurück ins Hotel gebracht, er ist sehr sicher gefahren, was nicht der Standard hier auf Sri Lanka ist. ◡̈”

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10.One Day Udawalawe Safari from Galle/Mirissa/Unawatuna/Hikkaduwa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $184

Set out early from Galle, Mirissa, Unawatuna, or Hikkaduwa for a private Udawalawe safari with guide Mahesh or another local guide. Your package covers transport, park entry, snacks, water, a safari Jeep, and the Elephant Transit Home. Koggala’s stilt fishermen and Dikwella’s Buddha statue add brief coastal stops.

“Great way to see elephants and other animals in the wild! It was fun to stop at the Elephant Transit Home for feeding time, too, with the little elephants trotting around. Our guide Mahesh did a fine job finding the animals for us in the wild. IRead more”

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11.Udawalawa National Park Safari trip from Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · from $48

You leave your hotel before dawn for a private, air-conditioned ride to Udawalawe National Park. A safari jeep takes you through elephant country, with chances to see water birds, deer, buffalo, crocodiles, and other wildlife. Lunch and an optional Elephant Transit Home visit follow, while park entry and the jeep fee cost extra.

“Leider ist es nicht möglich keine Sterne zu vergeben. Tour gebucht, Anbieter hat sich nie gemeldet und wir wurden auch nie abgeholt, haben also für unser Geld NICHTS bekommen. Viator meldet sich auch nicht mehr. Geld ist wohl weg.”

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12.From Hikkaduwa/ Galle/ Mirissa – Yala National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 5 reviews · 11 hours · from $54

Leave your hotel in Hikkaduwa, Galle, Weligama, Mirissa, or nearby towns for an 11-hour Yala safari with an English-speaking guide. You will ride to the park in an air-conditioned car, then switch to a 4x4 jeep for about four hours among leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer, and birds. The $54 price excludes the park entrance fee.

“What an amazing experience. From a prompt pick-up at the hotel with a friendly driver who often checked on our comfort to the overall safari experience. Our driver and guide were first class, so knowledgeable about all the animals on the park. They were relentless in tracking each species down to ensure we had the best day. Lunch was provided which was an unexpected surprise. Overall would give this a 5-star rating. The jeep ride alone is worth the cost of the trip.”

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13.Kalutara/Bentota/Kosgoda/Ahungalla/Hikkaduwa: Yala Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $124

Leave your hotel in Kalutara, Bentota, Beruwala, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ambalangoda, Ahungalla, or Hikkaduwa for Yala National Park. You travel by private air-conditioned vehicle, then switch to a safari Jeep with an English-speaking guide such as Sasanka, Mutu, or Jashar. Expect elephants, birds, buffalo, crocodiles, and the chance to spot a leopard.

“Belle expérience de safari avec notre guide Sasanka. Nous avons pu observer de nombreux éléphants !”

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14.From: Hikkaduwa/ Galle/ Unawatuna/ Talpe – YALA Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 9.5 hours · from $43

Leave Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Talpe, Dodanduwa, or Rathgama before sunrise, then join a shared Toyota Hilux safari at Yala. You get three hours inside the park, split between two game drives and a Patanangala Beach break. Guides such as Dilan and Kasun B may lead the drive, with leopard sightings possible but never guaranteed.

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15.Hikkaduwa/Galle/Unawatuna/Mirissa: Udawalawa Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 9 hours · from $63

From Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa, or Matara, you travel by private air-conditioned vehicle to Udawalawe National Park for a three-hour jeep safari. An English-speaking guide helps you search for elephants, including family groups and calves, plus crocodiles, buffalo, monkeys, eagles, and smaller birds. Park admission is extra.

“Incredible safari - saw lots of elephants and crocodiles up close, well organised. Only downside was being hounded for tips. Our guide asked for a tip before we even set off! By all means, ask at the end of the day but not before we’ve even started the tour.”

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