The 9 Best Yala Safaris in Hikkaduwa

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.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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4.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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5.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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6.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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7.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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8.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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9.Yala National Park Full Day Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 16 hours · from $203

This private, English-guided safari takes you from Bentota and nearby coastal towns to Yala National Park for a 6 am to 6 pm game drive. Travel in an air-conditioned vehicle and spacious Toyota or Land Rover 4x4, with breakfast, lunch, fruit, and water included. Park entry costs extra.

“The park opens at 0600 and there are so many jeeps waiting for the gates to open. Don’t panic. The park is massive and we didn’t see that much traffic. We did see leopards, elephants, mongoose, water buffalo’s, deer, toucan amongst many other animals. Our driver was excellent and took us off the main tracks at times to see animals. The driver provides a home cooked meal ( which is served cold by the beach). As it is a national park, toilet facilities are very basic and there is quite a long time between stops. Bring your own toilet paper. All in all, one of the best experiences of my…”

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