Safari animalier/game drive dans le parc national de Yala - par Ajith Safari

We stayed for 3 days at Varahana Bungalow. Ideal to stay inside the park because best sightings are early morning and late evening. Positives - location of bungalow, excellent service, fab jeep driver Theekshana hired privately (0778130444) - he may not be fluent in English. Negatives - frogs inside washrooms (for the squeamish) , bad time because of Pada Yatra pilgrimage where many thousands walk across jungle causing animals to relocate away from this area. Dusty because of drought. Animals tend to be inside thick jungle because of the heat.

Fantastic company very reliable, they respond every time you message them. They arrive on time , keep in contact with you fantastic safari of yala and also udawalawe park. Suresh was our guide he was brilliant and great fun, the driver was Bale we seen so many animals. This is a really trustworthy company definitely worth booking with .

We did 3 safaris on our Sr Lanka trip and this one was probably the least value for money. The driver drive like a madman both in and out of the park. Felt like we were trining to come first in a race.

The car was perfect on time and it was a nice jeep. The driver was very good at spotting animals. We would have liked that he spoke better english so that we could get an explanation of the animals and the park.

The safari was well organized. One has the opportunity to see elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo, ostriches, and other wild animals.

The driver was professional but didn’t take us through the whole park. We happened to be driving only on perimeter and saw almost nothing for 2-2.5 hours. He kept driving straight and didn’t take any turns to go into the depth of the park

We had booked and confirmed with this company months ago and were so looking forward to our safari. When we arrived in Hambantota they didn’t turn up. We phoned them and they first said we cancelled then hung up. When we phoned back they changed their story and said they were waiting for an hour for us and then left. We even arrived 30 minutes early! Only when I threatened that I would report them did they agree to our refund. Which left us too late to organise an alternative safari. Very disappointed!!!

Tikiri did our tour and he really tried so hard that we could see everything! He was good at spotting animals and also made sure we were in a good place every time

Kesh with Sri Lanka Review No: 01 Yala National Park – Sri Lanka’s Wild Paradise 🐆 If you’re dreaming of a true wildlife adventure in Sri Lanka, Yala National Park is a destination you simply cannot miss. Located in the southeastern region of the island, Yala is the most famous and visited national park in Sri Lanka, offering an unforgettable safari experience filled with raw nature and incredible wildlife. 🐾 A Wildlife Lover’s Dream Yala is world-renowned for having one of the highest densities of leopards on the planet, making it one of the best places to spot this elusive big cat in the wild. But that’s not all—this park is home to: 🐘 Sri Lankan elephants 🐻 Sloth bears 🐊 Crocodiles 🦌 Spotted deer & sambur 🦚 Over 200 bird species With such rich biodiversity, every safari drive feels like stepping into a real-life wildlife documentary. 🌍 Unique Landscapes What makes Yala truly special is its diverse ecosystem. Within one park, you’ll find: Dense jungles 🌳 Open grasslands 🌾 Lagoons & wetlands 💧 Rocky outcrops 🪨 Even stunning beaches along the Indian Ocean 🌊 This variety creates the perfect habitat for a wide range of animals and makes every safari visually breathtaking. 🚙 The Safari Experience A safari in Yala is the highlight of any Sri Lanka trip. You’ll ride in a 4x4 jeep through rugged terrain, guided by experienced trackers who know exactly where to find wildlife. 🕓 Best times for safari: Early morning (6:00 AM – 10:00 AM) Late afternoon (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM) Each drive is unique—you might see a leopard resting on a rock, elephants crossing your path, or birds flying over peaceful lagoons. 📅 Best Time to Visit The ideal time to visit Yala is during the dry season (February to June), when animals gather around water sources, making them easier to spot. However, Yala offers something special all year round, from lush green landscapes in the rainy season to peaceful, less crowded safaris. ✨ Why Visit Yala? ✔️ Best place in Sri Lanka to see leopards ✔️ Incredible variety of wildlife ✔️ Unique mix of jungle, lakes, and beaches ✔️ Perfect for nature lovers & photographers 🌟 Final Thought Yala National Park is more than just a safari destination—it’s a journey into the heart of Sri Lanka’s wild beauty. Whether you’re chasing the thrill of spotting a leopard or simply enjoying the serenity of nature, Yala promises an experience you will never forget. 👉 Plan your next adventure with us and explore the wild side of Kesh with Sri Lanka!

We had a mixed experience with Ajith Safaris. We booked a full day safari with breakfast and lunch in Yala and a half day in Udewalawe. The Yala Safari was not what we expected and the Udawalawe Safari was almost missed due to lack of communication! However, it did end up being amazing! Thanks to an excellent guide. The Udawalawe experience was quite stressful as we were only staying for 1 night. For this reason alone, I would not recommend Ajith Safaris. In addition, we found out it would have been cheaper to do it through our Udawalawe hotel. (Unsure about Yala). Yala We were emailed by ‘Diamond Tours’ 2 days prior and again the night before with the confirmation of pick up time. We were picked up on time by our driver/guide for the day, Chickory (apologies for incorrect spelling). Collecting another 3 people along the way. We were aware of how busy Yala can be, so booked a full day safari, expecting to go further in to the park, away from the crowds. However, this was not the case. We stayed in the area where Leopards are often sighted, going round and round the same tracks. This was disappointing as it was inevitably very busy. At one point we joined a queue of jeeps to see a Leopard but it had gone by the time we reached the front of the queue. We did see a Leopard (Lucas) and our guide was very knowledgeable about the birds and animals. There was not much to see after 09:30/10:00 once it had got hot and we just sat stationary for ages. Bored and hot! After a long lunch we did see more animals. It would’ve been better to do am/pm or both rather than a full day. I understand you would need to pay the park entrance fee twice though if you did 2 separate safaris. The breakfast was traditional Sri Lankan food and very tasty. The lunch was served at a new building with a cafe and facilities. We stayed here while the park was closed between 12:00 and 14:00. The food was good, but it had not been kept in a cool box so we were a bit wary of eating the chicken. In hindsight, had we have known about the cafe, we would have eaten fresh food from there. (Cash only by the way as no network coverage in the park). Udawalawe. For our Udawalawe Safari we had not had any confirmation for our afternoon safari the next day, so we contacted Ajith Safaris via WhatsApp. We received a reply 3 hours later, confirming the booking and saying they would contact us the following morning with our pick up time. This did not happen, so we messaged them again on the morning of the safari but did not get a reply. We waited at the hotel reception at 12:25 for the 12:30 booking but nobody arrived. We tried called the number on the website but the line was terrible and we could not understand what was being said. We asked the hotel reception to call for us. They did and were told that a jeep had been out to pick us up but no one was there so they didn’t wait. They were then hung up on! They called them back and someone else advised that a jeep was on its way. 10/15 mins later our driver/guide Koshala arrived, checked our booking details and took us to the park. After the stress of getting to the park, we had the most amazing safari experience. We have been on safari in Kenya and South Africa but this experience was very special. The terrain in Udawalawe is very open with lots of lakes. This made the elephant viewing uninterrupted and we were able to observe the elephants grazing, bathing and interacting with each other at a respectful distance. It was a lot less busy than Yala too. Our guide Koshala taught us so much about elephant behaviour that we had not known before. It was clear he had a passion for his work. Udawalawe is teeming with elephants but we also saw Jackals, Mongoose, Turtles, Monkeys and of course Peacocks, as well as lots of other beautiful birds. Take plenty of water to Udawalawe as none is provided. Check prices carefully. It would have been cheaper and a lot less stressful, to do it through our Udawalawe hotel.